Exams may be approaching, but they’re not here yet! If you’re stuck for songs this Easter break, or keen to jump out of your regular listening cycle, we, the Varsity Music editors, are here to help. Now, sit back and relax while we serenade you with our top Spring tracks.

February marked the one-year anniversary of Charli XCX’s seminal Boiler Room set, so there’s no better time to commemorate BRAT summer. You’re free from the cesspits of Cambridge nightlife for a whole month, get to the club and go ‘Spring Breakers’! If you’re on the A.G. Cook train, try Caroline Polachek’s cover of ‘Spring is Coming With a Strawberry in The Mouth’, a refreshingly punchy song with harpsichord-style synths and a distinctive, almost celestial, electronic sound. Besides, if “I just write to you so that you know I am alive” doesn’t evoke the angsty correspondence of two long-distance College friends, I don’t know what does.

That said, I’m a firm believer in HAIM girl spring, and with the release of their latest single ‘Relationships’, I think we ought to pay our respects. Edgy but upbeat in typical HAIM fashion, ‘Relationships’ encapsulates the tension and uncertainty of a romantic ‘break’. It’s understatedly funky, and paired with their other hits – ‘Don’t Wanna’, ‘The Wire’, and ‘Little of Your Love’ spring to mind – it’s a clear classic.

“I’m a firm believer in HAIM girl spring”

If you’re spending your Easter break lazing in the (admittedly middling) English sun, we’ve got you covered. Check out Khruangbin and Leon Bridge’s collaborative ‘Mariella’ and ‘Texas Sun’. They’re dreamy, with a laid-back, hazy sound and matching lyrics. A little more upbeat, Paris-based Oracle Sisters’ ‘Asc. Scorpio’ and ‘The Dandelion’ have a similar feel, and should certainly be part of your Spring rotation. A special shout out has to go to Drugdealer and Kate Bollinger’s ‘Pictures of You’, a very 70s hit bound to resonate with the yearners amongst us. Replace ‘you’ with a College landmark, and you’ve got an ode to Cambridge!

There’s always something bittersweet about returning home, however briefly. Joni Mitchell’s ‘California’ and Fleet Foxes’ ‘Ragged Wood’ both capture that feeling for me, equal parts jubilant and retrospective, and undeniably uplifting. Fleet Foxes are generally reliable on this front, with their well-balanced indie-folk sound pairing well with tender, evocative lyrics.

“It’s enough to convince you that the world (or Cambridge) is yours for the taking”

Perhaps, though, being at home is inspirational; the academic comeback awaits in the term ahead, and this holiday provides the perfect opportunity to put some pep back in your steps. For motivation, look no further than Ted Hawkins’ ‘Big Things’ and The Stone Roses’ timelessly swaggering ‘ I Am the Resurrection’. It’s enough to convince you that the world (or Cambridge) is yours for the taking, and what more do you need?

Well, maybe you need a moment to be a bit more zen, and to calm things down a notch. Fear not, because Leo Kottke’s brilliant instrumental ‘Owls,’ just him and his acoustic guitar, is more than enough. It’s perfect for those moments in the spring sun, and if you’re fortunate enough to get more than five minutes’ worth of sunshine, then Carole King’s perfect ‘Bitter with the Sweet’ will satisfy.

Whether it’s the silky vocals of Lion’s ‘You’ve Got a Woman’ or the smooth saxophone of Van Morrison’s ‘Days Like This’, this Easter break needs some moments of respite and relaxation between the exam stresses, a song to ask yourself “Is it ever that deep?” Whatever your answer is, I’m sure Varsity’s Easter Playlist will satisfy and make everything that little bit better.

You can hear the full playlist here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1gPZy3DDIyXtrMjVcSHy0M?si=85ade2f20e3f4665