Written by Travis Root

Interludes are everywhere. They’ve been appearing in music since the early days of musical theatre, smoothly segueing things into other things, and remain a staple component of the modern album. They’re found in every genre, and often make up some of the most memorable music on a particular album; interludes provide safe, disposable canvases for artists, letting them experiment with instrumentals, poems and texture. Many of them are unremarkable. But some of them are the perfect little snapshot of a musician at their best.

We’ve compiled a playlist of our favorite interludes. Check it out!