I put together this group of songs called “A Walk in the Forest” to be a companion piece to my new album, Forest. This album explores nature, growth and seasons of change. For me this means finding your voice and purpose in life, but also going through hard goodbyes, grief and finding a new road to take.

For this playlist, I wanted to share songs with you that also explore these themes from some of my favourite artists from the 1950s to today. I really believe that sometimes you have to get a little lost before you find your bearings and where you’re meant to travel. Hope you enjoy the journey! – Katie Cole

“Forest” – Katie Cole

This is the title track from my new album. I wrote a fairly dark lyric and decided to lean into a breezy ‘60s feel for the music to help tell the story about the stress and anxiety of being forced down a path you don’t honestly want to go.

“Walk on By” – Dionne Warwick

This is by far my favorite Burt Bacharach/Hal David-penned song. It effortlessly conveys heartbreak and the attempt to move on. I just adore Dionne Warwick’s voice during this era and feel like the pain she feels is so muted and real.

“Road” – Nick Drake

Nick Drake is just one of those artists that really changed the way I saw genre and expression in songwriting. Many of his songs carry elements of alt-folk and jazz. This song “Road” carries such momentum in the delivery. Nick is a wonderful guitarist and his alternative tunings are something to truly study. I love this song and it’s such an anthem to “keep going” on your journey.

“Windmills of Your Mind” – Dusty Springfield

If only we could all make a record like Dusty in Memphis, wouldn’t it be grand? I love the pictures expressed in this song with Dusty’s smoky voice. Lyrics like “And the world is like an apple / Rolling silently in space / Like the circles that you find / In the windmills of your mind.” Incredible imagery here and the whole album is a favourite of mine.

“Seasons Come, Seasons Go” – Bobbie Gentry

Such a great song. I just love Bobbie’s voice and how this song just takes you where it’s going. Like it commands your full attention. Bobbie is such an underrated guitarist and composer and I love her duets with Glen Campbell also.

“Whispering Pines” – The Band

This is definitely a song to listen to at the end of the day and remember ones you’ve let go or memories long forgotten. The Band just have a way of making so many of their songs seems like you’ve always known them.

“I Can Close My Eyes” – Katie Cole

This is a song from Forest where I wanted to explore the internal emotional struggles of relationships. What you choose to accept vs. what you long to change. I think it’s really the heart of this album as the story and melody just weave you down a path you have to finish walking on no matter where you end up.

“Who Knows Where the Time Goes?” – Fairport Convention

I’m so glad my producer Howard Willing introduced me to their music. To me, it’s like where Peter, Paul and Mary started, I think Fairport Convention took storytelling to a much more dark and human place akin to Dylan. This song is really dreamy.

“Autumn Leaves” – Nat King Cole

Nat has one of my favorite voices of all time and this orchestral arrangement is so lush and lovely. This song, like many of Nat’s, fills me with emotions I didn’t know I had. Sadness and longing during certain times of the year. I love autumn but when all the leaves drop finally, life forces you to assess time and what has passed.

“Sundown” – Gordon Lightfoot

Love this song and the breezy way he tells a story. Gordon is quite an exceptional lyricist and this song is perfect to listen to on a Sunday afternoon. Or maybe that it makes any day feel like a Sunday afternoon.

“Amoreena” – Elton John

It’s easy to jump to songs like “Tiny Dancer” when it comes to Elton, but the whole Tumbleweed Connection record is a marvel. I always circle back to this song. I don’t know if it’s the melody or the key shifts, but this song is masterful.

“Learning How to Lose” – Katie Cole

Sharing this song of mine which is another from Forest. I co-wrote this one with John Capek here in Nashville. Many times in my career I’ve been told how “you didn’t fail you learnt something” or how “it wasn’t meant to be…” and variations. I think it takes a lot to accept that you can’t win them all and there’s a power and humbling grace to that notion. Once you accept that failure is OK, then any victories seem to more meaningful.

“Wildflowers” – Trio (Dolly, Linda & Emmylou)

Had to include these three ladies. This song is a beauty and when Dolly, Linda and Emmylou sing together something magical happens. I’m sure together and individually these ladies are responsible for much of the female singer-songwriters that we have today. Dolly will forever be missed and this song is wonderful.

“September Song” – Rufus Wainwright

I have been a fan of Rufus for quite a while. He’s like a chameleon of his craft in plain sight. His folk records are spectacular but his jazz albums soar in a completely different way. This is a classic song with a soaring melody set against a live jazz orchestra. I think Bing Crosby’s version of this song is hard to top, but Rufus can literally sing anything and this version is a real standout!

“You Can Never Go Home Again” – Katie Cole

I decided to bookend the playlist on this one of mine. It’s also the last track on my new album. I wrote this about how you grow up and go out into the world, but yet somehow when you go home, it’s never the same. Rooms might be the same size, but everything is different. That’s been my experience anyway and maybe yours too.

Photo Credit: Dire Image