As spring rolls around, and we want to chase away the winter blues, music can be the greatest pick-me-up. Spring is my favourite season; I love the days getting longer, the comfortable not-too-warm weather, the daffodils and tulips. I also love the music associated with it – light, pretty, positive. To get you all into the spring mood, I’ll suggest some of my favourite seasonal music, for you to add to your own spring playlists.
One album I associate with spring is Beabadoobee’s ‘This is How Tomorrow Moves’, released just last year. Filled with acoustic guitar, Bea’s gentle voice, and sentimental lyrics, this indie rock album makes the perfect spring listen. My favourite song from this album is ‘Beaches’. Having been raised on the Southwest coast, most of my best spring memories took place on the beach, so it’s no surprise this song is my favourite. The song is confident, radiating optimism and romanticism. The blending of dream pop and indie rock create a sunny disposition, the imagery of diving into the ocean reflecting Beabadoobee’s immersion into her creative process, the singer commenting: “I was just going to put my feet in… But then everyone was like, ‘Why wouldn’t you just put your whole body in? Jump in!’”
Another album I’d recommend for some spring listening is Ichiko Aoba’s ‘Windswept Adan’, released in 2020. Aoba is a Japanese folk singer-songwriter, whose music is remarkably emotive and elegant. ‘Windswept Adan’ is a concept album, following the story of a young girl being sent to the titular fictional island of Adan. The music is a blend of different genres, namely folk (chamber and psychedelic), jazz, classical, and ambient music. Aoba has a distinctive, gentle, almost fantastical voice, perfectly fit for telling her stories of nature, myth, and folklore. The instrumentals on the album are minimalistic and ambient, using instruments such as woodwind, string quartets, and keyboard. Beats Per Minute‘s chief editor Chase McMullen considered it to be her most ambitious effort yet, describing the album as “an aquatic world to be lost within”.
I hope these recommendations have helped you to expand your spring playlists!
