Summer is officially turned all the way up.
The days are longer, the temperatures are climbing, and somewhere there’s a pool, beach, or shaded patio calling your name. Whether you’re headed for the water, firing up the grill, or just looking for a soundtrack that can compete with the heat, the right playlist makes peak summer hit a little different.
Introducing our newest Spire on Spotify Playlist, Vol. 67: Sonic Flare.
It’s a high-energy mix made for the hottest stretch of the year, with upbeat tracks, undeniable grooves, and songs that sound best with the sun overhead and nowhere else you need to be.
Luke, what is the name of your album?
Sonic Flare. It’s basically what happens when a solar flare hits your Spotify account. I wanted the name to capture that blast of energy you feel in the middle of summer, when the days feel endless, everything is happening outside, and the heat is impossible to ignore. This playlist brings that same energy through your speakers.
How would you describe this mix?
Summer hits that are bright and upbeat. It’s the kind of mix you throw on when you’re heading to the beach, hanging by the pool, or spending an afternoon outside with friends. It has enough energy to keep things moving without trying too hard. The goal is simple: hit play and immediately add some fire songs to your playlist.
What was your inspiration behind it?
There’s a point every year when a Texas summer reaches maximum intensity. The sun stays out forever, and somehow, the heat sticks around even after it goes down. Weekends become a constant debate between finding a cool body of water or hiding inside to stand in front of the AC. Whatever you decide, a good soundtrack makes it better.
What is your favorite song, and why?
“Gold on the Ceiling” by The Black Keys. It’s the kind of song that makes more sense when you’re racing down the highway and the temperature is pushing triple digits. Then that opening guitar riff hits, and you’re legally required to roll down the windows.
“Fire in the sky. Now I can see brighter days.”
– “Fire in the Sky” by Anderson .Paak
If your playlist was a brand, what would it be and why?
A pair of Ray-Bans. Good sunglasses are practically required equipment for a Texas summer. Besides completing your poolside fit, they make everything feel a little cooler (even when the temperatures are definitely not).
Any specific memory that comes to mind when you listen?
Every summer, my grandparents would throw a Fourth of July pool party, bringing our extended family together from all over for a cookout, fireworks, music, and a night by the pool. In the weeks that followed, as summer started winding down and going back to school got closer, I remember wishing I could somehow capture the energy of those nights and hold onto it a little longer.
This playlist is my homage for all the fun they created, the food they made, and the music they played for us that made our summers so special.
What makes your playlist unique?
There are songs everyone will sing along to and tracks that are nothing but the beat. No matter what you pick, it’s gonna be fire.
Thanks for bringing the heat, Luke. Stay tuned to the Spire Blog and Spotify Channel for our next agency playlist.
Luke Bryant is a Senior Account Supervisor at Spire.
