Welcome back to Parsons Playlists! Today’s playlist is curated by Music Library student manager Nikoloz (class of 2026) and features a selection of house music tunes.
WDCE 90.1: UR Radio is the voice of independent radio in Richmond, VA and has been student-run and operated since 1960.
Students have used it as a launching pad for careers in radio or other mass communications, and also as an engaging extra-curricular activity. Community members and UR alumni also continue to play an important role in the station.
The top four albums played on WDCE this week were: * Snail Mail – Ricochet * Various Artists – Help(2) * Mitski – Nothing’s About to Happen to Me * Courtney Barnett – Creature of Habit
Editor’s note:Arachnophonia (“Arachno” = spider / “-phonia” = sound) is a regular feature on our blog where members of the UR community can share their thoughts about resources from the Parsons Music Library‘s collection.
The first vinyl piece started off with meditative sounds, which immediately relaxed my mood and body. Then, slowly soft violin and a faint piano start to play. Everything sounded very high-pitched, but it gave off a relaxing vibe. The violin would slowly stop playing and then gently start again. I would recommend this first piece if you are feeling stressed and want to listen to some relaxing music.
The second vinyl piece was a completely different vibe. It started with a very fast-paced string instrument that sounded like a cello. It gave off the feeling of an intense chase. The string instruments slowed down, giving me the feeling that I had run into the forest to hide. Then the rhythm started to speed up again. But this time, instead of running away from danger, it sounded like I was running towards safety. This piece gave me a very deep sense of meaning and emotion.
Welcome back to Parsons Playlists! Today’s playlist is curated by Music Library student manager Laeticia (class of 2026) and features some Afrobeats and Amapiano tracks for your summer enjoyment!
Sounds Like Summer 2.0: Afrobeats & Amapiano
Spring is here, and honestly, my mind is already somewhere warm. I’m thinking picture-perfect weather, good vibes, and even better company. This time of year always has me reminiscing on my favorite summers, the kind filled with just the right mix of heat, laughter, and music that makes every moment feel like a movie scene. That music, for me, has always been Afrobeats and Amapiano.
If you haven’t been fully introduced to the world of African music yet, let me be the one to do it. Afrobeats and Amapiano have taken over dance floors, rooftops, and radio stations across the globe, and they deserve just as much shine here on campus. These genres are cultural, joyful, and layered with history, movement, and feeling. There is a richness to this music that goes beyond the beat, and once it gets into you, it doesn’t leave.
We’re deep in one of the most demanding stretches of the semester, and what better way to push through than with music that refuses to let the energy drop? I have put together the ultimate Afrobeats and Amapiano playlist filled with songs that carry that warm-weather feeling no matter what the forecast says. Think of this as your early introduction to the soundtrack of your summer. Every track on this list is one you will hear at a function, and you will want to know every word when that moment hits.
So consider this your invitation into the world of Afrobeats and Amapiano, and thank me later!
Editor’s note:Arachnophonia (“Arachno” = spider / “-phonia” = sound) is a regular feature on our blog where members of the UR community can share their thoughts about resources from the Parsons Music Library‘s collection.
Antonio Vivaldi was an Italian composer born in Venice in 1678. He was also a priest, known for his red hair, which earned him the nickname “The Red Priest.” For much of his career, he worked at the Ospedale della Pietà, a girls’ orphanage and convent with a renowned music program. There, he served as violin teacher, composer, and music director, writing a vast amount of music for the talented students to perform.
Vivaldi was incredibly prolific. He is best known for his set of violin concertos called The Four Seasons, which uses music to paint scenes of spring, summer, autumn, and winter. But that’s just a small part of his output. He wrote over 500 concertos for various instruments, nearly 50 operas, and many sacred choral works. His music is famous for its bright, energetic feel, memorable melodies, and dramatic contrasts.
Welcome back to Parsons Playlists! Today’s playlist is curated by Music Library student manager Alexandra (Alex) (class of 2026) and features some songs that she deems to be “late night classics.”
WDCE 90.1: UR Radio is the voice of independent radio in Richmond, VA and has been student-run and operated since 1960.
Students have used it as a launching pad for careers in radio or other mass communications, and also as an engaging extra-curricular activity. Community members and UR alumni also continue to play an important role in the station.
The top four albums played on WDCE this week were: * Various Artists – Help (2) * Mitski – Nothing’s About to Happen to Me * Arlo Parks – Ambiguous Desire * The Sophs – Goldstar
Editor’s note:Arachnophonia (“Arachno” = spider / “-phonia” = sound) is a regular feature on our blog where members of the UR community can share their thoughts about resources from the Parsons Music Library‘s collection.
The Rocky Mountain High album was created to reflect the immense beauty of Colorado and the vast amount of love and appreciation John Denver has for the state. After changing his last name from Deutschendorf to Denver in the early 60’s, his love and passion for the state was further emphasized through this album. The folky vibes really encompass the natural beauty of Colorado and are reminiscent of sitting around a camp fire, as the title track so eloquently points out, and the warm vibes draw people together to celebrate their love.
This album is further enhanced by listening to it on vinyl. This form of media highlights the warmth of the song and the sounds of the instruments. It also seems more conversational between artist and listener as on vinyl it isn’t as refined as through other media types. Especially within this genre, vinyl highlights the common instruments of folk music such as the acoustic guitar and natural vocals which I personally really appreciated when listening.
This album’s release in the early 1970s gained popularity due to the rising environmental awareness of the time. His album was an inspiration to many to go out and enjoy nature and the beauty of the world. He encourages his audience to see the world and its beauty as a transformative experience, rather than by merely recognizing the scenery.
Editor’s note:Arachnophonia (“Arachno” = spider / “-phonia” = sound) is a regular feature on our blog where members of the UR community can share their thoughts about resources from the Parsons Music Library‘s collection.
Welcome back to Parsons Playlists! Today’s playlist is curated by Music Library student manager Laeticia (class of 2026) and features some modern jazz tunes.
New Voices, Old Soul: A Modern Jazz Playlist
Jazz has always been about pushing boundaries while honoring what came before. It is a genre that never died. It just changed addresses. This playlist is proof that the genre is very much alive in the hands of a new generation of artists who grew up on everything from hip hop to classical music and brought all of it into the jazz tradition. From intimate vocal performances to genre-bending fusion, these tracks represent the new sound of jazz, one that feels both familiar and completely fresh. Let this be your introduction to the voices shaping jazz right now.
