The holidays are behind us, and the excitement of a fresh, new year is here! But when it’s cold outside and the sun goes down at 5:30 in the afternoon, we can all get a case of the winter blues. That’s why we’ve put together the perfect happy antidote to your sad. Partner and Chief Creative Officer Kimberly Tyner’s ‘80s soundtrack is like a hit of sweet vitamin D: a full eight hours of upbeat tuneage guaranteed to beat back the January doldrums. So, listen up and enjoy our latest Spire on Spotify playlist called Vol. 35: My ‘80s Alternative.

Kimberly, what is the name of your album?

My new playlist is called My ‘80s Alternative. I’ve filled it with my all-time favorites from the ‘80s era, which really was such a fun and eclectic time in music history.

How would you describe this mix?

I would describe this playlist as an upbeat, energetic mix that leans alternative. You won’t find ‘80s mainstays like Madonna or Michael Jackson here. No Lionel Richie or Tina Turner, either. This playlist is more along the lines of what you would hear in your favorite John Hughes movie soundtrack.

What was the inspiration behind it?

I’m a product of the ‘80s and I really wanted to encapsulate the happy, lighthearted feeling of growing up in that time and listening to these songs on the radio or popping a cassette in my Sony Walkman. These are the songs that I danced to, sang to, and lived life to. I was inspired by those memories.

What is your favorite song, and why?

It would have to be “I Melt with You” by Modern English. I’ll never forget the first time I heard that song. I was sitting in math class, and my friend leans over with her Walkman and headphones and tells me I have to hear this new song—it was love at first listen. “I Melt with You” is such a fantastic song. “I’ll stop the world and melt with you” is a great chorus, and I love it now as much as I did the first time that I heard it.

If your playlist was a brand, what would it be and why?

Vans is a brand that I think fits the nostalgic feeling of this playlist pretty well. Vans is a laid-back, feel-good clothing and accessories line that first rose to popularity in the ‘80s. Its black-and-white checkered style reads as alternative, yet classic. When you see Vans shoes, you feel the same way you might about many of the songs on this playlist—unique yet have been “Classics since Forever.”

Any specific memory that comes to mind when you listen?

Definitely. This playlist takes me back to memories of first getting my driver’s license and the sweet feeling of teenage freedom that came with that milestone. Driving around with the windows down and your friends along for the ride. No real destination. Not a parent in sight. We’d head to a place called Classic ‘50s and order a Coke and fries, then drive to the lake singing at the top of our lungs to the songs we loved. Those are great memories.

What makes your playlist unique?

Sometimes I like to listen to genre playlists by decade, which is fun with the ‘70s or the ‘90s. But if you try this with the ‘80s, what you get is all pretty overplayed (no offense to Madonna). I wanted an ‘80s playlist that represented my authentic experience growing up in that era. There are so many fantastic bands and killer songs from that decade that would never end up on a “Hits from the ‘80s” mix. While my Spotify playlist includes some iconic singers and bands like Prince, U2, and R.E.M., there are also a lot of under-the-radar gems like Erasure or Siouxsie and the Banshees.

No duh, Kimberly. You’ve clearly compiled a bodacious, gnarly collection of tuneage that makes us want to take a chill-pill. Stay tuned to the Spire Blog and Spotify Channel for the release of our next album.

Kimberly Tyner is Partner and Chief Creative Officer at Spire Agency, one of the most awarded B2B branding agencies in the country.