What I’m Listening To

A cornerstone of small talk becomes complex if you ask me what kind of music I like. My Spotify playlists are bursting with pop, alternative, r&b, math rock, rap, edm. My concert record boasts from music festivals, to Lana Del Rey, to blink-182, to Maroon 5, to Paul McCartney. What is supposed to be a short answer becomes long and awkward and muddled.

What I should say, dear reader, is that I like the feeling music gives me. I like lyrics and good guitar riffs. I like bass drops and screaming. I like unexpected falsetto. I like taking all the pieces of myself and listing them based on season. So as we close out the winter, here’s a sample of what I needed, chose, loved, and belted out badly in the car.

After Rain by Dermot Kennedy

This guy’s the next Ed Sheeran (don’t quote me). Every time I hear this song, I’m transported back to the most romantic seaside condo in Hawaii. Making breakfast and stealing kisses with my husband (!!!!!) in that sweet little kitchen while this song quietly played is a simple, certain, unforgettable moment.

Cuz I Love You by Lizzo

If you haven’t checked out Lizzo before, I’d say start with “Juice.” The flouncy bop is all about self love and puts me in the best mood! I chose this song instead because it shows her roots in songwriting as both a rapper and a strong r&b singer with a hell of a range. She gives me strength.

Pearl Cadillac by Gary Clark Jr.

Excellent guitar player, excellent falsetto, excellent imagery. It’s a song about his mom. Excuse me while I drool over this raw talent and sweet tribute.

Lost My Mind by Alison Wonderland and Dillon Francis

This was my first concert at The Anthem in DC. This song is an anthem (I hear the corniness now…) for where I’ve been mentally the past few months. Maybe it’s the weather, maybe it’s the school year, maybe it’s something untapped in my subconscious. But when the bass drops it feels like home.

NASA by Ariana Grande

It’s catchy, it’s clever, it shows (on this day after International Women’s Day) that it’s okay to voice your needs. Even the organization it’s named for loves it. When you get a recommendation from NASA, do you even have to think twice before streaming it?

Honorable Mention: Maggie Rogers

Innovative with her music, strong and soulful with her voice, she fit my winter playlist aesthetic perfectly. She’s a full mood on her own.

As spring approaches, I’ll probably find some peppier, catchier tunes, but until then, I’ll be “trying to find where I lost my mind.”