Last Updated on 27/10/2022
After reading this article, you’ll be on the cusp of a Zodiac inspired, introspective awakening accompanied with a killer complimentary soundtrack to guide you there.
In this article, I will take you through each zodiac sign, what that means (… supposedly), and will hand pick twelve respective albums made by artists also of the same sign. By the time you click off, you will be that bit more in touch with yourself, and hopefully will have some great music that adds extra personality to your rotations.
To be clear, there are no winners or losers across the zodiac. Each of the signs, which are also grouped into four family elements – air, fire, water, and earth – bring a uniqueness that is to be celebrated.
According to professional astrologer Aliza Kelly, “generally speaking, fire signs are passionate and exuberant, earth signs are practical and grounded, air signs are intellectual and curious, and water signs are intuitive and emotional”.
But don’t worry if you feel as though you fall into more than one of these categories, because the zodiac has you covered! Your sun sign, the sign we’ll be using as a launchpad for the article today, is just one of your placements that helps to determine who you are. You’ve got to consider all sorts of planetary positions to truly find yourself … *and that’s how they get you*.
Nonetheless, onwards with the first sign.
ARIES (MARCH 21 – APRIL 19): THE FAME, LADY GAGA
ELEMENT: Fire sign.
REPRESENTED BY: The bold Ram.
KEY CHARACTERISTICS: You are competitive, conquering and courageous; a natural born leader that carves paths through new territory.
THE FAME – There is so much Aries to see here, both conceptually and musically, in Lady Gaga’s (born March 28) ground-breaking, electropop album. Whilst Gaga was living it up large in the NYC underground club scene, she was simultaneously fleshing out a soundtrack to go with the high-society, bohemian lifestyle. On songs like “Just Dance” you will hear her unravel with gaiety conservative taboos such as sex, identity, love, drugs, and – of course – ‘fame’.
TAURUS (APRIL 20 – MAY 20): CUZ I LOVE YOU, LIZZO
ELEMENT: Earth sign.
REPRESENTED BY: The determined Bull.
KEY CHARACTERISTICS: You are patient, hard-working, hard-playing and lavish – someone who refuses to give up, holds their ground, and is appreciative of the finer things in life.
CUZ I LOVE YOU – Taurus tropes are aplenty on Lizzo’s (born April 27) stampeding and soulful R&B third studio album. On the surface, listening to the chorus of Lizzo’s eponymous track “Cuz I Love You”, you could think that this is a break-up track, and the album a break-up album. This is especially so given that Lizzo herself was navigating a tough break-up at the time. But the project is so much deeper than that. In a promo piece for the album’s release, Lizzo herself mused on how loving yourself is a ‘decision that has to be made for survival’, and that she ‘chose to live, so had to accept [herself]’. What we have here is a proud and luxurious celebration of self-love, fit for any Venus-ruled Taurian.
GEMINI (MAY 21 – JUNE 20): LIFE OF PABLO, KANYE WEST
ELEMENT: Air sign.
REPRESENTED BY: The quick-thinking Twins.
KEY CHARACTERISTICS: You are spontaneous, clever, curious and sociable. You thrive on variety, are always up for a good time, and have an inspiring thirst for knowledge.
LIFE OF PABLO – If it’s a Gemini tracklist you’re after, look no further than Kanye’s (born June 8) seventh studio album. Kanye himself calls it a “living, breathing, changing creative expression,” and the numerous post-production edits made to the track list are themselves testament to the experimental, structureless concept he was gunning for. Lyrics don’t hold a concrete focus – despite ongoing returns to fame, faith and family – and abstractly bounce off all manners of musings. It is an album of endless and Mercurial interests.
CANCER (JUNE 21 – JULY 22): NORMAN FUCKING ROCKWELL, LANA DEL REY
ELEMENT: Water sign.
REPRESENTED BY: The sensitive Crab.
KEY CHARACTERISTICS: You are highly intuitive, loyal, protective and nurturing. You prioritise trust, prize security and will do whatever it takes to look after those who you love, including yourself.
NORMAN FUCKING ROCKWELL – The sixth studio album release by Lana Del Rey (born 21 June) is from start to finish littered with majestic hits that could coax emotion out of any Cancer sun (not that they need much coaxing). It marks a move away from her previous projects that are prouder and more idealistically secure, to a soundscape that is less certain and more vulnerable. America was no longer what Norman Rockwell wanted us to believe. In 2019, it wasn’t safe, it wasn’t perfect, and in times like that, or during any time of uncertainty, you need a Lana to nurse you through.
LEO (JULY 23 – AUGUST 22): LIKE A PRAYER, MADONNA
ELEMENT: Fire sign.
REPRESENTED BY: The proud Lion.
KEY CHARACTERISTICS: You are passionate, loyal, theatrical and courageous. You love the spotlight, wear your heart on your sleeve, and carry a big energy.
LIKE A PRAYER – Arguably her best album, but definitely her most quintessential, Madonna’s (born August 16) fourth studio release is cohesively Leo. Never before had the Queen of pop been so open about deeply personal affairs. There are songs dedicated to her late mother, her relationship with her father, and the importance of family; all coming back to some very centric hallmarks of the Leo zodiac sign. Then, as the cherry on top, there is the blast of female empowerment that runs through songs such as “Express Yourself”, which even today remains daringly iconic.
VIRGO (AUGUST 23 – SEPTEMBER 22): LEMONADE, BEYONCÉ
ELEMENT: Earth sign.
REPRESENTED BY: The discerning Virgin.
KEY CHARACTERISTICS: You are hardworking, logical, and productive. You have an eye for detail, are systematic in your perfectionist approach, and are not afraid to continue stepping up another level.
LEMONADE – Beyoncé (born September 4) had it all on the line when she released Lemonade, but with it managed to elevate herself to another level of stardom and artistry. Before the album’s release, the world was peering into Beyoncé’s family life which, after the rumours began to circulate that Jay-Z had been unloyal, seemed in tatters. She needed to regain control of the narrative and so, with no detail spared, created a majestic five-stages-of-grief-styled song model that captured the hearts of all the plaudits. The album’s message is Virgo through and through; if you’re served lemons, make lemonade, i.e. the best album of 2016.
LIBRA (SEPTEMBER 23 – OCTOBER 22): THE SLIDER, T. REX
ELEMENT: Air sign.
REPRESENTED BY: The peaceful Scales.
KEY CHARACTERISTICS: You are romantic, flirtatious, fair and non-committing. You are a social butterfly that carries around a vibrant energy and is driven by a need for justice and equilibrium (especially when it’s in your own favour).
THE SLIDER – When we’re talking Libra, look no further than Marc Bolan’s (born September 30) The Slider, a glam rock classic. If you were to ask what makes Marc Bolan … Marc Bolan, you’d say well-kept, gorgeous curly locks, a well-managed pink, fluffy feather boa, powerful eyeliner, and maybe a bit of glitter. The Slider is a sonic representation of exactly this. Its lyrics are non-thematic yet colourful, its riffs are raucous, yet inviting. Bolan’s libran energy charismatically captures full attention, yet simultaneously refuses to commit itself to a deeper message. It is the epitome of glam, T.Rextasy at its peak, and proves to be music that is very, very Libra.
SCORPIO (OCTOBER 23 – NOVEMBER 21): GRACE, JEFF BUCKLEY
ELEMENT: Water sign.
REPRESENTED BY: The perceptive Scorpion.
KEY CHARACTERISTICS: You are intense, mysterious and impassioned. You are driven by emotion, are elusive in nature and have little interest in small talk, preferring instead to muse on the inner thoughts of yourself and others.
GRACE – Weirdly enough, Brad Pitt does the best job of describing the mood that Jeff Buckley’s (born November 17) Grace puts you in: “There’s an undercurrent to his music, there’s something you can’t pinpoint … I find his stuff absolutely haunting … it’s under my skin.” Not your usual rockstar, it is tragically poetic how he never saw his fame. His music, however, was always going to outlive his life. With his unique and broken sensitivity, who else would have been able to make Nina Simone and Leonard Cohen staples their own?
SAGITTARIUS (NOVEMBER 22 – DECEMBER 21): ARE YOU EXPERIENCED, THE JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE
ELEMENT: Fire sign.
REPRESENTED BY: The far-seeing Archer.
KEY CHARACTERISTICS: You are adventurous, personable, spiritual and curious. You are constantly on the lookout for new ways to become enlightened and you chase after life’s biggest hits.
ARE YOU EXPERIENCED – There’s no exaggeration in saying that, with his debut album, Jimi Hendrix (born 27 November) had become the posterboy of a social enlightenment that was being released all around the Western Hemisphere. It’s the case study in what a guitarist can do, especially within a typically restrictive format like pop. Jimi opens the door for so many new genres with this record. He was an innovator within psychedelic rock, whilst also being the precursor for heavy metal. Nor was anything intentional. Everything you hear on this album is spontaneous, invented on the spot, and free.
CAPRICORN (DECEMBER 22 – JANUARY 19): FROM ELVIS IN MEMPHIS, ELVIS PRESLEY
ELEMENT: Earth sign.
REPRESENTED BY: The ambitious Goat.
KEY CHARACTERISTICS: You are determined, stoic and ambitious. You are driven to achieve your hard-set goals, and have a desire to protect and provide.
FROM ELVIS IN MEMPHIS – In 1968, thanks to a raunchy, reinvigorated live performance, Elvis Presley (born January 8) finally shakes off the cobwebs from the failed Hollywood B-lister years. What comes after, before Las Vegas’ promised riches were to chain him for the rest of his days, is a glorious gem of an album which captures Elvis’ best, most determined and resilient self. It marks a return back to his country roots and is sung with real conviction and soul. Recurring themes of moving on and being strong run right throughout it, and, because it is live, you hear him insist on only the best takes possible.
AQUARIUS (JANUARY 20 – FEBRUARY 18): AQUEMINI, OUTKAST
ELEMENT: Air sign.
REPRESENTED BY: The worldly Water-bearer.
KEY CHARACTERISTICS: You are up-front, progressive, deep thinking and rebellious. You care about your community and the way the world works, and you tell the hard truths to motivate positive change.
AQUEMINI – Perhaps no album is as much of an air sign masterpiece as Outkast’s third studio album, curated by Big Boi (born February 1) and Andre 3000 (born May 27). Of course, if you hadn’t already noticed, as Aquemini’s main concept is focused on the coexistence of the duo’s personalities, the title functions as a portmanteau of both their Zodiac signs. With our magnifying glass firmly on Big Boi though, there is still plenty of uncut Aquarius for us to dive into. Lyrically, Big Boi is hell bent on trailblazing new paths for his followers, getting them to think twice on tracks like “Liberation” about their individual freedoms.
PISCES (FEBRUARY 19 – MARCH 20): MTV UNPLUGGED IN NEW YORK, NIRVANA
ELEMENT: Water sign.
REPRESENTED BY: The dreamy Fishes.
KEY CHARACTERISTICS: You are compassionate, sensitive and deep-souled. You are intuitive and empathetic with friends and family, are led by your emotions, and have daydreams that blur the border between fantasy and reality.
MTV UNPLUGGED IN NEW YORK – Pisces placements run rife throughout Kurt Cobain’s (born 20 February) birth chart, accounting for his Sun, Mercury and Venus signs. There’s a whole lot of other water in there too. If you’re looking for your archetypal Pisces escapist soundtrack, look no further than Nirvana’s live acoustic album. No other project of theirs is so vulnerable, with neither heavy riffing nor a bass drum hitting for them to hide behind. Each song, despite being either a cover or a rendition from previous work, is unpeeled and gets you as close as possible to the band’s core.
