Post-fall break heartbreak has brought quiet on the Highline. While it is no longer as empty and lonely as during the break, the solemn faces of now-returned travelers are glued to their phones, scrolling through galleries full of smiles and trees and neon storefronts from another spacetime. Upon their return, the Abu Dhabi weather subdued its radiance and swelter to fit their nostalgia and maybe inspire them to change the scenery from the Highline to Mamsha or Corniche. Alas. Everybody is still lamenting the true fall.

Before the break, we might have forgotten that fall was upon us. The change in seasons in Abu Dhabi is not as distinct as in other places in the world. Not only that, the heaps of assignments that just never seem to get smaller, no matter how many nights you beg public safety to let you stay in the library past 2 a.m., often create a sense of a temporal vacuum. But then there is the scent of pumpkin spice from the cafes, the occasional cloudy morning, and the odd leaf floating on the breeze … or if you did not notice the cues, then your Spotify shuffle has caught your attention with the now-certified autumn sound: hoa-hoa-hoa-hoa….

The strange onomatopoeia might be read out as a cough, a bark, or a pirate greeting by the not-chronically-online person. But to the pop culturalist that is no riddle: it is the instantly recognizable intro to the song “Eyes on Fire” by Blue Foundation, as heard in the movie Twilight. Love it or hate it, the Twilight franchise has an excellent music selection that is rewindable all year round but is the staple soundtrack of fall. It is so powerful that playing “Eyes on Fire” actually changes the weather, it has been scientifically proven.

Even if it is the staple autumn song, that does not mean that repeating it all the time is a sane thing to do. The Gazelle’s Music Column is once again at your service, providing you with a gourmet selection of other fall-invoking compositions to guide you in your search for the perfect “pumpkin spice latte and fuzzy sweaters” playlist.

New Releases From the newly released songs, there are plenty of options to add to your fall queue. Starting with the not-so-obvious choice of “EUSEXUA” by FKA Twigs. The hyperpop experimental track is not meant to be reminiscent of any season, but FKA’s vocals have that same airy and misty quality that makes “Eyes on Fire” such a flannel-shirt-and-jacket-weather song. The mother of mystic music, Stevie Nicks, also has a new single that perfectly matches these vibes: “The Lighthouse” is all raspy vocals, dreamy synths, and reverbed bassline, that somehow sound so modern and so classic at the same time. Florence and the Machine are also all about the mystique of fall, from Florence Welch’s fashion sense to the gentle harp sounds, and they do not disappoint with their latest album, an orchestral reimagining of their iconic record Lungs. Symphony of Lungs as performed at Royal Albert Hall is a whole sonic experience you do not want to miss out on. Finally, if Twilight took place in the Bulgarian Rhodope mountain range, then Jin Monic with their single “We Failed Them” would make it to the soundtrack and make it an equally pop culture gem.

Throwback We do not need to look that far back in time to find the comfiest, coziest, and fuzziest of fall albums: if Noah Kahan’s Stick Season from 2022 is not in your daily rotation yet, then, please, do yourselves a favor and play it right now. But if we must look back to the origins of the sound of autumn, then we have to credit Donovan for his 1966 album Sunshine Superman. Other than the fact that it features the original version of “Season of the Witch,” it is also one of those gentle early-psychedelic records with now a bit faded and scratchy sound quality, a bit of that cackling of old vinyl reminiscent of the burning of fire in the fireplace of a cabin somewhere deep in the mountains. The early alternative scene has plenty of singles to offer to supplement your fall playlist, too: it is songs like “You Look Like Rain” by Morphine, “The Killing Moon” by Echo & The Bunnymen, “Oh to Be in Love” by Kate Bush, “Voodoo Dolly” by Siouxsie and the Banshees. This genre is the rabbit hole of autumnal-mystery-filled music.

Upcoming Few artists appreciate the power of an autumn ballad, so fall releases are fairly rare. Look out for Thom Yorke’s live album from Electric Lady Studios, one of the legendary recording studios with quite the eclectic productions. And, while there are certainly no hoa-hoa-hoa qualities to it, you should get excited about Tyler, The Creator’s new project CHROMAKOPIA. It may not fit the fall vibes I have been going for in this edition of the music column, but it might forever redefine the sound of autumn.