March can generally feel like a turning point for many. The days become a little longer, the air becomes warmer, and the first signs of spring start to push through the last stubborn bits of winter. For this month’s JoySauce Radio we’re leaning into that feeling of renewal with a lineup made entirely of female artists who only have room to grow as they move forward through this season of their life. From fearless experimentation, to powerful songwriting, these voices have the capacity to reshape the sound of contemporary music. Here are five songs for your spring playlist that embody exactly what this season is about: transformation.
“Slip” by Léah Duque
Filipina Japanese Léah Duque’s new single is a delicate reckoning with losing your footing. The Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter has that perfectly raspy voice that makes a comforting indie heartbreak song. Her vocal performance is the undeniable centerpiece of this song, providing a lush, smooth, and slightly seductive landscape for the music to envelope. She describes her sound as rooted in themes of identity, love, and loss, and “Slip” delivers on all three.
“Emotional Whiplash” by KIMIKO
KIMIKO is not just a musician—she is an artist, actress, and performer. For more than a decade, she has captivated audiences mainly on screen in television roles. You may recognize her as Brook Soso from Orange is the New Black, the role that earned her (and the cast) three Screen Actors Guild Awards (now The Actor Awards). Now, under her musical project KIMIKO, she is stepping into a new chapter. Her release “Emotional Whiplash” is a dreamy pop ballad capturing the ups and downs of a rollercoaster romance. We can’t wait to hear her upcoming EP Modern Dance, which is expected to release May 29.
“One in a Million” by Lexi Nguyen
Seattle-based independent artist Lexi Nguyen is releasing the kind of song that feels just like spring. Her latest single “One in a Million” is a confident, feel-good pop-fusion R&B track about self-worth and emotional growth. She describes it as a “choosing yourself without apology” anthem that pulls from early 2000s R&B influences. It sounds incredibly nostalgic but with a new sonic twist that the Vietnamese American artist has infused into the track.
“september bby” by francene rouelle
Francene Rouelle is fresh off a supporting spot on Tate Mcrae’s tour and ready to embrace her new confident girl era. This is the first of three singles that the Filipina American pop artist will put out ahead of a full project that is set to release in September. Everything about this song begins with the title, which is stylized in lowercase for good reason. The song is soft, intimate, and a little wistful, but still powerful and energetic. We can’t wait to hear what comes next.
“Butterfly Doors” by AtHeart
South Korean girl group AtHeart has returned with a track that is resonant, catchy, and full of gorgeous imagery. The group debuted in August 2025 with the EP Plot Twist, and the music videos for their recent singles have surpassed a combined 11 million views on YouTube—impressive for a rookie group. In their most recent video for “Butterfly Doors” fans can see the girls across several historic sites in Los Angeles, including the United Theater, where they can be seen doing their intricate choreographies, which are always practiced to perfection.