The Spring Equinox is a time when the world feels in balance, when the darkness of winter begins to fully recede and the energies of spring begin to assert themselves. Nicola Gaea has always been in tune with the world around her, and it informs her music – lush, neo-soul tapestries that exude femme energy.
Out now, her new EP ‘Rise’ taps into the Spring Equinox energy, with Nicola Gaea connecting with those subtle shifts in the world around her.
Building a Spring Equinox playlist for CLASH, she writes:
I am highly inspired by nature and one of my favourite songs from my debut EP is a track called ‘Blue Skies’ which came to me whilst I was taking a walk in the park.. Spring is finally here – the season where flowers bloom. This is the time I like to be my most creative and naturally just like the season, where new creations are born.
To celebrate Spring Equinox and this season of heightened creativity, I’ve put together a list of artists who I love. And even better, March is the month of International Women’s Day and although it’s important to celebrate women all year round, I still wanted to take the opportunity to shine a light on all the incredible female artists I have in rotation at the moment.
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Kyra
Kyra is a powerhouse. This is a perfect artist to kick off this feature with as her project ‘As Things Grow’ is an ode to motherhood and growth.
With the message of encouraging people to grow beyond past versions of themselves, this EP is a beautiful piece of work filled with raw lyrics and impeccable vocals. My favourite thing about this project is that it has a sound frequency of 432hz, a frequency that’s said to promote healing and even has the power to make plants grow.
I really appreciate when an artist is that intentional with their work and you can tell this EP was made with tender love and care.
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Talulah Ruby
I first came across Talulah when watching a Jazz improv night at NT’s Loft in Hackney. I was blown away by her dynamic vocal style, range and explorative nature.
Her EP ‘Hyperdrive’ is a melting pot of vocal textures and sounds, forming a meditative body of work. It’s an incredible project that hones in the message of self-acceptance and love. I can’t wait to hear more music from this alluring songstress.
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Nala Sinephro
In a small vinyl store in Cambridge a few years back, a specific vinyl caught my attention. I saw the cover of Nala’s ‘Space 1.8’ and I felt a strong resonance as soon as I saw it, which is crazy considering I hadn’t heard any of the music yet. I was in a place in my life where I wanted to create more space for myself and prioritise my well-being so the title also immediately spoke to me. I bought it straight away.
This experimental jazzy project took me on a sonic journey like nothing before. If you want peace in the form of music, then this is the project for you.
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Sophie Faith
When I first heard ‘Heart On My Sleeve’ by Sophie, it was on repeat for weeks. It’s simply beautiful. Her honey-like vocals are powerful in both emotion and range.
What I love about her music is that the lyrics are incredibly honest. It’s as if music is her medium to bare all and I think this is why it’s music that really makes you feel something. It’s music like this that inspires me to be honest in my writing too. She really is just a sensational singer and writer.
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Shae Universe
Talking about a sensational singer – Shae Universe’s low register is like no other. Shae’s recent album ‘Love’s Letter’ is a 10 track project that represents 10 letters that she would send to herself at different points in her life. Her work ethic is second to none and is an example of what you can achieve with qualities like determination, consistency and passion, to name a few.
Although this project is so personal to Shae, the relatability of the lyrics makes it feel personal to you too. I’m really excited to see how her career grows as she is already established as one of the UK’s R&B queens in my opinion.
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Jaz Karis
Another UK R&B queen, Jaz Karis’s vocals are silky smooth. You can lose yourself in her vocals and yet her melodies keep you actively listening to a song. Her ability to flow on a beat whilst displaying the vocal range she does is pretty bad-ass. Jaz is an artist I first came across in 2015 and watching her journey has been inspiring too. Her video visuals are also always very lovely.
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Cleo Sol
Cleo Sol is an artist that has been in my Top Five artists on my Spotify Wrapped for the last couple years. There is no playlist in my house that exists without Cleo. When I want to pause, quieten down the noise of the outside world and connect with myself, I will put on her Mother album and Gold album… or also the Rose In The Dark album… just all of them! All of her albums are masterpiece’s in their own right.
If you need a hug but can’t receive that from another person then listen to Cleo.
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Rybes
Producer, instrumentalist and singer Rybes is a force. She is multi-talented and an all-round incredible artist. I first met Rybes during a writing camp I attended in 2022 and remember being blown away by her ability to produce rhymes, melodies and words. She just dropped her first single on streaming platforms ‘Wading’ and it’s a banger.
I’m really excited to see her journey as an artist and look forward to hearing more music from her.
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‘Rise’ EP is out now.
Photo Credit: Karis Beaumont
