Springtime is a time of year that moves gradually, birthing warmer, brighter, and longer days. Its soft, temperate winds awaken hibernated souls as flowers blossom, colorfully painting the Earth. Our dewy central coast mornings are often accompanied by the cheerful sounds of melodious birds replenishing the brisk air with the sounds of music.
Birds aren’t the only ones signaling the emergence of a new season with lively sounds; Students at Cabrillo are also grooving to new tunes this springtime. The start of our spring semester here at Cabrillo’s Aptos Campus was shrouded with gloomy, showery weather yet, alluding to the beginning of the new season.
Now, with those icy-cold winter days behind us, it makes way for sunny skies, inviting nature to encourage students to stay present in the moment on campus. The cafeteria was booming with the noise of chatter and laughter from students when I walked in. After taking my first few steps inside the cafeteria, I couldn’t help but notice the amount of activity that was buzzing amongst the masses.
As pockets of spring-like weather became more common, students were crowded together, hanging out with friends, eating lunch, or simply catching a break before their next class. The energy flowed like electricity throughout the air, compelling me to approach them and question if their taste in music changes as the seasons do.
Looking for signs of music enthusiasts amidst the chaos of it all, a student rocking pink headphones caught my eye. A psychology major, Crystal Vazquez, shared that her music choices change with the seasons.
“The springtime and summer’s warmth encourages me to listen to more energetic and upbeat music,” she added.
The Perfect Pair by Beabadoobee perfectly captures how Vazquez feels this springtime. Although Vazquez doesn’t have a playlist ready for spring yet, she revealed to me that our conversation inspired her to make one for this upcoming spring.
It seems Vazquez isn’t the only one who enjoys listening to lively music this time of year. A health science major, Michelle Loreto also feels compelled to listen to upbeat tunes during warmer seasons, stating:
“I listen to more upbeat music during the spring and summer mostly because of the weather.”
For Loreto, the feeling of spring is perfectly captured by the song Amber by 311.
“I think even though I listen to more upbeat music, this song is more groovy and something you’d listen to at the beach,” she said about her choice.
Loreto’s personal soundtrack for spring consists of Amber by 311 and Me Gustas Tu by Manu. A special add-on to her playlist is Pocketful of Sunshine by Natasha Bedingfield.
“I watched a movie with that song in it, and ever since then, I’ve liked that song because sunshine reminds me of spring,” she said excitedly.
Associating warmer weather with spending time at the beach during spring is a very on-brand thing for a Californian to say. Besides a few key differences, the summer and spring seasons are very similar here in California.
However, not all students share the same sentiment that seasonal changes influence their music preferences. On the other hand, Shaefer Hutchinson, a culinary arts major, expressed that her rotation of sounds stays relatively the same throughout the changes of seasons. She consistently and happily listens to the same artists all year round.
Yet a song that instantly came to Hutchinson’s mind was Navajo by Masego, a smooth, jazz-infused song that perfectly embodies the warmth and soulfulness of springtime.
And as the temperature rises and the sun peeks through my window, waking me with a tepid kiss from its warm golden rays each morning, I know it’s time to refresh my rotation of go-to playlists. To me, the sounds of spring are jazzy, instrumental, soulful, and earthly— a perfect reflection of nature’s rebirth. It’s a season to reconnect with the world around me, embracing its beauty and abundance. Just as nature transforms itself, my taste in music tends to mirror the rhythmic flow of the seasons, and spring is no exception.
If you want to hear the rejoicing euphony of springtime, here’s a playlist for you to jumpstart your spring! My playlist “Cabrillo: rainbows & dew– a springtime collection” features a mix of artists and bands like Minnie Riperton, Clario, Natalia Lafourcade, and Thee Scared Souls. From manifesting romantic soft instrumentals to lively, jazz-infused sounds, this collection encapsulates the true spirit of spring to me.
