Valentine’s Day: a celebration of love in all its forms – romantic, desperate, euphoric, and, at times, deeply chaotic.

Melbourne-based Indie Pop musician and producer Geoffrey O’Connor understands that the perfect soundtrack isn’t just about grand declarations and sweeping ballads; it’s about the moments in between – the longing, the devotion, the quiet absurdity of it all.

His hand-picked playlist for RUSSH this Valentine's Day drifts between eras and emotions, from cosmic romance to playful recklessness, wistful nostalgia to defiant independence. Each song, in its own way, is a love letter to love itself, capturing the kind of intensity that lingers long after the last note fades.

And if his Valentine's Day playlist leaves you wanting more, you can catch Geoffrey’s latest record I Love What We Do, set for release in April.

Lady With The Braid by Dory Previn

No matter what your Valentine’s Day plans are, this song has the perfect balance of romance, desperation and chilling intensity for the occasion.

You Are My Starship by Norman Connors ft. Michael Henderson

Imagine being loved so much that you are someone’s starship? I hope I live long enough to see a PG-rated Trekkie-themed romcom with an extended love scene soundtracked to this cosmic hit.

Love Is In The Air by John Paul Young

The most wonderful song ever recorded. John Paul Young must have known this, because he brazenly tried to remake it at least twice with his next two singles The Day That My Heart Caught Fire and Lost In Your Love. I respect that.

Don’t Know Much by Linda Ronstadt and Aaron Neville

You can spend a lifetime trying, but you will never be as intimate with anyone as these two voices are with each other when they sing “I love you”. Also, Linda Ronstadt and Jim Carrey dated in 1983 and I can’t stop thinking about how odd it would be to go on a date with James Eugene Carrey before he was famous.

You Got It by Roy Orbison

I remember hearing this song when I was a small child and taking the “anything you want, you got it” part way too literally – what if I want something he can’t give me? What if he runs out of money buying all this stuff for everyone?

The Next Man That I See by Anita Lane

A song off her very cool album Sex O’Clock. When she sings “and I think that I’ll just make love to the next man that I see” in the chorus it always makes me giggle.

Single Soon by Selena Gomez

Maybe all the Valentine's Day noise has made you want to be single? Selena understands. I always imagine someone saying “I’ll be single soon” over and over into a mirror when I hear it.

Come Here by Kath Bloom

I love this song so much. I still haven’t been able to stomach enough of the movie Before Sunrise to make it to the famous scene where it plays. I’ve seen Kath play a few times and she performs her songs with a level of conviction and focus I’ve never seen anywhere else.

When Will I See You Again by The Three Degrees

I’m pretty sure I first heard this song on an advertisement for a fast food restaurant and it’s made me want to share precious moments with those I love ever since.

Without You by Harry Nilsson

There is something classy about completely destroying your voice on one of the most epic love ballads of all time and then posing in a dirty dressing gown with a confused look on your face for the accompanying album cover.

Listen to the full playlist now, on Spotify: