Refresh your spring playlist with these 5 Virginia artists

From pop tunes to mellow memories, springtime in Virginia brings as many flowers as it does rain showers. 

Virginia’s rich musical history blossoms at the very whisper of springtime. From Pharrell Williams’ feel-good anthem to the nostalgic melodies of the Carter Family, discover the top five tracks that capture the essence of the season, all from the heart of the commonwealth. 

Ready to refresh your playlist? Let Virginia’s finest artists lead the way.

1. Pharrell Williams—“Happy”

We’d be remiss if we didn’t kick off the top of the list with a title sure to get you into the swing of spring. Pharrell Williams’ “Happy” hit the airwaves in 2013, spreading positive vibes from his hometown, Virginia Beach, to his current home in Los Angeles, California. 

With lyrics like “It might seem crazy what I’m about to say/Sunshine she’s here, you can take a break,” the upbeat tune abounds with jubilant energy. It’s nearly impossible not to “clap along” as a way to welcome the season.

2. Dave Matthews Band—“Singing From the Windows”

Inviting listeners into a mellow, idealized future, “Singing From the Windows” encapsulates a utopian future of days gone by. The narrator reminisces about good times spent before a raging war—and how they long for a similar reality again, though things around them are far from perfect.

Originally from South Africa, singer-songwriter Dave Matthews moved to Charlottesville in 1986, where he formed the Dave Matthews Band five years later.

3. Jason Mraz—“I’m Yours”

Despite the tropical, breezy sounds of Jason Mraz’s 2008 hit “I’m Yours,” the singer was born in Mechanicsville. The song evokes the cheery jitters of a budding romance, with lines like: “I tried to be chill, but you’re so hot that I melted.”

Mraz isn’t only known for his vocals. In 2023, he went on the reality television series Dancing With the Stars, where he ultimately won second place.

4. Missy Elliott—“The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)”

You know what they say about spring showers! They bring… deep space dance music?! In 2024, the Portsmouth-born singer made universal history when her “The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)” single became the first hip hop song ever broadcast into deep space. 

The 1997 tune went all the way to Venus, thanks to NASA’s Deep Space Network.

5. Carter Family—Keep on the Sunny Side

Talk about the good old days—the times when a fresh apple pie wafted from the open window sill, and records played on the victrola. Songs by the Carter Family transport you right back in an instant, just like “Keep on the Sunny Side.”

Previously unknown to the mainstream, A.P., Sara, and Maybelle Carter from Maces Springs made their way to the state line thanks to a newspaper ad looking for “hillbilly music” singers. The family recorded multiple songs for the 1927 Bristol Sessions at $50 a pop. By 1930, the Carters had more than 300,000 record sales under their belt.