Believe it or not, spring is already on its way with the 20th March marking the official first day of spring for the UK. If you need a little something to put a spring in your step and help you welcome the new season, we’ve got just the thing. We’ve picked six albums that embody the light, airy, and optimistic feeling that spring provokes in us. Expect sunny music with a few showers here and there that will nudge you out of your winter hibernation.
Minnie Riperton – Come to My Garden (1970)
Image Credit: Minnie Riperton
Want to know what an angel sounds like? They sound like Minnie. Come to My Garden takes sappy and sugary to a new level on this smooth soul album but we love it. Minnie’s debut album combines powerful vocals with dreamy orchestral arrangements to create an ethereal flowery piece. You may be familiar with the opener ‘Les Fleurs’ as it was rediscovered by Gen-Z on TikTok a few years back.
Why it sings spring: The ultimate spring album. Like a true hippie child, on ‘Les Fleurs’ Minnie delights in the flower power that spring brings singing, “Ring all the bells, sing and tell the people everywhere that the flower has come/Light up the sky with your prayers of gladness and rejoice for the darkness is gone”. To use Minnie’s turn of phrase on ‘Close Your Eyes and Remember’ the album is as “sweet as morning dew, and sounds a lot like springtime”.
The perfect soundtrack for: A fruit-filled picnic in the park – this album longs to be listened to whilst you laze about on a red checked blanket.
Madonna – Ray of Light (1998)
Image Credit: Madonna
Ray of Light is often considered Madonna’s magnum opus and one of the best trip hop and electronica albums of all time. At times daintily ambient and in other moments a euphoric eruption of electronic sound, the album is a hypnotic genre-bending piece that blew away critics and fans in the 90s and stands the test of time.
Why it sings spring: Spiritual, meditative, and introspective, with the sound and lyrics of Ray of Light inspired by Madonna embracing Kabbalah, her study of Hinduism and Buddhism, and her daily practice of Ashtanga yoga – healing is evident on the album. You’ll find Madonna singing “Let the water wash over you” on ‘Swim’ and “Now I find I’ve changed my mind/This is my religion” on ‘Drowned World/Substitute for Love’ as well as the trancey repetition throughout the album the cleansing experience you need to embrace spring.
The perfect soundtrack for: A great spring morning album. And after a big night out Ray of Light will get you out of bed and have you feeling (at least a little more) refreshed.
SZA – SOS (2022)
Image Credit: SZA
We’ve had time to fully appreciate SOS now the hype around the album has died down a bit and we can confirm it’s one of the best albums from last year. Fans went crazy over SZA’s sophomore LP after having waited since CTRL was released in 2017 for new music. Delicately combining hip hop, R&B, pop, and even a little grunge, SOS is SZA’s most daring project yet and sees the singer experimenting with her sound. The payoff was huge with critical acclaim for the album, several of the songs trending on TikTok, achieving number one in the US Billboard 200, and high rankings in the charts globally.
Why it sings spring: Sometimes sweet and sometimes salty, SZA sings about heartbreak and murder in a honey voice. Though it’s a nocturnal-sounding album it’s also warm and romantic making it ideal for a spring evening. It’s an album that encourages change through its flirtations with other genres and is just the refresh we need this season.
The perfect soundtrack for: Doing some much-needed selfcare to. Run a hot bath, grab your creams, face masks, and put on the kettle and relax to SZA’s heavenly voice. Heartbroken queens, we’re looking at you especially.
Janelle Monáe – The ArchAndroid (2010)
Image Credit: Janelle Monáe
Janelle’s debut album is an explosion of soul, psychedelia, pop, and R&B all wrapped into one tight, glossy, perfectly produced album. A concept album like no other, Monáe takes elements of Afrofuturism and science fiction to tell the story of Cindi Mayweather, an android messiah, who falls in love with a human Anthony Greendown during the revolution she leads to free robots from the human’s oppression. The ArchAndroid dwells on love, identity, and politics using the oppression of androids as a metaphor for the oppression black people face in America. Unsurprisingly, the album received widespread acclaim from critics, with many dubbing it the best album of 2010 and even of the decade. The album also received a Grammy nomination for Best Contemporary R&B album.
Why it sings spring: Those flowery, grand yet tranquil overtures that spilt the album bloom like a blossom tree. Sonically upbeat and extremely melodic throughout, the lyrics paint a different picture – just as spring is simultaneously bright but drizzly. Janelle advocates for change, freedom, and a brighter future using light and catchy melodies and a witty Sci-Fi tale to deliver an important message.
The perfect soundtrack for: With Janelle’s rapid and energetic delivery on ‘Dance or Die’, ‘Faster’, ‘Locked Inside’, and ‘Neon Valley Street’, there’s no way you’ll be able to sit still to this album. We recommend a refreshing run through a budding garden, a tad of spring cleaning, or just a full-blown bedroom dance party.
Big Thief – Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe (2022)
Image Credit: Big Thief
If you haven’t yet listened to Big Thief, this spring is the perfect time to do so. The indie rock band from Brooklyn makes music that feels like getting a warm hug from a friend. Their fifth album from last year is no different. Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe was highly praised by the music world with it receiving a Grammy nomination for Best Alternative Music Album and many publications giving it a spot on their album of the year list. Don’t be put off by the folky and country inspired sound of Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe– it’s full of peaceful pastoral lullabies which will melt any country hater’s heart.
Why it sings spring: Evoking nostalgic images of falling asleep during long cross-country drives, warmer evenings, the smell of fresh blossom, and touching letters from people you miss, the album is soft, gentle, and fragile in places but with a hidden strength and hopefulness.
The perfect soundtrack for: If you need a calm atmosphere to get some work down Big Thief will provide it. Alternatively, this would make a great soundtrack for a leisurely stroll through your local park.
Kelela – Raven (2023)
Image Credit: Kelela
Kelela’s Raven seamlessly encompasses elements of R&B, electronic, breakbeat, and ambient pop to create a unique listening experience that gently guides its listener on a journey. The singer’s second album came out in February and is already set to be one of our favourites of the year. In an interview with Vulture Kelela said of the album: “I’ve always led with tenderness and vulnerability. Those are staples I would say on this record. But I’m also setting boundaries in a way that I’ve never set them. And that’s for real life and also for song life”. That vulnerability is clear throughout the whole record.
Why it sings spring: Much like the change from winter to spring, on Raven Kelela emerges from dark watery depths transporting us to a serene healing space. Setting the mood with the hazy and mellow ‘Washed Away’, Kelela takes us on an aquatic journey through the tranquil dance tracks leaving the listener feeling lighter and at peace.
The perfect soundtrack for: With its lush ethereal production, Raven creates a soothing and ambient atmosphere for spring evenings as the nights get warmer. Play it at the afters or before you sleep and let it wash over you.
Words by: Molly Sutherland
Header Image: Janelle Monáe
