blooming :: a playlist

spring into summer

Feeling more expansive lately? Or like, just so much more in touch with my mind and how good it feels to be functional. This is the most peaceful I’ve been mentally in many years, for which I am very thankful. I’m in LA for the week, making a music video with Jen and Anna. I’ve been blown away by the natural beauty — LA has been home to my toughest strokes and traumas, but suddenly it’s like the wound healed and I’m able to just enjoy myself, a totally fresh start. Everything feels new. After dropping Jen off at LAX, I went to Venice and lay on the sand in the sun, toasting my skin until I felt crispy and beautiful.

I’ve spent a lot of the past month just in my head, listening to less music, not listening to any podcasts. This is probably byproduct of being incredibly overstimulated by life, by making music of my own, and also aggressively attempting to get in touch with my deeper self and mind. When I put my headphones back in and started listening to music again, it felt like a treat.

I read this remarkable article from Joel Gouveia about the future of the music industry and the death of Spotify, and recommend you read it immediately. I liked the analogy that music is now treated like a utility. I’d never thought of it that way. I’m very curious to see what happens next, where creative industry will go moving forward. It’s funny, I don’t necessarily feel like I’ve been on the sidelines, in the sense that I’ve been actively participating in the culture — but aggressively making things and getting back into the swing of being an artist, both as a career and a lifestyle makes me feel more like I’m in the river. I love learning about what’s developing, what’s going on. Similarly, I just learned about Nina Protocol, which is super cool, and Geoffrey told me about the Untitled app which I’ve used almost daily since, in the event that you also want to share your raw demos and songs with friends, collaborators and strangers.

Anyways, here’s a playlist for the month. This one was sparked by The Sundays, who are new to me, as well as the song “Destiny” from Zero 7 that Jen has been telling me to listen to for weeks. I know these are often a tiny bit hodgepodge, but it is, in fact, just what I’m actually listening to. Some friends and acquaintances are on it. I feel like you should listen to this when you’re going to the grocery store but you’re feeling a little melancholy, or going for a walk even if you don’t feel like it, or it’s hot outside and you’re laying on your bed in the cool AC not quite ready to leave. I made most of this while I was riding on the bus and feeling sorry for myself for no real reason — the sky was tinting blue and the handrails in the bus were bright yellow, which did something to my brain. Sometimes life really is like a movie, and we just have to ride the wave.

Also! Thrilled to share that I was on Feed Me’s playlist made by Emily Sundberg with my hot ass song hands on the wheel. You can listen to her playlist over there, or watch the music video here.

Okay.

Is there more? No, I don’t think so.

Love,

Mary