As we approach our first tastes of warmer weather in Boston, we're excited to share the latest edition of Mass Mix. Every month we ask local music luminaries to tell about the songs they have on repeat.

This month is brimming with artists who are expanding creativity and challenging expectations. Emerging local artists like VQnC , Green Piece, and The Burning Lights are on heavy rotation. And established acts like The National and Sara Bareilles are emerging with new music.

VQnC, “Heart”

I’m going local this month with VQnC’s “Heart,” off of her newly released album, Freedom. VQnC has a sound that’s very unique for what typically comes out of this city, and I believe that stuff like this is what’s going to put Boston on the music radar. “Heart" is a little disco, a little pop, and even a little hip-hop. -Alyssa Spector, Founder of Lysten Agency

The Wild Reeds, “Lose My Mind”

The Wild Reeds have built a remarkable catalog from their joint songwriting. But after a period of break-ups, death, and discord within the band, it was time to make room for individual expression. Their new album Cheers is brimming with singular perspectives, and it's their most unified work to date. The single “Lose My Mind,” is about the people in our lives that step in when we need them. The song uses throbbing, lo-fi beats to create the feeling of losing perspective, combined with tender harmonies to remind you that someone is there to catch you. It's personal, honest, and steeped in gratitude —perhaps for each other? "When you’re ‘married’ to five different people for 10 years, things come up that you need to discuss," singer Kinsey Lee says in a press release. "I think we’re all really good at challenging each other to grow and keep coming back to a place of love.” -Stacy Buchanan, Senior Producer, WGBH Music

Angel Bat Dawid, "What Shall I Tell My Children Who Are Black"

Angel Bat Dawid’s simply stunning debut record, The Oracle, is all I could think about for a while. "What Shall I Tell My Children Who Are Black" is the haunting and plaintive 3rd track from the record. Dawid here puts music to the words of the inspiring arts organizer Dr. Margaret Burroughs, who I'm so glad I now know about. A magical song on a record full of them, multiple voices twist up together and unwind, and twist up again pondering the poison of racism and how it will seep into our future. There is a general reed headed wildness to this music. Woodwinds on fire. An experimental soul jazz delivered with an honesty, directness, and flair that is impossibly striking. Song interpretations, originals, and experimental jazz excursions all adding up to a spectacular album, a spectacular statement of Blackness in 2019. I'm really impressed and moved and excited for more from Angel Bat Dawid. -Dan Shea, Editor-In-Chief bostonhassle.com, @les_pred

Maps, "Just Reflecting"

Maps is the nom de record of James Kenneth Chapman, a songwriter/producer who hails from Northampton, England and is on the Mute Records roster. If that sentence is the first you've heard of Maps, you may have some preconceived notions ("British? Mute Records? I know what that will sound like.") If that's the case, set those notions aside. In "Just Reflecting," Maps has made one of the warmest, richest, pieces of electronic music in recent memory. It's a song I can imagine being arranged and performed by the London Symphony Orchestra; it's that gorgeous. I'm looking forward to hearing more when Colours. Reflect. Time. Loss. releases on May 10. -Adam XII, Afternoon Host, indie617

The National, "Light Years"

There are only a few artists whose complete work you can look back on and say, "Wow, that was ALL good." They do exist. You might feel that way about A Tribe Called Quest, or The Beatles, or the Dixie Chicks.... you know who that artist is for you. The National are for me. This is the closing track from their new album, “I Am Easy to Find.” They sound, as always, like a band finding their way through a fog. In that disorientation, lies their consistency, and their brilliance. "Didn't know you were gone 'til we were in the car." What a language! We're going to keep digging into their new record on WERS, but I can tell you now, it's ALL this good. -Phil Jones, Afternoon Host, 88.9 WERS

Green Piece, “Stacy’s Dad”

Lowell indie rockers Green Piece recently released Whatever, a delightful three-song EP guaranteed to please those, like myself, who are suckers for 90s alt-rock nostalgia. The opening track, “Stacy’s Dad,” has been enjoying a run as the top requested song on local radio’s Boston Emissions. And I can understand why. The track starts off with jangly melodic guitar pop that gets your head bobbing until it segues into an explosive, crunchy power-chord driven chorus. The other major hook is Alura Mireault’s fantastic vocals, which are as angsty as they are soulful. Their song structure seems strongly influenced by the “soft-loud-soft” verse-chorus-verse structure that was a major characteristic of 90s alternative and grunge. Oh yeah — I realize there was a song that was popular about ten years ago about another one of Stacy’s relatives. Just make sure you don’t confuse “Stacy’s Dad” with that other Stacy song. Because “Stacy’s Dad” blows it out of the water. -Dave Boz, Writer for The Lowell Spin

Carly Rae Jepsen, “Julien”

Carly Rae Jepsen the pop queen is soon to be back in the spotlight. Her new album Dedicated is out May 17, and it has been a four-year hiatus since she released Emotion. However, she hasn’t been sitting idly by. She’s been writing new music, touring and even acting in Grease Live! She recently released “Julien,” a song she describes as the one “that taught me the heart and direction of this album [Dedicated],” in a tweet. Though the infectious disco-pop energy of “Julien” makes you dance, don’t let the sound fool you. This emotional song paired with her signature breathy vocals and sparkly instrumental creates an upbeat song on heartbreak that leaves us awaiting the rest of her new album. -Audrey Wang, Digital Content Co-op, WGBH

Sara Bareilles, “Fire”

Sara Bareilles has been all over our radios now for a decade, thanks to a string of upbeat piano-heavy pop hits. She's back with Amidst The Chaos, a more stripped-down album, proving that artistry and authenticity have a place in the pop world. Some tracks on the album are strongly influenced by politics, like "Armor," the female empowerment anthem and "A Safe Place To Land," the John Legend duet that pays tribute to immigrants at the U.S. border. But "Fire" is the one I can't get out of my head. If there's such a thing as a happy breakup song, this is it. Bareilles wisely acknowledges that even though she tried, her relationship would have never caught fire and flourished. But it's all good because now she knows exactly what to look for in the next one. -Meghan Smith, Digital Producer, WGBH

The Burning Lights, "Medicate"

Picture this: a night scene from a coming-of-age film set in 1990s New York City. Your narrator is sitting in a gritty subway car, alone, contemplating the potentially life-changing issue at hand as the lights from the passing tunnel flash across his face. "Medicate," one of the newest songs released by Boston pop-punk band The Burning Lights, is the soundtrack. It's fitting, and it's poignant. It's a brilliantly tender song punctuated with raw, wistful lyricism that serves as the heart of the track. With acoustic riffs that echo old fashioned guitar-driven rock and roll, "Medicate" evokes nostalgic vibes and haunting melodies on their latest single. -Alexis den Boggende, Staff Writer at Sound of Boston, @alexisdenboggende

Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass, “This Guy’s In Love With You”

I’m throwing it way, way back as we take the slow New England slide into spring: I haven’t stopped listening to Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass’ “This Guy’s In Love With You” since the warmer weather rolled in. The vibe is all lazy summer days, drinks on patios, and naps in a hammock – a whole big mood. And while the usual Alpert & Brass corny trumpet solo shows up here, it’s more laid back, and well-balanced with Burt Bacharach written piano chords laying the foundation for the song. Fun fact: the song was the first number one for Alpert, but also the first number one for Bacharach. Enjoy, and don’t say I never gifted you with amazing 70s slow jams. -Andrea Wolanin, Digital Producer, WGBH

Patio, "Scum"

I wish Patio got the same praise every post-punk band of all men from the U.K. get for making the same music. The band from NYC has been slowly gaining a fanbase in the few years they've been making music together. Their songs are catchy as heck with pulsing rhythms and monotonous vocals perfectly encapsulating the emotions and energy we have left in the millennial generation. "Scum" exemplifies that best with drastic rhythm and timing changes throughout the song that make just under four minutes sound like a sonic journey. They're playing Fuzzstival in June at Somerville's ONCE, so don't miss them! -Christine Varriale, Editor-in-Chief at Allston Pudding