Albums for Summer Nights

Summer is the season for enjoying, drifting – and listening. For half the year, we long for warm days and light-filled nights, when the sun lingers above the rooftops and the streets come alive. As the pace slows down and the senses open up, nothing quite captures the feeling of summer like music. That’s why we’ve gathered our top album picks for these exact moments – personally selected by the QB Gallery team. Turn up the volume, exhale, and let the music become the soundtrack to your summer.

Camilla recommends

Luar (1981) – Gilberto Gil

A warm and vibrant album blending Brazilian tropicália with reggae and soul – perfect for lazy nights with a breeze through the curtains and a drink in hand.

Lianne La Havas (2020) – Lianne La Havas

Soft, sensual, and intimate, full of warm guitar tones and emotional vocals – ideal for calm, romantic evenings under the stars.

Private Space (2021) – Durand Jones & The Indications

Retro-futuristic soul with disco rhythms and silky falsetto – an elegant soundtrack for glittery, danceable summer nights.

Honey (1975) – Ohio Players

Funky, sexy, and sweet – a classic ‘70s album that oozes heat, hedonism, and long, sweaty nights.

Forevigt (2019) – Hans Philip

Melancholic and minimalist hip-hop with soft beats and poetic lyrics – perfect for a walk or a bike ride on a warm summers evening.

Nuova Napoli (2018) – Nu Genea

A delightful mix of funk, disco, and Neapolitan soul – like a dancing summer night on an Italian rooftop.

Owhaaou...! (2023) – Stanislas Tohon

Vibrant Afro-funk with West African grooves and vintage synth sounds – an energetic yet smooth companion to warm nights filled with rhythm.

Katia recommends

Feeding Seahorses by Hand (2019) - Billie Marten

An absolute favorite – with new music on the way this summer.
She has a soft, beautiful voice, and her melodies let your mind wander and drift into daydreams.

Life Is Strange (2021) - Angus & Julia Stone

A guaranteed mood-setter – this artist duo never misses on a summer day or night.

La question (1971) - Françoise Hardy

French lyrics and atmosphere – all you need for a romantic summer evening.

Quarantine Sessions (2021) - Tom Misch

A beautiful acoustic guitar album that lets you float into the summer night.

Miel de Montagne (2019) - Miel de Montagne

An all-time favorite – the very definition of summer vibes.

AYA (2020) - Aya Nakamura

Perfect if you want to vibe, dance, and hum along – pure feel-good rhythms you’ll quickly get hooked on!

XSCAPE (2014) - Michael Jackson

A favorite and a guaranteed winner for that true summer feeling!

Feels Like Home (2004) - Norah Jones

Last but not least – Norah Jones, who makes you dream and enjoy life just a little more.

Mikaela recommends

Mr Experience (2020) - Donny Benet

Perfect in the background on an early afternoon with friends.

Aller-Retour (2019) - Bon Entendeur

Fantastic music for a day at the beach. French group with their own songs, but also several good remixes. Can also recommend the "This is Bon Entendeur" playlist on Spotify.

Ultraviolence (2014) - Lana Del Rey

A melancholic classic. Best enjoyed with red wine on a warm evening.

True Blue (1986) - Madonna

One of my first album favorites, strong delivery from a younger Madonna. "La Isla Bonita" leads you into a great summer night.

Weeks Above The Earth (2021) - Augustine

Swedish artist with perfect music for a car or boat trip with wind in your hair.

Melissa recommends

Lili Boulanger: Hymne au Soleil. Chorwerke (2018) - Lili Boulanger

A selection of choir works from one of modernism's most overlooked composers. The music is bright, dramatic and precisely shaped, with a sound that turns both upwards and inwards.

Urubu (1976) - Antônio Carlos Jobim

A melancholic and orchestral bossa nova album in which Jobim retreats from the rhythm and into slow, dreamy arrangements.

Mam Pe'ela Su'ure (2021) - Florence Adooni

Ghanaian highlife meets gospel and brass in full swing. Adooni's vocals elevate the music and make this a short and intense experience that sticks.

Steve Reich: Tehillim / The Desert Music (2011) - Steve Reich

Two central works in Reich's catalogue that explore the intersection of rhythm, voice and spirituality. The music moves between light and dark with hypnotic precision.

Brazilian Dorian Deam (1976) - Manfredo Fest

An elegant blend of jazz, funk and Brazilian groove. Fest plays with a relaxed technique and melodic inventiveness that makes each song absolutely fantastic.

Embracing You (2021) - Pablo Held

Lyrical jazz with a great sense of space and melodic clarity.

Esperanza (2008) - Esperanza Spalding

An energetic and musically rich debut that combines jazz, soul and Brazilian elements.

No Voo do Urubu (2016) - Arthur Verocai

Complex and airy arrangements that combine Brazilian soul with the magic of jazz.

Clube Da Esquina (1972) - Milton Nascimento, Lô Borges

A genre-defining classic from Brazilian music history. Experimental and poetic, with a collective expression that still feels free and forward-thinking.