15 songs that probably aren't on your sex playlist (but should be)

Setting the mood is a fine art. Being too heavy handed can be off putting, but not doing enough can be insulting. So next time you find yourself lighting an upscale candle and dimming the lights, we suggest throwing on our left-of-center sexy indie playlist for a subtle touch of something a bit sultry. Somewhere between the breathy etherealism of FKA Twigs and the upfront raunchiness of Shygirl lies the perfect sex song for you and yours.

“Be Careful” by Kaytranada feat. ThunderCat

“I only got dressed up for you,” ThunderCat admits as an inimitable funkiness of a Kaytranada beat pulsates. “Be Careful” is laced with simple grooviness and cute one-liners from the dance duo.

“High For This” by The Weeknd

We’re considering this indie because it’s off of The Weeknd’s OG mixtape, House of Balloons, and it’s the epitome of sexy.

“505” by Arctic Monkeys

The thought of making Alex Turner “completely crumble” is enough reason to listen.

“Intro” by The xx

The hottest instrumental—maybe ever.

“Apocalypse” by Cigarettes After Sex

Let Greg Gonzalez’s intimate lyrics take you away: “Your lips, my lips/ Apocalypse.”

“House of Cards” by Radiohead

“I don’t want to be your friend/ I just wanna be your lover,” Thom Yorke desirously pleads in the opening lyrics.

“The Fall” by Rhye

The mysterious songwriter gets two mentions here, because if all else fails you can just press play on his entire discography.

“Fallingforyou” by The 1975

It’s time to make yourself familiar with this little-known song off The 1975’s EP, IV.

“How Soon Is Now?” by The Smiths

And of course, this playlist wouldn’t be complete without The Smiths. “We invented indie as we still know it,” Johnny Marr told The Guardian. Nothing's sexier than that kind of confidence.

“Stay Flo” by Solange

“Stay Flo” nearly sounds tantric, as Solange bounces up and down, smoothly repeating a handful of mantras about “(holding) it down” and “(taking) it to the face"—phrases just vague enough to make sense for the circumstance.

“I Won’t Mind” by Raveena

This piano ballad is a feat in sincerity that is only made possible via Raveena’s convincingly euphoric high notes and bone-chillingly beautiful falsetto.

“Dance Like U” by Okay Kaya

“Do you dance like you f*** / Or do you dance like you make love?” It’s a seemingly simple question that gets more complex the longer you think about it. “Dance Like U” is a track that—like most of Okay Kaya’s discography—is sweetly suggestive and candidly charming.

“Incomplete Kisses” by Sampha Sisay

Sampha Sisay has quietly been one of music’s most influential minds over the last several years. His name is a seemingly omnipresent credit on liner notes, with his hand guiding the likes of Frank Ocean, Drake, and Solange. On “Incomplete Kisses,” Sisay delivers a cooler version of the classic love song, employing his distinctly silky vocals and a deconstructed techno beat.

“Hentai” by Rosalia

For something a bit cheeky, look no further than Rosalia’s “Hentai”. For a non-Spanish speaker, there’s no way to know just how raunchy Rosalia gets on this track, as she sings about her partner’s “pistola” with the cadence of a melodic lullaby, or an album-ending love ballad.

“Trust Me Baby” by Empress Of

Empress Of slips in and out of Spanish as she convincingly pleas for trust and intimacy over a bed of pop perfection.

This piece originally appeared in Harper's Bazaar US