Long time no see, playlist land! My first of 2026 comes with the season, a particularly inspirational spring in which I’ve been particularly moved by the flowering trees and sprouting tulips in my neighborhood, along with some recent releases that have fit the weather and temperament so perfectly I had to make a walking accompaniment.

And that’s what Pollen-Dusted Parade is! It’s a rather happy-go-lucky, jolly and wistful jaunt through warmer weather, extended sun time and being surrounded by beautiful colors after extended drabness. This winter was intense in NYC; the most snow we’ve gotten in some time. I’ve put all these songs together to counteract the piles of mucky snow that has accumulated in our hearts, to rip us open and spread our contagious pollen in the wind. There’s no sexual undertones here: purely just trying to keep it light.

This playlist contains new favorites from artists like Fabiano Do Nascimento, Gia Margaret and Tasha, along with old standbys like Camera Obscura, Björk, Mary Lattimore, Yo La Tengo and more. I’m obviously biased, but I listened to this while I was doing chores and errands on a Saturday morning, an especially lovely morning in the city at that, and it absolutely slapped.

Below you’ll only find the playlist streaming on Tidal, but I’m working on getting it onto other platforms, so keep your eyes on this space if you’re not in The Waves™ with me and other Tidal users. Happy Spring!

Listen to Pollen-Dusted Parade via Tidal HERE

1. Fabiano Do Nascimento & Vittor Santos Orquestra – “O Tempo (Foi O Meu Mestre”
2. Minnie Riperton – “Memory Band”
3. Jim O’Rourke – “Something Big”
4. Yo La Tengo – “Well You Better”
5. Kings Of Convenience – “I’d Rather Dance With You”
6. Girls – “Heartbreaker”
7. Katy Kirby – “Juniper”
8. The Sea and Cake – “Harbor Bridges”
9. Tomberlin – “sunstruck”
10. Green-House – “Soft Meadow”
11. Gia Margaret – “Good Friend”
12. The Go! Team – “Ladyflash”
13. Camera Obscura – “French Navy”
14. Maia Friedman – “New Flowers”
15. Dorothy Ashby – “Soul Vibrations”
16. Lemon Jelly – “Space Walk”
17. Syreeta – “What Love Has Joined Together”
18. Björk – “Venus as a Boy”
19. Fleet Foxes – “Lorelai”
20. Blue Lake – “Fur”
21. Joanna Newsom – “Good Intentions Paving Company”
22. Nick Drake – “One Of These Things First”
23. Tasha – “Summer”
24. June McDoom – “On My Way (With Strings)”
25. Mary Lattimore – “And Then He Wrapped His Wings Around Me (feat. Meg Baird & Walt McClements)”