I’ve been a DJ at WSPN, Skidmore’s student-run radio station, since my first semester, and I’m always looking for new music to soundtrack my days here. As the weather gets warmer, I start building playlists for sitting outside — whether that’s stretched out on Case Green or swinging in my hammock between classes. 

Spring is my favorite time to be on campus. You’ll enjoy the warmth as the flowers start to bloom — tossing Frisbees across the lawn, hikes through North Woods, strolling on Broadway in downtown Saratoga Springs, or simply enjoying a sunny afternoon with friends. It’s the kind of season that deserves a perfect playlist. Here’s mine. 

A lot of the songs on this one come straight from the WSPN studio. My friends often sit in with me during my weekly show, and we end up building the soundtrack together — songs like Tom Petty’s “American Girl” or Solange’s “Losing You” that turn into spontaneous dance parties or play in the background on drives to Saratoga Springs’ nearby parks. 

WSPN is more than just a radio station. It’s a space where Creative Thought Matters, and people share what they love, discover new sounds, and build community.  

Events like Lively Lucy’s Folk Fest only add to that energy. As an English and American studies major, I always have reading to do, and there’s nothing like a little folk music to help me focus. Lately, I’ve been returning to songs like Fairport Convention’s “Who Knows Where the Time Goes?” and Simon & Garfunkel’s “April Come She Will.” 

This playlist is a snapshot of what spring feels like here — a mix of quiet afternoons, music with friends, and those first warm days back outside. If you’re visiting campus, I hope you’ll press play and get a sense of it for yourself.