Far Out 40: A playlist to celebrate the start of Spring
“Cheers for spring; for life; for a growing soul,” Sylvia Plath once wrote. “If people did not love each other, I really do not see what use there would be in having any springtime,” was Victor Hugo’s take. “The true nature of the human heart is as whimsical as spring weather,” said Maya Angelou.
Bringing in lighter nights, longer days and the start of the slope into a long, hot summer, the coming of spring is a celebrated occasion. Around the world and across religions, people from all cultures mark the turning of the seasons and thank the heavens or the weather for the sunshine.
In Pagan beliefs, spring is a season for balance, renewal, and rebirth. Known as Ostara, the spring equinox is a major holiday with symbols of flowers, fairies, rabbits and eggs to honour a new chapter of optimism and hope after a long winter. Also coinciding with Easter and the colourful festival of Holi, the season feels like a moment to do a big sigh of relief and rejoice at the brighter days.
As Stone Henge held its spring equinox sunrise celebration on 20th March, the sun came up at a brighter time. We made it through the harsh winter months. Soon, the beer gardens will be calling, festivals will be starting up, and evenings will drag out into long hours spent in the park with friends.
With a new season comes a new soundtrack. As a perfect time to dust off the cobwebs while still indulging in some introspection before the fun of summer begins, spring feels like folk territory. There is something spiritual in the air as the trees come back to life and birth is all around, making it the perfect time to immerse yourself with wistful sounds.
The modern alternative folk scene is blooming, too. Artists like Quinnie, Leith Ross, The New Eves and Ha Vay more than provide when it comes to capturing the fresh breeze in song. Alongside genre legends like Nick Drake, Tim Buckley and Townes Van Zandt, we’ve mixed them all together for a 40-song run of the best spring sounds.
A perfect companion for evening walks as the sun sets later, morning with the light peaking through the curtains or longer days getting your life in order before summer, we’ve made the ultimate equinox mix.
A playlist to celebrate the start of Spring:
- Caroline Polachek – ‘Spring Is Coming With A Strawberry In Its Mouth’
- Ha Vey – ‘Moon Girl’
- Quinnie – ‘Gold Ring’
- Leith Ross – ‘Music Box’
- Sarah Kinsley – ‘Ascension’
- Katy J Pearson – ‘Maypole’
- The New Eves – ‘Astrolabe’
- Tapir! – ‘My God’
- Prima Queen – ‘Butter Knife’
- Arlo Parks – ‘Devotion – Acoustic’
- Dodie – ‘Lonely Bones’
- Big Thief – ‘Velvet Ring’
- Lana Del Rey + Father John Misty – ‘Let The Light In’
- Florence + The Machine – ‘Girls Against God’
- Matt Maltese – ‘Krystal’
- Etta Marcus – ‘Lovesick Boy Prays’
- Emma Bradley – ‘California’
- Billie Marten – ‘She Dances’
- Carla Bruni – ‘Spring Waltz’
- Nick Drake + Gabrielle Drake – ‘All My Trials’
- Townes Van Zandt – ‘I’ll Be Here In The Morning’
- Michael Cera – ‘Clay Pigeons’
- The Byrds – ‘Turn! Turn! Turn!’
- Angel Olsen – ‘Spring’
- Tim Buckley – ‘Song to the Siren’
- Bon Iver – ‘re:stacks’
- Laura Marling – ‘Held Down’
- Julia Jacklin – ‘to Perth, before the border closes’
- Haley Heynderickx – ‘The Bug Collector’
- Adrianne Lenker – ‘not a lot, just forever’
- Fleet Foxes – ‘Wading In Waist-High Water’
- Lord Huron + Allison Ponthier – ‘I Lied’
- Keaton Henson – ‘Sarah Minor’
- Villagers – ‘Everything I Am Is Yours’
- Cass McCombs – ‘Absentee’
- Whatever, Dad – ‘Death of the Phone Call’
- Bess Atwell – ‘Time Comes In Roses’
- Gia Margaret – ‘Hinoki Wood’
- Lankum – ‘Clear Away In The Morning’
- Maya Hawke – ‘Therese’
