Songs for the Nocturne Issue (a selection)

As the nocturne issue draws ever closer, the whole HM team is hard at work on bringing this creation to your doorsteps. To get you in the mood for the velvet-dreaming darkness ahead, we’ve compiled a small mix of songs that are inspiring us in our creation of Issue III. Listen right here. If this playlist inspires you, a reminder that we are still accepting writing & music submissions for Issue III: Nocturne until May 28th! Send us your best. And: if you would like to support this rich, abrupt, & wholly new volume of work we’re creating for you, consider preordering your copy of the nocturne issue. We would love to send it to you for sweet-sticky summer nights ahead.

Without further ado, here is the HM team’s soundtrack to the midnight drive – the shadow dance – the things leftover when the music fades to black…

Songs for the midnight drive-the shadow dance-the things left over when the music fades to black. Curated by the team at Half Mystic, an international, independent publishing house, literary journal, radio show, and arts organisation. More info at http://halfmystic.com.

“Buzzcut Season” by Lorde

This dream isn't feeling sweet
We’re reeling through the midnight streets
And I've never felt more alone
It feels so scary, getting old

“Slow Dancing in a Burning Room” by John Mayer

We’re going down, and you can see it too
We’re going down, and you know that we're doomed
My dear, we're slow dancing in a burning room

“Claude’s Girl” by Marika Hackman

A pure heart been bound by nickel
But not bent beneath the coil
If you play her right, she'll sing through the night
With the whispering wheat in the fields

“All We Do” by Oh Wonder

I’ve been upside down
I don’t wanna be the right way round
Can’t find paradise on the ground

“Cadmium” by Pinegrove

More every year I shine light on edges
I tried to unfeel
We both gotta do better than that
Some sorting out

“Be Apart” by Porches

It’s got me so awake
The darkness hanging
Black water by my side

“Amsterdam” by Daughter

I used to dream of adventure
When I was younger, with lungs miniature
Good night with killing our brain cells
Is this called living, or something else?

“Sloom” by Of Monsters and Men

The cat's silhouette, as big as a monster,
In this concrete jungle, with street lights hanging their heads
So make all your last demands for I will forsake you
And I'll meet your eyes for the very first time, for the very last

“In The Woods Somewhere” by Hozier

When I awoke
The moon still hung,
The night so black
That the darkness hummed

“The Music of the Night” by Andrew Lloyd Webber

Turn your face away from the garish light of day,
Turn your thoughts away from cold unfeeling light
And listen to the music of the night

“Cosmic Love” by Florence + The Machine

The stars, the moon, they have all been blown out
You left me in the dark
No dawn, no day, I'm always in this twilight
In the shadow of your heart

“Asleep” by The Smiths

There is another world
There is a better world
Well, there must be