ON REPEAT PLAYLIST: Spring 2026
When I was in kindergarten, my favorite song was “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” by The Beatles. I would lay beside the radio speaker after school and wait for the song to play. A few years later, I was caught up in a Paula Abdul phase and put on lip sync performances for any willing audience. Don’t get me started on the summer after Amy Grant’s “Baby Baby” came out. Obsessed.
Isn’t this the magical thing about music? Songs carry more than great sounds. They become connected to memories and phases of our lives. As we move through the years, musical tastes rise and fall, constantly shifting. There may be periods where we are tuned into new and upcoming artists, followed by stretches of time when we are circling back to songs from the past.
Our current “favorite song” is simply a snapshot of a singular moment in time. Wait a few days, and it’s likely to shift yet again. With that said, enjoy this eclectic collection of what our staff and instructors are listening to this spring. Reach out and let us know: what’s your current fav?
ON REPEAT
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ON REPEAT •
Adam
Song: I'm Different by Randy Newman
Why: It’s a perfect little piano pop diddy about LOVING yourself for being DIFFERENT! A perfect message for our amazing students and instructors!
Allison
Song: Si Una Vez by Selena
Why: Gets me hyped while driving in the car!
Athena
Song: Kagefumi by Hyakkei
Why: It's an instrumental song that the band really grooves into. I love the complexity of the changing time signatures.
Brandon
Song: Big Takeover by Bad Brains
Why: It makes me want to circle pit with my friends and feel rebellious!
Brittney
Song: Lolita Express by Lola Lexy
Why: I enjoy this song because it sends a message while sounding so beautiful.
Danielle
Song: By My Window by Jon and Roy
Why: This song has been making me smile lately. It is giving me all the springtime, windows open, sunshiney vibes.
Denilson
Song: Prisa by Camila Perez
Why: The song is a super fun listen. It has cool percussion parts, and it is very groovy. The song is uplifting and is about not worrying about the bad stuff; we're not in a hurry to die, so why not laugh in the meantime? There's an awesome flute solo in the middle, and to top it off, the vocals are so melodically interesting that it scratches my brain.
Donny
Song: Strode Rode by Sonny Rollins
Why: Strode Rode features one of the best saxophone solos of all time from Sonny Rollins. It's a masterclass of rhythm, phrasing, voice leading, and tone. Not to mention the rest of the band takes a relatively simple tune and explores so many different avenues of musical expression.
Dustin
Song: Come Around and Love Me by Jalen Ngonda
Why: Both the track and the album itself are fantastic. A throwback to Motown, all soul and groove!
Eddie
Song: Che Vuole Questa Musica Stasera by Peppino Gagliardi
Why: I love the Italian language, and the 60s style production of it reminds me of old James Bond movies!
Gabe
Song: Crypt Key by Windhand
Why: I’ve seen Windhand live, met them, and I just love their music. I haven't listened to them in a long time, but I fell back into their music after becoming the guitarist of Violet Rising because being in this band reminds me of my love for women-fronted heavy music. I love Windhand for their slow tempo, their haunting and soft vocal lines, with absolutely crushing heavy guitar tone. This one hits me extra hard because I’ve heard them take the ballad route, but the intro tricks you. The lyrics and melody are perfection to me.
Issac
Song: Same in the End by Sublime
Why: It's punk rock and ska and feels like springtime!
Jabez
Song: Couch by Slow Burn
Why: Couch is a big band similar to The Cakes based in Boston. I love how they fuse their jazz backgrounds with catchy pop melodies. This song has an easygoing but addictive groove. The way they twist harmonies but still have an approachable melody is so clever as well.
Jameson
Song: Green Eyes by Chris Cohen
Why: Love it — 70s sound, cool drum intro, great vocal harmonies
Jay
Song: Things Have Changed by Bob Dylan
Why: My students know that I am a huge Dylan fan. He’s straight up hilarious. “I used to care, but things have changed”… Genius!
Julee
Song: Dance Yrself Clean by LCD Soundsystem
Why: It always puts me in a better mood.
Justin
Song: Ring Ring Ring by Tyler the Creator
Why: I heard it on a podcast while driving home from an out-of-town gig, and it just hits a nice, funky but smooth groove. It feels like it knows when to stop and when to go. The bass drum pattern is really tricky but tasteful, and I appreciate that! I think there are a lot of reasons this will get stuck in your head, too.
Kat
Song: The Romantic (album) by Bruno Mars
Why: Something about it makes me so happy!
Kayla
Song: Good 2 Yourself by LISP
Why: Because sometimes you just need to DANCE it out, and the song reminds you to be kind to yourself; something we all need to be reminded of from time to time.
Ken B.
Song: Days Go By by May Erlewine, Woody Goss
Why: It reminds me of some good days with people I love. I think about my old place in the South Valley.
Ken E.
Song: Orange Juice by Noah Kahan
Why: I genuinely think that the first verse is the best lyricism on the entire Stick Season album. Noah Kahan's level of openness and vulnerability is something anyone should strive towards in their personal relationships, and I can't wait to sit down and hear what he does with his new album.
Kendall
Song: What About Me by The Exceptional Three
Why: I love everything about it. Amazing vocal performance and the harmonies 👌
Kevin
Song: Sleeping by Foxwarren
Why: Incredibly catchy hook, crunchy harmonies, samples of some old-timey movies/tv shows! Andy Shauf at the helm with a handful of his Canadian childhood pals. Foxwarren's sophomore album - "2" is my MOST spinned record of the year. So good.
Lucy
Song: Wherefore and Why by Gordon Lightfoot
Why: I love it because of the energy and chorus, it's very happy.
Ricardo
Song: One Hand On The Buffalo by The Heavy Eyes
Why: This was the first song that got me into The Heavy Eyes, and I can honestly say I love every song I have heard from them. But “One Hand On The Buffalo” definitely stands out to me still. It gets me so amped up, and it’s really just good ol’ fashion hard rock at its best. Killer guitar riff and solo, the rhythm section keeps it driving, and even the lyrics get me motivated. This one is always good for those sluggish mornings; be ready for uncontrollable headbanging.
Sharon
Song: Imagine by John Lennon
Why: He was spot on back then and, especially nowadays, peace and harmony are needed more than ever.
Sofia
Song: Higher by Creed
Why: I saw Creed last summer in concert, and it was life-changing to hear it live. Hearing those words being sung at Isleta motivated me as a musician. Not only is it musically exciting and super nostalgic, but it also stirs within me a sense of excitement about performing and creating!!
