Some artists just know how to capture the sound of summer and put it on an album – whether that’s Zara Larsson, whose sophomore album So Good felt like one big endless beach party, or Little Mix, who defined the summer of 2017 with their magnum opus Glory Days. While those are two of the obvious picks in the conversation about summery sounds, here are five albums and EPs that you might not have heard yet but that will sweeten up your summer for sure. 

Caity Baser released her debut album Still Learning in March of this year so who knows, maybe the song of the summer for 2024 is actually on it? Not unlikely, since the album boasts plenty of fun pop tunes that immediately spike your serotonin level. Caity’s energy, which she is known for bringing to live performances, is just as palpable on record as on stage. It’s also exactly the energy we need this summer – this album is explosive right from the start and exudes confidence, joy and self-love. ‘X&Y’ and ‘Oh Well’ are two of the highlights but truthfully, every track has the potential to become the sound of your summer. 

If you’ve never heard Nemo’s name before, now might be the time to remember it. They are already a celebrated superstar in their home country Switzerland and have now gained international attention with their song ‘The Code’. But long before this epic tune was released, Nemo put out an EP called WHATEVER FEELS RIGHT. It’s full with fast-paced tracks that aren’t necessarily cheerful in content – in fact, most of the songs have quite heartbreaking lyrics – but the upbeat production and overall tone of the EP make it a mood booster either way. So actually, you get the best of both worlds: Lyrics for a sad girl summer and tunes that will make you dance.   

Griff is, without a doubt, the woman of the hour. She has just announced her debut album Vertigo which will come out in July, following the release of two EPs leading up to the album. In 2021, Griff dropped her EP One Foot in Front of The Other, a project that doesn’t just include the hit ‘Black Hole’ but also several fun, catchy pop tracks. The only exception here is ‘Earl Grey Tea’ which is an actual tear jerker.  Other than that, the EP is pure sunshine, with the songs ‘Shade of Yellow’ and ‘Walk’ especially exuding summer energy. 

KAMILLE, the award-winning song-writer who is responsible for every other hit you hear on the radio, finally released her debut album K1 last year and it’s, simply put, the epitome of golden hour. The album is rich with exciting beats and a variety of different musical elements, touching several genres such as R&B, rap, soul and, of course, pop. The album also includes a song titled ‘The Sun’ which is about KAMILLE’s journey to motherhood. Apart from this sweet track, which truly is a ray of sunshine on the album, it’s the songs ‘All My Love’ and ‘Options’ that will give you all the summer feels. One is a love song to her partner, one is a love song to herself, both are love songs to life.  

It wouldn’t be right to write about summer music without mentioning FLO. Apart from actually having a song called ‘Summertime’, FLO’s sound is the embodiment of warm afternoons on the beach. Their EP The Lead is full to the brim with summer anthems, from their hit ‘Cardboard Box’ to lesser-known gems such as ‘Feature Me’ and, of course, ‘Summertime’. With this EP, which was released in 2022, the trio put themselves on the map as one of the most exciting R&B acts in the UK. Since then, they’ve ventured into international waters and received an incredibly enthusiastic welcome during their recent performance at Coachella.