The musicto curator community turns its mind to nature
Here in the Northern Hemisphere we’re making the transition through Spring into Summer – while our colleagues on the other side of the world are heading in the other direction – we were inspired to pull together some tracks that – with any luck – will remind you of how wonderful the outside world is.
Eight tracks to tempt you into the great outdoors
Sunrise – Norah Jones
You know, the name “Sunrise” really paints a picture in your mind. The music itself feels just like what you’d imagine at sunrise—super calm and easygoing, like a gentle start to the day. And Nora Jones’ voice? She totally brings it all together with her warm and friendly vibe. It’s like the perfect combo of music and vocals to make you feel relaxed and ready for whatever the day brings.
The Calla Lily Song – The Brother Brothers
Waking to a warm wind
the kind of wind the flowers want to bloom in
the kind we hope to enter the world with
and when a cold day leads the way again
we are asked to be woken up
to cocoon
to recalibrate
to consume
to dance in the day to day
to become the light and the dark and the truth
so when we wake to the warm wind again
we are the flowers that bloom
we are the light and the dark and the truth
Breathless – Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
I’ve been a Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds fan since the early 1990s. When I started making my own money, Let Love In was one of the first albums I bought — and my collection kept expanding during my university years: Murder Ballads, The Boatman’s Call, No More Shall We Part… A lot of it was pretty bleak, but I think one of the things that resonated the most with me was their versatility and exploration of different genres and themes. Their ability to reinvent their sound with each new album.
In 2004, they released Abattoir Blues / The Lyre of Orpheus, a double album that is less two-halves of a whole than it is two distinct discs released together. The second track in The Lyre of Orpheus — “Breathless” — has stayed with me ever since. The intro, featuring a flute melody that combines reversed, detuned, and phased layers into a mesmerizing birdsong-like sound, remains one of the most moving pieces I have ever heard, immediately transporting me to springtime, to a time of rebirth and new beginnings.
Hug Trees – Tom Freund
I just love this song – there’s such a joyous innocence to it. Sometimes the environmental movement can feel a little “serious’ and sure – there’s a shit load to be serious about – yet if you’ve ever seen Tom perform this live, surrounded by dancing children and grooving parents, you’ll be reminded of how amazing life is and why we should be working to protect it.
Clarity – vivallipsis, har:low
There’s that moment – when you’re first getting outside again – where everything feels new. The ground, the flora and fauna, all of which have been covered and stripped of adornment for months are springing back to life and there’s a certain sense of awe to it. It’s at moments like this where it’s easy to get lost – not in the distressing geospatial aspect – but in the joyful curiosity that appears whenever nature shows its beauty. There’s indeed a certain – clarity – to how amazing this world is and how wonderful it is to walk through it.
Kiara – Bonobo
The early morning vibe in the song is so cool. It’s like you’re right there with all the little creatures by the water, waking up and getting their day started. The way it creates this scene is just awesome, and I seriously enjoy it a lot. It’s become a personal favorite of mine because it makes me feel connected to nature and just super relaxed.
Happiness – The 1975
Clearly I’m a huge The 1975 fan – it could have been this track or Part of the Band from their recent album Being Funny In A Foreign Language, but this track just worked in the playlist. Being outside makes me happy and the song itself is super upbeat and positive, it’s talking about self-discovery, love, and happiness, and that’s something that I feel when it’s summertime.
Breezer – Yotto
I’m driving in the sun. The wind whips the open windows, and Breezer carries me the whole way. I can’t describe this track as sounding anything other than green
. Bright, natural green, leaves whipped up on the wind to be carried far and away
With Breezer, anything’s possible. We could go anywhere, do anything, explore any vista. The great outdoors beckons, the boundless possibility of nature calls, and Breezer is the messenger. To be honest, the whole album, Growth, is a love letter to nature. But Breezer is the greenest, brightest, airiest of the lot
Be as free as the wind. Be at one with Breezer
Love nature driven playlists? Check out Music to Explore Everything, Music to Wander To, Music to Kiss The Sun, Music to Flex Your Adrenaline
Want more musicto community lists? Check out our previous playlisticles: 16 Top Cover Songs, 10 Songs to Stargaze, 6 Songs for the Future, Sounds like David Bowie, 7 Misheard Songs, Censored, 15 Great Songs for your Vampire Ball, 11 Powerful Songs in Flim, 7 Top Cowbell Songs,