Music I Jam Out To While I Work

If you like '90s-2000s rock and alternative music (or as I call it, Dad Rock), you're in for a treat. Thankfully, I’ve been able to listen to music in my headphones while I work ever since I joined the career field. 

I typically don’t like to work in silence, save for the rare occasion where silence is suddenly the only way to achieve complete focus. A good chunk of my playlist would send most people spiraling, and it would absolutely derail anyone who swears by lo-fi beats. 

We have a shared office playlist where everyone can add their music, and I’ve filled it generously, but only with songs I’d consider “safe for public consumption.” This list is not that. Today, I’m sharing the music I listen to in my headphones because I don’t want to distract my coworkers. 

A good beat makes my brain hum a little faster and each day feel a little more fun. So here’s what’s currently forcing me to restrain myself from head banging at my desk. 

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First up is a recent obsession of mine: Maggie Lindemann. Her 2022 SUCKERPUNCH album is absolutely incredible. It’s early 2000s pop rock revived. Her 2025 i feel everything album is also a great listen. 

Honey Revenge has been in heavy rotation for the past year. Their Retrovision album is full of hits that are really upbeat and make me bounce my leg along to the beat.

New to me is Poppy, and she makes decidedly heavier music. Her 2024  Negative Spaces album is chock-full of incredible music. It may be a bit heavy for some listeners, but listening to Poppy keeps my creativity flowing. 

I can’t forget to mention a current personal favorite, Kami Kehoe. I have listened to every single one of her albums front to back, so I’m biased when I say every song, especially since her 2024 Revive album, has been a masterpiece. After spending years listening to the same few hundred songs in the “90s dad rock” category, I needed something new. She revived my love for alternative music. 

Speaking of dad rock, I have to include Seether. I listened to a bit of Seether with my dad growing up, but I have nearly their full discography in my Liked songs on Spotify. Disclaimer, Disclaimer II, Karma and Effect, and Finding Beauty in Negative Spaces are my go-tos. Early 2000s grunge lives rent-free in my brain.

Kelsy Karter & The Heroines scratch that same nostalgic itch. Their 2020 Missing Person and 2025 Love Made Me Do It albums have that early 2000s alternative/pop energy I can’t get enough of. Devil On My Shoulder and Daughter of the Night keep my foot tapping (which for me, is usually a sign of productivity).

Spiritbox would never make the office playlist, but it helps me absolutely lock in while I’m writing content or even doing deeper strategy work. As a former vocalist, I can’t help but admire how the lead singer does what she does with her voice. 

I found PVRIS in 2025 and I'm convinced they're massively underrated. They have a wide range of styles, and I'm laughing at myself a little writing this — because my favorite album of theirs is White Noise... from 2014. Apparently I'm always eleven years late to the party.

The Haunt's 2025 album New Addiction has about 60% of its songs in my Liked Songs, which is pretty rare for me, so it feels like a meaningful endorsement. It was also around this point in writing that I noticed every artist on this list is a woman, or fronted by one. Growing up, I didn’t know women made the kind of music I liked. I'm really glad I was wrong, and I’m going to finish my list without breaking that trend. 

I was introduced to MOTHICA through my first listen of Evergreen Misery, and I’ve been slowly working through their discography ever since. The production, the voice, the vibe — I’m a big fan of it all. 

A personal favorite of mine right now is Vana. I’m actually going to a concert with her and Chandler Leighton, and I am honestly praying she plays Disgusting and Foggy Windows. Those songs have completely different vibes but are two of my favorites. Plus, I’m always in awe by anyone who has that kind of range. Vana’s vocal skills has impressed me from my first listen, and I’m so incredibly excited to see her in concert.

Last but not least is Ally Nicholas. Her voice is incredibly light and delicate, paired with intense drums and guitar, evoking intense emotions and loosely reminding me of Amy Lee from Evanescence in the best way. I’ve loved working through her discography.

I could write about music forever. Between commutes, desk time, and workouts, it's a constant in my life. Six months from now, this list will probably look completely different — but this is what's in my headphones right now. Hopefully you learned a little about what I like to listen to, and maybe even find some new music in here.

That’s all for now —

Taylor