Motivational Playlist for Spring
By Kira Ivarsdottir
March 12, 2025
With the winter weather dying down and the spring season emerging, University of Maryland students are using music as a way to motivate themselves for the semester to come. Keep reading to see what students are listening to and click the playlist to listen along!
After seeing Clairo’s concert in D.C. last semester,Aliyah Hampton, freshman computer engineering major, found an appreciation for Clairo’s overall positive vibes which are a necessity for feeling motivated for her classes.
“I feel like she gives off, like a spring vibe. And the whole album she made just gives off a spring, rejuvenating, calm vibe,” Hampton said.
With J.Cole’s “cLOUDs” possessing dreamlike elements being overlaid with artistic rap, freshman bioengineering major Adebusola Adeleke took a particular interest in J.Cole’s diction, which she feels represents the modern era.
“[cLOUDs] did really motivate me, actually. And he, like, addressed a lot of the things, and current events going on that people really don't want to address. And I really appreciate him for standing up for that,” Adeleke said.
As classes are starting to pick up, “3005”’s upbeat and fast tempo motivates students such as Morgan Chow, freshman chemical engineering major, who are looking for a little extra pep in their step on the walk to class.
“I go off vibes a lot, and I feel like that's a good, bright song, and upbeat, so that's a good spring motivational song,” Chow said.
Though upbeat songs can motivate you at the beginning of the day, a more low-key song like “I won’t” might be a better winding down song after a long day of classes.
“I've been really into R&B recently, especially H.E.R.’s playlists…her album really resonates with my soul,” Adeleke said.
A good middle ground between upbeat and chill songs is “Another Life” by SZA. From her deluxe album that recently came out, “Another Life” provides a passionate yet calming beat that carries lyrics that can resonate with many students in different ways.
“[Another Life] is just a hit. It's just really good. Like, I just need to listen to that. I think, [in] another life I might not be an engineer,” Hampton said.
Though Nolan Rogalski, freshman journalism major, is not much of a love song person, he believes that the song provides just the perfect amount of sweetness for the weeks following Valentine’s Day.
“Inhaler’s sound is super interesting, very reminiscent of the Killers or more 90s pop-rock, and I’ve listened to this album a bunch because I’m hoping to go to the concert in DC next Friday - if anyone else is going, say hey!” Rogalski said.
With spring representing new beginnings, SZA’s “Good Days” emulates a feeling of rebirth and also the hope that better days are ahead.
“It's such a feel-good song. I love it so much. And it just really shows a spring vibe,” Adeleke said. Chow also shared similar sentiments about the song saying, “I feel like [it’s] kind of a reminder that better days are ahead.”
- “Juna” by Clairo
After seeing Clairo’s concert in D.C. last semester,Aliyah Hampton, freshman computer engineering major, found an appreciation for Clairo’s overall positive vibes which are a necessity for feeling motivated for her classes.
“I feel like she gives off, like a spring vibe. And the whole album she made just gives off a spring, rejuvenating, calm vibe,” Hampton said.
- “cLOUDs” by J.Cole
With J.Cole’s “cLOUDs” possessing dreamlike elements being overlaid with artistic rap, freshman bioengineering major Adebusola Adeleke took a particular interest in J.Cole’s diction, which she feels represents the modern era.
“[cLOUDs] did really motivate me, actually. And he, like, addressed a lot of the things, and current events going on that people really don't want to address. And I really appreciate him for standing up for that,” Adeleke said.
- “3005” by Childish Gambino
As classes are starting to pick up, “3005”’s upbeat and fast tempo motivates students such as Morgan Chow, freshman chemical engineering major, who are looking for a little extra pep in their step on the walk to class.
“I go off vibes a lot, and I feel like that's a good, bright song, and upbeat, so that's a good spring motivational song,” Chow said.
- “I won’t” by H.E.R.
Though upbeat songs can motivate you at the beginning of the day, a more low-key song like “I won’t” might be a better winding down song after a long day of classes.
“I've been really into R&B recently, especially H.E.R.’s playlists…her album really resonates with my soul,” Adeleke said.
- “Another Life” by SZA
A good middle ground between upbeat and chill songs is “Another Life” by SZA. From her deluxe album that recently came out, “Another Life” provides a passionate yet calming beat that carries lyrics that can resonate with many students in different ways.
“[Another Life] is just a hit. It's just really good. Like, I just need to listen to that. I think, [in] another life I might not be an engineer,” Hampton said.
- “A Question of You” by Inhaler
Though Nolan Rogalski, freshman journalism major, is not much of a love song person, he believes that the song provides just the perfect amount of sweetness for the weeks following Valentine’s Day.
“Inhaler’s sound is super interesting, very reminiscent of the Killers or more 90s pop-rock, and I’ve listened to this album a bunch because I’m hoping to go to the concert in DC next Friday - if anyone else is going, say hey!” Rogalski said.
- “Good Days” by SZA
With spring representing new beginnings, SZA’s “Good Days” emulates a feeling of rebirth and also the hope that better days are ahead.
“It's such a feel-good song. I love it so much. And it just really shows a spring vibe,” Adeleke said. Chow also shared similar sentiments about the song saying, “I feel like [it’s] kind of a reminder that better days are ahead.”