This month’s playlist comes from young people taking part in our Sound Steps programme. Bringing together a mix of genres, eras and moods, these selections reflect personal taste, shared listening and the moments music helps make sense of.

Genesis – Keep It Dark

Moody and slightly surreal, this track leans into uncertainty and hidden worlds. There’s a tension running through it — a sense that not everything is as it seems.

Bella Kay – iloveitiloveitiloveit

Bright, immediate and full of energy. A song that captures the rush of excitement and repetition of a feeling you don’t want to let go of.

Lewis Capaldi – Survive

Honest and direct, this is about getting through — holding on when things feel heavy, and finding strength in vulnerability.

Sade – Kiss of Life

Smooth, warm and full of ease. A reminder of the comfort that connection can bring, and the quiet joy of feeling uplifted by someone else.

Ryuichi Sakamoto – Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence

Delicate and reflective, this piece carries a quiet emotional weight. It feels like memory — spacious, thoughtful and deeply moving.