Splash No. 129 - A Musical Journey
A Musical Journey
Every year, Spotify stirs up a small storm on social media with the release of their “Unwrapped,” offering a tidbit of their users’ data back to them in the form of a few interesting stats: their top five most played artists, a total of minutes spent listening to music with Spotify, and a playlist of a hundred songs that they listened to most. I always enjoy predicting what mine will look like, being inevitably wrong, and learning things about people as I remember that people listen to so much more than what we bond over.
My favorite part of the Unwrapped is the “Top Songs of <Year>” playlist. As I’m shuffling through this year’s playlist, time loses its linearity. Each song corresponds to a certain time of year, usually attached to a particular playlist for a particular purpose. “King’s Dead” by Jay Rock, Kendrick Lamar, and Future comes on, and I’m back in March, jamming with my roommates to one of our favorite songs to dance to. We look forward to growing closer during the few weeks we expect the pandemic to last.
After a short pause, “Youniverse” by Avelino starts playing, a mainstay of my writing playlist. All I see is a blank page. I’m pacing, thinking, brainstorming. I’m laying in bed and sitting at my desk. I’m typing and deleting. Over and over again. I’m writing my newsletters, my poetry, my essays, my journal. I’m pulling my hair and punching my desk. I’m grinning wildly and laughing at my jokes. I’m experiencing it all, and the song finishes.
Next, Phoebe Bridgers plays, bringing me back to the weeks spent in the Panhandle, laying alone in the grass staring at my perfect companion — a tree, who I don’t need to name or label, who offers her shade to me without fail. I sit with her and Phoebe and feel the grass poking through my too-small blanket. I sit until the wind takes me home and until I move on to new sounds.
I start to skip, skip, skip through my playlist, pushing past the moments I want to forget to the ones I’d like to live in again. I’ll listen to them all again, eventually, but not today. To a hi-hat-laced beat, 24hrs repeatedly croons, “I wanna go back to Atlanta,” and I’m laying in my bed in San Francisco, homesick. And I’m on the plane home, covered in PPE. And to the closing notes, I’m taking off my headphones, happy to be here now.
Drops of the Week
PLAYLIST - Your Top Songs 2020 - you had to see this one coming
ARTICLE - "On the salvational quality of queer friendship" by Jonno Revanche - great piece recommended by my friend Jessica! It offers important ideas about friendships that aren't exclusive to queer folks.
FILM - Emma - I really enjoyed this! Fun bit of escapism with good acting and weird production design.
The new president may not be a white supremacist, but there's still work to be done. With each day, we move closer to a more equitable world. Reminders:
Ways you can help
Anti-racism resources
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Mellifluously,
Nikhil