It’s finally the season of love! The air feels warmer, smells sweeter, and life feels like it’s taking a turn for the better. All because you know that you’ve marked your calendar on 14 February for an amazing evening with that person who makes your heart skip a beat or two. But of course, Valentine’s Day is a holiday that can be considered a double-edged sword.
With love come those who have experienced loss. Those still mourning the whirlwind relationships they had, the one that got away, or wracking their brains on how to tell the person they’ve loved from afar for so long how they really feel. So, whether you’re happily taken or a hopeless romantic in 2026, we’ve got the ultimate list for you, from loving, syrupy love ballads to wistful recollections of past love, we’ve got you covered.
No matter where your heart stands this Valentine’s Day, whether wrapped up in new sparks, nostalgic memories, or quiet longing, this carefully curated playlist has the perfect soundtrack to match every shade of love, heartbreak, and everything in between.
For the hopelessly devoted:
Laufey - ‘Valentine’
It’s definitely safe to say that Laufey is the reigning queen of heartfelt love songs that transport listeners to a land of warmth and tender affection. With her charming blend of bouncy bossa nova and her bold vocal prowess, Laufey captures the romance in yearning and quiet confessions. Her track ‘Valentine’ definitely spearheads this playlist with its perfect title, but the lyrics unravel to reveal a sense of vulnerability that comes with falling in love with no inhibitions.
With lines like, “'Cause I think I've fallen in love this time I blinked and suddenly, I had a valentine (valentine), what if he's the last one I kiss?, what if he's the only one I'll ever miss?, maybe I should run, I'm only 21” the track definitely captures the strength in all-consuming trust while depicting the refreshing uncertainty that comes with young love, making the journey that bit more exciting.
Wasia Project - ‘ur so pretty’
Wasia Project’s ‘ur so pretty’ feels like a poetic love letter, filled to the brim with silent confessions and delicate reverence that almost feels like a stolen glance from that one special person; fleeting but full. The delicate lyrics capture the intimate moments where love brims between two people who have found each other by some trick of the universe, capturing the devotion through the lyrics that say, “You're so pretty when you smile, it kills me, oh, can't stop thinking 'bout the way you kissed me, under the stars”.
Paired with the airy vocals and softness of the piano arrangement, the track captures the exact feelings that flutter in your chest when locking eyes with that person: overwhelming love and even a lingering fear that it may all end in a second.
Peter Cat Recording Co. - ‘Just Another Love Song’
Layered piano chords, haunting melodies, and raw vocals are the highlights of ‘Just Another Love Song’. The track is quite literally not ‘Just Another Love Song’, it’s a confession of the overpowering richness that love has, like an insanely sweet and decadent bite of the tastiest chocolate, encapsulating you in all its notes and flavours.
The song feels like a love letter set to an addictive tune, with simple lyrics such as “You, it's just another love song, oh, it's just something I wrote, something that I felt, deep down in my soul” the track reiterates that it’s just a glimpse into the heart of the writer, totally unguarded as they surrender their heart to their significant other.
Rin - ‘nice & slow’
Rin’s ‘nice & slow’ captures the tender thrill of easing into love at your own pace. The track unfolds like a whispered confession, blending soft, airy vocals with playful melodies that mirror the nervous excitement of new connection.
With lines like, “Please understand I’m not one to dance, let’s have a go, with nothing much planned, but I love this band,” Rin invites listeners into an intimate moment of trust, curiosity, and quiet joy. Perfectly balancing vulnerability and warmth, ‘nice & slow’ is a delicate ode to taking things gently, savoring each fleeting feeling, and discovering love on your own terms.
Balming Tiger, Yaeji - ‘wo ai ni’
Translating to “I love you”, ‘wo ai ni’ is a cute and upbeat track that captures the cheekiness of romance with upbeat pop production. Much like how love has the power to transcend borders and boundaries, ‘wo ai ni’ also incorporates diversity and flexibility through music, mixing Balming Tiger’s Korean sensibility with Yaeji’s Chinese musicality. With adorable yet emotive lyrics such as, “Everything I want is love, yeah, that's true I can tell it deep from my heart”.
For the wistful romantics:
YONLAPA - ‘Velvet Love’
Don’t worry, this list isn’t just for those who have found their perfect match, it’s for the hopeless romantics who are still on the search for their one true pairing too. So, if this Valentine’s Day you find yourself staring at the ceiling wishing you had a bouquet of flowers and somewhere to go, YONLAPA’s ‘Velvet Love’ might be the perfect remedy for an aching heart.
The track captures the yearning for that one person who’s so perfect to just love you back, that one person who gives you butterflies when they’re around and is completely oblivious to the effect they have on you. In a digital world that has boiled down a deep connection to a "swipe right", this song captures the quiet moments of everyday love with lyrics such as, “I dream of love that stays, a cat, a child, a yard in golden rays, just ordinary days, like the first when we met, he might be my best friend and my last”. Blast this track to navigate the feelings of yearning as you wish that person whom you love so much just loved you back.
Mitski - ‘I’ll Change For You’
Going from several full and eventful Valentine’s dinners dotted with engaging conversation, meaningful gifts, and stolen kisses, to sitting alone only with the cold embrace of those seemingly distant memories might be one of the most jarring transitions to go through.
This Valentine’s Day, you don't have to miss the one who got away on your own. Mitski’s ‘I’ll Change For You’ captures the desperation and the lengths that someone would go to salvage a relationship and reignite the spark that they once shared. With lines such as, “'Cause I'll do anything, for you to love me again, if you don't like me now, I will change for you” Mitski weaves together the direness of the ordeal in her emotive vocals and the sadness that tinges the jazz-inspired track.
While we do agree that this track is incredibly romantic in its wistful longing, cutting yourself into pieces and creating a collage of the person you believe will bring them back is never the best solution. Take this Valentine’s Day to reflect, and become a better version of yourself to hopefully one day create a mixtape of the first five songs that this list offers to give to some new instead.
Regina Song - ‘the cutest pair’
Capturing the frustrating thrill of pining for that one person who can always put a spring in your step, the person that you’re always looking for in a crowd, looking over your shoulder hoping to catch a glimpse of them to brighten up your day. Mustering up the courage to tell your crush that you’ve got feelings for them can be difficult, but this is your sign to tell them how you feel this Valentine’s Day! Regina Song’s ‘the cutest pair’ is the perfect track to illustrate all the things you wish you could tell your crush, expectantly waiting for them to echo the same sentiment.
With lines such as, “For years and years, I pined for only you, my baby, look at me, I'm still your girl, daydreamin', don't you think we'd be the cutest pair? the sweetest love out there” it captures the bliss of fantasising an affectionate relationship with the person that gets your heart racing. Shoot your shot this Valentine’s Day and soundtrack your day with this track.
ARI LEE - 'Cruel Lover'
Some loves leave you burning long after the sparks have faded, and ARI LEE’s ‘Cruel Lover’ captures that scorching intensity perfectly. The track drifts between dreamy verses and aching choruses, painting a picture of infatuation tangled with obsession, desire, and a touch of self-inflicted folly.
With lines like, “You’re such a cruel, cruel lover… begging for the summer while I’m dying from the heat,” the song captures the push and pull of a romance that’s as intoxicating as it is impossible to escape. Layered over hypnotic melodies and intimate vocals, ‘Cruel Lover’ becomes an anthem for anyone who’s willingly lost themselves in the magnetic pull of a love they know might not be kind, but can’t resist anyway.
Bita and the Botflies - ‘Winston (1984)’
Bita and the Botflies intertwine their whimsical yet haunting musical style with a dystopian love story inspired by George Orwell’s 1984. Set in a world where every move is monitored, truth is constantly rewritten, and propaganda distorts perception, the track explores a romance unfolding under the weight of quiet danger, where even survival can feel like betrayal.
At its core lies the tension between love and deception, and the aching push and pull between staying silent or daring to resist. Through bold, immersive storytelling, the song transforms a simple love story into a layered, cinematic narrative, one rich enough to transport listeners into its unsettling, distant world.
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