With the summer solstice behind us, it’s time to highlight the absolute BANGERS that I stumbled upon this spring. What started as chance encounters on playlists and dance floors quickly became the essential soundtrack to my springtime adventures in the city.

The new single by Khruangbin was a clear favorite as the spring temperatures approached in Barcelona and I found myself bingeing Pon Pón for days on straight. The smooth guitar and sexy bass paired with the sultry Spanish lyrical whispers made for the most relaxing moments sunbathing on my terrace as I embraced the first signs of Barcelona spring.

Parra for Cuva’s new album, Mimose, was another musical highlight from the spring. I found myself in Costa Rica the day of its release and immediately left my group of friends to go on a solo walk along the beach to listen to the album from start to finish. This album certainly maintains the uniquely Parra for Cuva sound that I know and love while also managing to add new elements to keep it from feeling old and tired. I struggle to choose just one favorite from this album but enjoy the musical differences between songs like Vogel and Dancing On My Own.

Lonely Raver from Viken Arman was a particularly special highlight for me from the spring. I found it tucked in my Discover Weekly on a Wednesday and was immediately hooked by the intricacy of the different sounds. He weaves together such contrasting sonic textures to create a gripping tune. The arpeggio at the beginning paired with the title creates a ever so subtly melancholic tone… that is until the piano kicks in at 1:40 creating the sonic whimsy of an early Disney film. Upon discovery, I devoured every sound with my ears and reveled in each moment of the blissfully long 7 minute track. I couldn’t get enough.

Two days after this discovery, I found myself at Sala Apolo to see Acid Pauli and could not believe my ears as I heard him weave my latest binge into his set. It was one of those rare nightclub moments that made me believe in the concept of divine timing.

ANOTR is another favorite artist from primavera 2024. Oddly enough I first stumbled upon Relax My Eyes in spring of 2023 but I didn’t start my binge until I rediscovered it this spring. Canvas is another gem that conjures up images of spring awakening with its slow start and birds chirping. When the funky guitar kicks in at 1:30 it feels as though I image a tree feels when it releases its first spring bud.

Circle of Light by Because of Art and Antony Smizerk is a beautiful story of dance floor serendipity tucked inside of a euphoric breaks track. The spoken word combined with the music transports you to the moment he speaks of.

Kamma & Masalo’s Extended mix of Discotheque’s For Your Love is a refreshed version of an absolute 80s banger complete with horns, violins, soulful love lyrics, and the funkiest guitar solo that will get even the biggest wall flower bouncing.

While all of these songs were my anthems of spring 2024, the song that most represented the season to me was In Your Corner by Pale Jay. I discovered this track as the trees were blooming and spring was in its bloomiest moment. I vividly remember listening to this song as I cycled throughout the city and would belt “but I also carry snacks” every time the song repeated.

I’m particularly excited about the tracks that live in this playlist and have excessively binged most of the songs in here. If you want to go for a little journey with some of the songs that I couldn’t get enough of, dive in!