music – Surfing the Soundwaves

NOW OPEN: CLUB JUL

Umm…hello?? Is this thing on?? Oop.

Yes, it’s me again. Back from the grave…that I evidently dug myself into. Funny how that works isn’t it? Anyways, before we really talk about what Club Jul is…let’s talk about the stupid stuff first. I mean, I have been gone since the middle of the Summer. I’ll let that sink in. For me. Because wtf.

Okay, so LOTS has changed since July. I finally FLEW THE COOP. Yep, moved out of the parentals unit. That was only in October, though. So, clearly I can’t blame that for my extended hiatus. If we’re being completely honest, I wrote the title of this post on November 18th, it’s now 3 weeks later. I truly have no idea what Club Jul is, but we’re going to roll with today’s version.

When I was writing over the Summer, I was touching on how hard it was for me, with the music industry being shut down. Especially when I was temporarily laid off. Whether I let the busy work schedule get the best of me again, or actually lost myself, I can’t really say. Maybe it was a combination of both, but I think we’re reset. Part of me has lost the little flame I once had to consistently write. I mean, all my content thrives on me making stupid decisions at music festivals. IT’S MY BRAND. Now my brand revolves around naming candles based on my dislike for men. Quite the contradiction, right? I can’t stand men, but here I am talking about them 24/7. ESPECIALLY, if they’re a musician. Honestly, cancel me. I deserve it.

So, what led me to sit here in this guest bedroom and start a little storytime? Honestly, just that. BEING ALONE. After a chaotic week, and past few months, I truly realize how much I miss my rare bursts of alone time. Where I’m stuck with my thoughts, and my Spotify, and I can just CREATE. However, I don’t owe it all to that. While I did create this post in freaking November, everyone’s Spotify Wrapped came out last week. Let me tell you, that shit sparked a FLAME in me. One that I thought died out many months ago, for the foreseeable future. Shall I explain more?

Everyone who has negative brain cells LOVES to shit on Spotify Wrapped. I mean, who wants to see their friends passionate about something, right?? WOW SO GROSS AND LAME AND UNCOOL TO POST ABOUT SOMETHING YOU LOVE. Literally the people who talk shit on Spotify posts, are the same people who go and post ten stories about their new car muffler. I’m looking right at you Ford F150 owners. I keep my mouth shut about your ugly little pee pee energy truck, so please stop crying about Spotify Wrapped. It’s old. Hating music is such a tired out trend. We get it you’re underground and like to listen to the sounds of rocks scraping together in your little cave. WE GET IT. However, it really made me feel something. I need to talk about it.

Not to be depressing, but my life has been so lackluster. I mean, I wake up, go to my living room to work, and go back to bed. Hit repeat. While I love my job, it’s getting harder to even perform creatively when my favorite outlets are considered dangerous now. I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again, if Coachella needs a guinea pig to test a festival on…I WILL BE THERE. Corona doesn’t want me, it’s probably a man that heard me talking shit about it. I’ll be fine. So…ya. I have gone through little bouts of semi-depressive episodes. Then I sit and think about my life’s path. Why? Don’t know. Everytime I do that it always leads me to one place. Sitting in my car, driving down PCH, blasting music. Literally the one thing that moves me. Don’t even MAKE me bring up Ocean Drive right now. I wish I could find that song in human form. What an annoying day that would be for all of you…not me. Anyways, last week my Spotify Wrapped came out. To say I didn’t immediately start crying would be a lie, but I also don’t want to give astrologers the satisfaction of knowing that I, a Cancer, was crying. It doesn’t happen often, but mainly when I’m really happy. I’m no simp. So, I’m sitting there, tears streaming, realizing that this year my playlist is STUNNING. What I thought was such an awful year, musically, turned out to be one of my best. Who would have ever known. While I’ve been trying to live my best life given the circumstances, it’s been a little tough trying to find lighter fluid to get me going. UNTIL LAST WEEK. It’s like night and day.

I knew at this point, I had to update one of my playlists. It’s what all my friends and family know me for. Well, I guess that’s a little dramatic. They know me, but they REALLY know this side of me. Strangers probably just think I’m a G-Eazy fan account. I very well might be, don’t trip. So, what better way to start this new journey at the end of the year, than with BBE. For those of you who clearly aren’t with it, BBE stands for Bad Bitch Energy. Men, you are allowed to possess this quality too. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. If you’re in my life reading this though, you are a certified rat. So, unfortunately, you can listen to this playlist…you just won’t be able to obtain any power from it. Sorry sweeties.

BBE truly gives you the ego boost you need, while occasionally keeping you humble. Right now, I am OBSESSED with the song “Bitter” by FLETCHER and Trevor Daniel. For some reason, I cannot stop beating that song to shit. Right when I think I’m done listening to it on repeat…I come right back. To some degree I feel like I’m morphing into FLETCHER with our coincidental outfit accessory purchases. So, hopefully when you hear that song on there, it resonates with you in some creepy way like that. Of course we have tons of powerful female voices on there, but we also have the classics. The songs that make me feel like I’m dancing in Indio. With my best friends. This playlist is for the people who are just trying to feel something. Whether that something is closure. Or maybe it’s power. It could even be the ego boost you need to run your ex over with a piano, Grand Theft Auto style. I DON’T KNOW YOUR LIFE. Whatever lights your fire, that’s what I want this to be. If it’s not…f you. Kidding…kinda.

So, unfortunately for all the bitch boys…I will be linking my Spotify Wrapped down below. This is also your formal invitation to send me yours. Whether you think I like your genre of music or not. You could be surprised, and I could be too. Sending music is sorta my love language. I don’t care if I like it or not, just the fact that you thought of me…*swoon.* I’ll also be sharing BBE below, we all know it. We all love it, but we have to appreciate her makeover.

Now this time, it isn’t ‘til next time. It’s SEE YOU POOP HEADS SOOOOON!

WE GOTTA TALK…

HELLO MY FRIENDS. It’s been so long…but actually. I think this may be my longest streak of not blogging here. Usually, I’m apologizing after a month of silence, but not today. I’m not apologizing! I’m going to tell you instead where I’ve been. I haven’t strayed too far from the blogging scene, don’t worry. Also, we’re going to dive into some music related things, like usual. However, today, I want to keep it real with you. 2020 IS REALLY HOEING ME LET ME TELL YOU WHY.

As I sit here with my Chai Latte (iced of course), I can’t help but think about the person I was before this pandemic. Even the person I was at the beginning of it all. I was enjoying my isolation bubble, and blogging about new music. Don’t get me wrong I STILL LOVE NEW MUSIC. The isolation bubble? Not so much anymore. Working from home is starting to take a toll on me. Even if I have a full day at the office not talking to anyone, I vibe off other people. Now all I can vibe off is my robot vacuum. He’s a real hoot. However, I’M STILL BLOGGING. If you haven’t seen me on here, you can check me out on Absolute Merch. I’ll link it down below don’t worry. I’ve been causing a ruckus over there. Just me running the media show, and I love it. Some days.

So, why am I reflecting to you? I’m sure a lot of you are not the same person you were in May. That’s when I last checked in. For me, I’ve seen a serious decline in my mental health. It’s time to get real about it. If you know me, you know that music festivals and concerts aren’t just a quirky aesthetic I like to participate in. It’s my livelihood. There was a point when I had $30 in my bank account, an almost maxed out credit card, and I was still making my way to a festival. The concept of time and money doesn’t matter to me in that world, and I’m not going to lie, I miss it a lot. I know I’m not special. The people I work with, and the artists we represent, miss it just as much if not more. However, for me, it’s hard to find my way without it. Some of you like to go on nature escapes, read books, travel alone, etc. That’s your break from reality. Festivals and concerts are mine. Now I’ll admit, there are things that have happened in the last couple of years, that I have greatly suppressed. I AM THE PROCRASTINATION QUEEN LET ME TELL YA. So, now that I have copious amounts of time, all that dark shit is coming back. It’s not fun, and trust me, I am trying to work on it. We all know, mental health is a struggle. Right now, more than ever, it’s probably a bigger deal than miss Rona. We just don’t hear about it on CNN.

It’s hard. Let me just say that. Some weeks are amazing, I feel on top of the world and no amount of hate comments on Twitter can get to me. Other days, it greatly affects my personal work performance. I mean who really wants to spend all day excited writing about new music, just to have a customer shit on your post because they’re impatient? NOT ME. PROBABLY NOT YOU EITHER. So, it’s exhausting. However, I ain’t a bitch. I’m not going to quit just because some old man hates me for the day. Not worth it. With the help of some friends, this week I realized there is a lot to look forward to. While the news is making it seem like this pandemic is forever, it’s not. Will things get back to normal? Probably not, but this is our new normal, so we need to adapt. Festivals and concerts WILL come back. Whether it seems like it or not. That’s a HUGE thing to look forward to. Especially working in the industry I am in, the moment those festival gates open is going to be euphoric.

In brighter news, this pandemic has really brought out a lot of new music. The artists are hurting in their souls, and it’s creating some beautiful sounds. I will say, I have definitely tapped into some of my old bops, it’s amazing. If you are new here, you won’t know that I make an annual birthday playlist for myself. I’m my own muse, c’mon now. I keep it for the whole year, occasionally adding songs. However, I make it to encapsulate what I want my next year on Earth to sound like. For my 25th, I put together all my old Summer bops into one playlist. I mean, hot girl Summer 2020 is pretty much cancelled. So, why not pretend we are in the past. Enjoying late nights, bike rides, and bar hopping. It should remind you of that Summer feeling we all are chasing. It’s universal and nobody really knows what the feeling really is. However, going after it is the most memorable part.

So, if you ever think of me on a random day, and wonder why I am not present, check on my work page. I will always be there, schemin. I actually am now so comfortable over there that I am calling men wieners and explaining hot girl Summer to my audience. I’m not sure if they love it or hate it yet, but we’re getting somewhere.

As always, remember mental health is so important. Please take care of yourself and take as many breaks as you need. The world needs you here and needs all of you! Don’t worry, I’ll be back very soon to talk about the new bops that have come out. Also, just because we can’t leave the house, doesn’t mean hot girl Summer is cancelled. WE’RE GUNA TALK ABOUT THAT TOO LADIES AND WIENERS.

‘Til next timeeeeeeeeeeee

Find me on my work page here:

https://absolutemerch.com/blogs/news

My 25 Cent Crisis Playlist here:

CLUELESS HUNNY

Does anyone feel like they don’t have anything figured out right now? While at first it was a little disturbing, now it feels kind of comforting. Am I right? Now, it’s not just me wandering Earth, aimlessly, with no purpose. IT’S ALL OF US.

Suddenly, I am reverting back to my old music choices, and I can’t tell if I love that for me, or hate it. I’ll keep you posted.

In light of being locked away in my room like Rapunzel, I have been watching a lot of movies. This past week, I found myself stuck on Clueless. How does Cher just seem to have it so together all the time? As if. She would for SURE know how to make light of this quarantine situation, I know it.

So, it got me thinking. Maybe quarantine is the perfect time to get a clue. We are no strangers to those quotes that talk about how being lost is a great way to find yourself. You know what I’m talking about. The quotes that give major “Live, Laugh, Love” energy. Quarantine may be the perfect time to try it? Before this pandemic hit, I really felt like I had my life together. Now, I am starting to realize, I am STILL getting my shit together. Without any bars or festivals, what else am I supposed to do? Soul search apparently.

Moral of my pointless rant, is it’s okay to be clueless. Honestly, life is way more fun that way. When you have no set plan, it leaves more room for crazy adventures. Something I personally am lacking lately.

Since I can’t be dancing away in the middle of the desert right now, RIP what would have been my first EDC. Where else do I want to get lost? IF YOU ARE THINKING MY SPOTIFY, YOU’RE RIGHT.

I know I’ve briefly mentioned what it’s like to fall into a Spotify hole before. However, with the app always changing, I discover new ways to dive deep every day. Some may say I’m bad at math, but then how do you explain me always tricking my algorithm? I’ll wait. Anyways, I know I’ve taught you about the “recommended” tabs at the bottom of a playlist. I hope you’re still using that wisely when you run out of tunes. There is also the old tried and true, song radios. Where you pick a song you’ve been blasting lately, and it generates other songs you would love based off of it. It’s truly genius.

Lately, I’ve been doing none of the above. Literally just getting lost in Spotify. I’ve brought back a mix of my Indie tunes, to pair chaotically with my EDM. So, my recommended music doesn’t know what side to pick. That’s okay bb, I gotchu.

In light of my cluelessness, I’ve stumbled upon the weirdest playlists. We all know how much I adore Mint Canada, and I genuinely cannot tell you why. However, I genuinely recommend getting out of your comfort zone and going to a different realm for your tunes. While I SHOULD make a separate post about the joys of finding new small artists, I’ll give you a little glimpse here. If you’re like me, you’ll find yourself clicking artists names, browsing their selection and heading back. HOWEVER, if you’re feeling crazy, you can just keep clicking artists that are similar to the artist you clicked. Suddenly, you’ve been on Spotify for 3 hours, and you don’t even know where home base is. It’s a point of no return if you will. A really fun and safe way to lose yourself. If you’re feeling clueless like me.

So, if you really want to get a clue and movies just aren’t your thing, TURN TO MUSIC. Even if it’s Apple Music, I won’t judge…

Stay tuned for more comedy in the coming weeks, while becoming quarantine clueless, I’ve still managed to be wild.

Until next time you clueless little bb’s!

Coachella – A Look Back

As you can tell from the title, we are about to take a fun trip down memory lane. I actually let out a little chuckle when forming the name of this disaster piece. It sounds so serious. When in reality, I am going to sum up MY Coachella for you. Not from the documentary, not Diplo’s experience, but little ol’ me.

Why not start from the beginning?

2014. This is about to be my first music festival ever, this is the year that released my inner “COACHELLA IS MY LIIIIIIIFE” beast. All it took was one weekend. I think this year was so special, because it just encapsulated my year of firsts. Concluding my first year of college, my first year of living out of state, with my first festival. Get this, nothing went wrong. When you are new to the Indio Valley festival, everything feels so dreamy. It’s hard to even focus on the blood dripping down your ankles, from the poor choice in sandals. You just feel so free! This lineup was just a flower crown wearing bitch’s dream. Lana Del Rey, Disclosure, Lorde, Foster the People, and so many more. Honestly, looking at the poster right now, you can tell the lineup was way less impacted. Less artists, for more time to see everyone. It’s hard to pick a favorite for me from that year, everyone was so amazing. However, if you look at the 2014 lineup compared to 2020, it proves my theory correct. I have this conspiracy in my head that every few years, the lineup repeats itself. Don’t believe me? Take a look for yourself. I’ll wait.

2015, we skipped. As you can imagine, my little heart was broken. I was just starting to get into The Weeknd, I know, I was late. However, when I first start listening to an artist, I am infatuated. My friends at the time, didn’t understand. Honestly, I’m not really sure they still do?? Does anyone?? Oh wow. Anyways, so we didn’t go, I threw a tantrum. Next.

2016, everyone’s favorite year of mine. HONESTLY, I am going to come out and say that this was the most iconic Coachella. I mean, yes, the lineup was insane. Like Guns N Roses?? Iconic. Ahem, if you would like to take a look at my conspiracy theory again…go ahead and compare 2014 to this lineup as well. Again, I’ll wait! So, if you are really new here, I will link below one of my first tales on here. “Pineapple Cider In Indio.” One of my best works, if I do say so myself. I need you to read that first, and then we can meet back here. Okay? Okay. With it being 4 years later, I can confidently say, I still have not had Pineapple Cider again. I just know the flavor will take me back to that hot desert. However, it may be kinda funny. Should I try them again for old times sake? Shit. Maybe I did blackout off of two ciders that year. Maybe that blackout was a product of heatstroke. We will never know. All I know is, Matt and Kim will never be the same. Honestly, I haven’t even really listened to their music since then either. Again, IF YOU KNOW YOU KNOW.

2017, our last year of college baby! Also, our last year of Coachella as a trio. For those of you who don’t know. I used to frequent concerts with my two best friends, Alex and Summer. Rightfully so, they decided to tap out after this year. Again, I wrote about it, will link down below. For a little recap though, this was the first year we decided to try car camping. NEVER AGAIN HUNNIES. The phrase, “You live and you learn,” really came into play here. Lineup wise? Fantastic. Beyoncé decided she didn’t want to give birth on stage, and I think we all kind of resent her a little bit for that. Lady Gaga was her replacement though, and personally, I think she’s amazing. Did we go see her? Nope! We had other things to do. Like carrying around a haunted purse for the weekend. Confused? Good. To make a long story short, Summer found a purse on the ground and decided to carry it around. Waiting for the perfect time to take it to lost and found, which honestly was inconvenient to our busy schedules. However, once we obtained that purse, we realized maybe it was better lost. Bad shit on bad shit kept happening to us. Right up until we turned the purse back in. Oh you want me to explain what I mean? Almost immediately after we got the lost item, our friend’s phone vanished. Poof. You wanted to take a video of the next set? Sorry. Super bummer. THEN. Guys…..then. Our campsite caught on fire. I literally cannot make this stuff up. Alex decided that Ramen was a good idea for camping. Which, I agreed. However, the mini stove she brought with had other plans. Like to simply blow up. As if our tent living was not impoverished enough. Just look at the cover photo for this post. Enough said.

2018, honestly the year that changed my life. I didn’t even go to Coachella this year. Alex and Summer decided enough was enough. However, ONCE AGAIN, The Weeknd was on the lineup. Insert X-Files theme song here. I was in full tantrum mode. I’m talking crying at work tantrum mode, then taking shots all night. Classic! However, a beam of light. Life is Beautiful Festival. That was my redemption moment, and I cannot thank Alex and Summer enough for unintentionally giving me a push to try something new.

2019, the last Coachella. LOL. I’m being so dramatic. However, it feels like 2020 doesn’t count for anything right now, so it’s true. This is my first Coachella with my new lil squad. Alana and Emily. More always join, but the three of us stay constant, and stay connected at the hip. It’s not like one of us totally has a little fun with our girl Molly and thinks that it’s time to run around and make friends with strangers. Who would do that? Psh. This is their first Coachella, and I feel like I put it on myself. While at this point, I am favoring Life is Beautiful a tad more, I don’t let on. It’s freaking Coachella, you can feel the hype all throughout the air. Oh what’s that? Chuck from Gossip Girl just casually walked by to get some water? NO BIGGIE. Lineup? Phenomenal. This was the year I really tapped into my EDM phase. As a true Dillon Francis groupie, I must say, Sunday night was the winner for me. However, my friends introduced me to Gryffin this trip, and my life hasn’t been the same since.

ALL IN ALL. I know this is a really sad time for music festival lovers out there. People call us basic, and hate us for our singing Instagram videos. I get it. However, waking up this morning, I decided I didn’t want to think about the negative. It’s all that is going around right now. Instead, I am using COVID-19 to re-center, and think about how grateful I am. We all work hard to make our festival dreams come true. Or, if you’re like me, you spend money you don’t have and reap the consequences of debt for a year. Whatever your flow is, we will be dancing soon. Hell, we can even be dancing now. So many good live streams for the Indie lover, or the EDM lover. Just tune in, and disconnect for a second. I promise, it slightly helps. Just a little.

https://surfingthesoundwaves.com/2018/05/18/pineapple-cider-in-indio/

https://surfingthesoundwaves.com/2018/05/30/burnin-up-in-indio/

WHAT HAPPENS IN THE AFTER HOURS?

The Weeknd dropped his album ten days ago, and I am now finally ready to talk about it. Technically, he released three bonus tracks yesterday (March 30), which I still haven’t fully digested. However, the show must go on.

If you’re wondering how I am writing this so calmly, it’s because on Day 1, I spilled wine all over my computer in excitement. My 2013 Macbook almost did not recover from that, truly. Also, not going to lie, this album has me moody as hell. The lyrics are dark and sad, in OG Abel fashion. However, the beat is bangin. So, clearly, my mind and my body are in two different stages. Do we want to dance or cry? I guess in quarantine both is acceptable. Also, can I just point out that the music hits so different while being locked inside your house. You have no choice but to digest the lyrics quicker. My usual method of operation is to drive around and listen to a new album. Sounds like a total waste of gas and extremely pointless, but IT’S MY GROOVE AND I LIKE IT. However, driving with the windows down and music blasting, is a little less appealing with a nasty virus circulating.

Okay let’s get into it, bonus tracks included.

So, here’s the deal with The Weeknd. His albums are meant to tell a story. Same goes for his music videos. If you check out his Youtube channel, start with Heartless. Every recent video after that picks up where the last one left off. Keep this in mind as we move down the line of songs.

We start off with the track, “Alone Again.” Yep, you already know this shit is going to be sad. However, you keep going, because you’re addicted to his voice. I won’t go track by track, because you lazy asses can do that yourself. For this album, The Weeknd went rogue with his promo. From teasing songs on his Instagram stories, to full on performing an unreleased song on SNL, we really had no idea where he was going. He debuted “Scared To Live,” on SNL, as a shock to everyone. My initial reaction was, am I a fake fan?? I assumed this song had been out for ages, and I just missed it. However, upon taking to Twitter, I realized it was brand new. It was lovely. The song has him really self reflecting, and giving his ex (Bella – we all know), some closure. Admitting he was the reason she was hurting, and that she shouldn’t be scared to go live her life without him. WHAT A KING.

The album gets a little darker, before we can all start dancing again. “Escape From LA,” really struck me immediately. It’s honestly a little sad once you realize the parallels from his first album to now. If you are a fan of “The Morning,” you’ll know that he was talking about California being the goal. “Order plane tickets, Cali is the mission…” You know. However, like any other person who moves to LA expecting something spectacular, he is over it. He sings, “Cali was the mission, but now a n**** leavin.” A little sad that this city couldn’t be what he wanted. I will say, growing up in LA’s surrounding areas vs. moving here fresh, sounds like an entirely different experience. If you don’t have the right mindset, all of a sudden you’re stuck with superficial people, wanting to live an Instagrammable life. No substance. However, I think he might be doing just fine.

A cult favorite, “Heartless,” is up next. Here is where he starts to take us home dancing. Also, remember when I mentioned everything telling a story? This chunk of songs is where it becomes clear. Initially, I had no idea. After seeing a well thought out Reddit thread, I finally saw the light. In this track he talks about being back to his old ways. Money, sex, and drugs. Casual! The next song, while still an absolute bop, gets a little dark. The end we hear sirens, which leads into another favorite, “Blinding Lights.” Here’s where the Reddit thread threw me for a loop. APPARENTLY the lights that are blinding him, are the AMBULANCE LIGHTS??? Who knew?? Not me. I was busy Tik Tok dancing to the song.

Let’s talk about the bonus tracks he released only a MERE day ago. I feel like they have been out for longer, because I got lucky when I popped in on his live stream last week. He was playing them like they were nothing. No biggie, just some unreleased songs you guys have never heard. They’re all extremely mellow. Songs about missing his ex. Classic. And then a “Final Lullaby” to end it all. Who doesn’t love a lil sleepy time trio to fuel their six quarantine naps?

I am going to end this by talking out of my ass for a second. Yes, it sucks that everything is cancelled. Yes, it sucks that we are all out of work (or some of us). Also, yes, it sucks that we can’t be social with the ones we love. BUUUUUUT, it doesn’t suck that all our artists are releasing things they’re proud of, even in moments like this. So, let’s take the time to stream their albums, watch their livestream, and give them praise. After all, right now, all we have is music to get us through this. Okay that is probably not true for 99% of people. It feels like it though.

So lastly, wash your hands you disgusting monsters. I don’t know about you, but I am so beyond ready to go to an open plot of land and start dancing.

See you later skaters.

PS: Remember when I saw The Weeknd for the first time? Check below.

I LIED…

Hey….

I’m here! I know. Right now, I look like the shady ex who is coming back when he’s bored. That is TOTALLY not the reason. I for sure do not have slightly extra downtime now that there is a crazy virus going around. Couldn’t be true. I lied, that is EXACTLY what is going on here.

The truth is, I really had no idea what I was in for when I wrote the last post. Don’t get me wrong, work is going better than I imagined (oh, just wait), in such a short amount of time! However, it is hard to balance this AND that. My itty bitty, teeny tiny brain is struggling. Good news though, I have tons of music stuff to recap you on! This week you’ll be hearing from me at LEAST twice, and I’m going to tell you why.

First off…THE WEEKND IS FINALLY DROPPING HIS ALBUM TONIGHT. I will need some time to emotionally balance myself. He released the track names a few days ago and let me tell you, we will all be in our feelings. Could not be more perfect timing. Who doesn’t want to think about their ex who ruined their life, while being quarantined against their will inside? I know I am definitely looking forward to that. If you have been living under a rock, now is the perfect time to catch up on his last three songs, before the album hits.

Now, this is where things get juicy. Remember when I was talking about work? Well, it seems like COVID-19 is releasing it’s wrath on the music industry, myself included. While it is definitely scary, I am learning to find the beauty in the quiet. OR if we want to keep things on theme with The Weeknd, I am learning to find the Beauty Behind The Madness. We’re all going to get through this together! Filing for unemployment, and not really knowing the future of your job, definitely is scary. However, it makes me feel a little better, knowing that a lot of people are going through the same thing. It also has me feeling extremely sympathetic to all my favorite artists, who’s dreams of playing certain festivals/tours have come to a halt.

Okay…moving on! Speaking of festivals. If you don’t know who the mastermind of Insomniac is, his name is Pasquale. I know, a unique name, for a unique person. Instead of leaving the world without music, and the artists without a platform, he is running online streams. Beyond Wonderland, was postponed until this summer. However, we will be getting a mock festival, all from our phones! Let me just say, Loud Luxury was not on the San Bernardino lineup, but they will be playing! Keep checking in with Insomniac and Pasquale for more information, they have been going live almost daily on Instagram.

With that being said, it hasn’t been that long that we have all had to resort to staying inside. This is probably the best time to find new music, right?? Something I have discovered recently, and then rekindled with this quarantine, is MINT Canada. Usually, I try to keep my music talk pretty broad, to include Apple Music AND Spotify. However, Spotify is winning today’s round. It struck me that I probably listen to a lot of Canadian artists, because this was recommended to me, as opposed to just the MINT playlist in general. I assume that one is generally based toward Americans. Let me just say, Canada knows where it’s AT. I was addicted to this playlist at one point on a random day at work. Yesterday, it popped up on my recommendation, with new tunes to check out. Now, this playlist is not for everyone, I’M SORRY. Typically ranges anywhere from underground house music, to regular EDM. Not everyone’s cup of tea.

So, while I have nothing better to do than to rekindle my love for this blog, I will be on the hunt for new music for EVERYONE. Playlists for the indie lover, and playlists for you sad bitches who love to cry. We’re all in this together….as soon as I decided to actually make my payment on this website. Times are hard OKAY.

This past week leading up to the album, The Weeknd has been imposing an important message that I want to leave this with. “Let music heal us.” While everyone at the end of the day may not have the same interests, or same career paths, I know we all love music. I mean that’s why you’re here, right? So, I will leave you with that thought in mind. Whatever emotions you’re feeling on lockdown, let the voices of others heal you!

See you sooooooooon…I promise this time.

2020 New Beginnings

Happy New Year! I thought I would start my first post in 2020 with a little life update. Maybe even take you on a little journey in my personal UFO if that’s okay with you? Throw in a little spicy storytime. Who knows.

So, what is this all about? YOUR GIRL GOT A NEW JOB. I have kept everyone in the dark about this situation, except for my close friends, up until very recently. I just wanted to marinate in the moment, okay?? I didn’t want to wake up and have it all be fake. If you are attentive, I briefly mentioned in my post about Life Is Beautiful, I quit my job to be there. Aren’t I so fun and dramatic? In all reality, I quit my job, and THEN went to have my own celebration at the festival. However, I never really touched base on anything after that. You want to know why? Finding a job was hard as hell that’s why.

Let me backtrack quickly for a second. Upon graduating college, I thought with my thin paper degree, I was set. However, I was brought back to reality, shortly after that thought crossed my mind. For some, finding a job in their career path was actually simple. They had their minds made up in college, and stuck with it. While I always truly knew where my heart was heading, I constantly teetered on if it was “doable.” This is why in college, I didn’t think to look for internships or simple music jobs. I was ignoring my heart and my gut. So, that just meant I was going to have to bust my ass from that moment forward. Which is exactly what I have been doing for the last 2 years. I took a small break after graduation and was ready to grind. I took a small part-time job at a bar in Orange County, which I still hold very near and dear to my heart. While it was only a marketing and promotions position, I figured this title would look great for an entry level music job. I got settled in the job, and continued to look elsewhere. My heart could not rest. I loved the bar and I loved the family that it provided me, but I still felt restless. Coming home from music festivals I was sad, almost like I was longing for more. I MEAN I WAS. I just didn’t know what.

Now, we’re approaching Fall 2019. Life Is Beautiful is around the corner, and my heart is starting to become unhappy. It is becoming increasingly obvious to the people around me. I am no longer where I need to be. While at one point, this job was the first step in the right direction, now it was time to put another foot forward. So, I quit. Didn’t even give my parents more than a 2 weeks notice, like my boss. I set my last day to be right before the music festival, so I could have one last chance to dance. Not forever, c’mon. Just ya know, before I cried every night applying to jobs. If you know me, you know that’s exactly what my sensitive ass did.

I mean, it wasn’t all bad. I did spend countless nights crying in frustration. Wouldn’t you?? If your initial thought was “no,” maybe sit at your computer for 8 hours a day, emailing the void. Now occasionally those emails did produce a response. However, the majority of the response was negative. This is what differentiates 2019 me from 2017 me. In 2017, I would see the rejection, get mad, and quit. This time, I saw the rejection and used it as a fire to spark my next move. Don’t get me wrong though, I still cried…A LOT. All the tears eventually paid off. In early December, I got an interview that would set the tone for my new decade. Upon leaving the interview, I went to visit my best friend at work. I remember telling her I HAD TO HAVE THAT JOB. I have never left an interview feeling like the perfect fit, until that moment. Like everyone should do when looking for a new job, follow up. Seriously. Be annoying. I emailed the company, and almost immediately got a response. It was good news, and he wanted to call me that Friday to finalize everything. This is where things come full circle for me.

Friday rolls around, and I am going on a girls trip to San Diego, for my friend’s birthday. We arrive a little early, so I can take my call in one of the rooms before the festivities begin. I got the job. At the time it still didn’t feel real, still doesn’t. However, this is where it all comes looping around. I quit my job a few months back, and had my last moment of stress-free bliss at one of my favorite music festivals. In San Diego, I started my NEW stress-free bliss dancing at Gryffin! See what I mean, full circle. What’s meant to be will be.

All this had me reminiscing on what my life has been like in the past two years. All the music festival moments, random vegas concerts, and spontaneous trips to go see my favorite artists. At the time, those were all the moments that inspired me the most. They still probably will in this new chapter of my life. All the “too drunk” moments at Coachella, blisters on my ankles, and post festival comedowns. Those were the memories that kept me working hard, and dreaming bigger.

Now, this definitely isn’t the end. With this new job, you’ll get to see me thrive even more. AND I AM GETTING PAID FOR IT??? Imagine that, getting paid to do something you love. I think I’ve heard some sayings about that in the past. What I can say for sure, is you can expect to still hear me scream singing all my favorite songs, except more frequently. This blog will still be thriving, once I find time and content. There are definitely more interviews coming up, so keep an eye out for that. Also, more music festivals, so possibly more disasters?? You know it’s bound to happen with me. Maybe this time someone will actually steal my Iphone 6, so I have no excuse to not get my upgrade. So, until the next musical journey we meet on, I’ll be back soon!!

2019 THROUGH MUSIC

It’s the best time of the year…well, for me that is. However, according to social media memes, it is a nightmare for everyone else. Yes, I am talking about this year’s Spotify Wrapped. For some reason, between 2018-2019, it felt as if Spotify’s users had grown exponentially. I mean, EVERYONE was posting about their year in music. I loved it. I think it is so interesting to see what everyone in my life had been blasting for the year. It’s totally invasive. I mean, c’mon, music is basically the gateway to people’s emotions.

So, let’s talk about what my year was like, according to my Spotify. However, I cannot go any further without throwing a little diss to Apple Music. This was the first year I saw people posting that platform’s year review. I must say, like I always do, it looked like trash. Spotify is out here giving everyone a little light show and interactive experience, where Apple is just giving you a bland black and white list. No fun.

ANYWAYS, now I am ready to talk about my year. Every Spotify Wrapped each year is different. This year, they started by taking you through the seasons. The Winter was about as cold as my heart. I was navigating my way through the grieving process still, so I found solace in Ariana Grande. Of course, darkness always has light, so there was some Loud Luxury to spice things up. Spring still had a dash of Ari, but it was Coachella season. Thus, I found myself blasting my new found love Gryffin, as well as throwing in Dillon Francis. Summer was honestly iconic. We have Dillon, we have Gryffin, we have Hayden James, and we of COURSE have Call Her Daddy. I’ll talk about why Summer was so iconic later. The Fall was just about the same, however I rudely phased out Hayden James for a brief period. I mean, I was just non-stop with Gryffin. Thanks Alana for that one. If they were to include this Winter, I am positive it would be The Weeknd’s new singles, back to back.

Then, Spotify gives you a little party to announce your #1 Artist. Mine comes as no surprise, Dillon Francis. I mean, I have always loved him, but 2019 was another level. It obviously was due to the fact that I was going to see him almost every other month. ALMOST. They then go to show you what your top songs of the year were, and put them into a playlist because they’re just TOO sweet. Mine was, “Love No More,” by Loud Luxury. If you’ve heard this song, you just know the vibe. I will say, I was a little surprised by this. I knew I listened a lot, for personal reasons, but not this much. I will say, my favorite part is looking at how many minutes I’ve spent listening to music. It’s never as much as I expect. Another cool thing about this is, since the year is not entirely over, the minutes are still going up every time I login. As of today, December 15, 2019, I have listened to 41,073 minutes of music. I wouldn’t trade those for the world! Spotify wraps up the presentation by giving you the artist you streamed the most this whole decade. I am absolutely sure nobody is surprised to hear that mine was, The Weeknd.

So, let’s talk about why I love this little magic Spotify makes every year. I find that every year it shows me what I really went through. This year, giving me a gist of each season was super special too. Like I said, the beginning of the year I was really grieving. So, it was really powerful to see how I started to pull myself to a more positive mindset, through my music choices. Summer was especially special to me because of my playlist, TEA. I’ve talked about it in previous blog posts, so I won’t beat a dead horse. The nostalgia hearing the first couple of songs from that specific playlist on my wrapped however, was unmatched. They spend this whole build up teasing what you listened to every season, but everyone is always waiting for the final product of their top 5 songs. “Ocean Drive,” has been on my lineup every year since 2015. It never gets old seeing it, or hearing it for that matter. It was cool seeing my top songs of the whole entire decade on a playlist this year as well. “Love No More,” actually made it to my decade lineup. If that puts into perspective how many times I was relentlessly hitting repeat. I always make jokes to one of the artists in Loud Luxury about that song in particular. I constantly will tell him I am blasting it to get over whatever boy I am into during that time. Only to turn around and message him that I took ten steps back. It’s quite comical. Did not work to help me with my boy issues, but did work to help me have a party in my head.

Around this time of year, I always make predictions as to what next year will hold for me. Right now, all I can say confidently, is that “Ocean Drive” will still make the cut. However, for the rest, I can’t be too certain. So many artists are releasing new music, I have no idea what will be my favorite anthem in a month. Probably The Weeknd, but again, I never even have to clarify the obvious.

Whether you had your Spotify Wrapped, or your Apple Music yearly review, I hope it brought you as much joy as it brought me. If it didn’t, maybe take a second to analyze what you went through in 2019. Then take a step back and realize where you are now. Does your music reflect that? If so, stop to think about why. Like I said, music is the gateway to our emotions, whether we are conscious of it at the time or not. So, sit back, reflect, and enjoy the music. Can’t wait to see what 2020 holds for all of us in this new decade!

NEW MUSIC WEEKLY

Hi everyone! So, as we all know, I am an AVID Spotify user. However, I know a lot of my lovely humans out there love Apple Music. Some would even say Soundcloud is their favorite. With that being said, I am putting a link to my new music playlist here, officially. That way, if you do not have Spotify, and are unwilling to make the change for me, you can still enjoy each week’s new tunes! Here, the playlist will change every week, when I upload it. You can preview each song without downloading Spotify, and you get the full track name! That way you can take it to your respectable platform and enjoy on your own.

See you all here each week!

ZOHARA: The Interview

Let’s take a little trip down memory lane, shall we? It’s April in the Coachella Valley. I am laying by the pool preparing for Day 2, Weekend 1. My friend, Alana, is extremely excited to see Gryffin tonight. At the time, I thought I had no idea who that was. She refreshes my memory by playing, “Tie Me Down”. A song that is popular in every Spotify playlist at the time. Her energy is contagious, and I am excited to go discover a new (to me) artist. What ensued that night, I was never expecting. To say I left Coachella in love with Gryffin’s sound, is an understatement.

While driving home at 5am, post festival depression kicking in, I was desperately trying to remember the song that resonated with me the most. And then, it came on shuffle. “Remember” by Gryffin featuring ZOHARA. I honestly have no idea why this song hit me right in my little feelies. I had no boy drama at the time, so I was existing peacefully. Maybe it was the voice that resonated with me the most. ZOHARA is a voice to be reckoned with. I am honestly shocked nobody has picked up on her sooner. However, getting her break with Gryffin is a magical start, to say the least. Her debut song, “Remember,” is a love song with an amazing tune. The lyrics tell a story of possible love fading, or maybe just two people trying to hold on. Whatever your interpretation, it’s hard not to dance to this tune. Now after listening to this bop, if you realize you just can’t get enough, you’re in luck! Gryffin debuted his album, Gravity, in which ZOHARA gave us another bop. This time with a more mellow tune. “Out Of My Mind,” goes into what we all experience when we’re super into someone. You literally can’t get them out of your mind, so you go crazy. Whether you’re thinking about their toxicity, or how amazing they are, it wont leave your head. This song taps into that emotion we are all too familiar with.

Now, while I could go on forever about how amazing her voice is, as well as these two songs, I thought I would bring you a new take. For once, instead of me rambling, I present you the artist herself. With ZOHARA emerging, we all have so many questions for her. So, I thought I would jump the gun and get her take on some of my pressing ideas.

So, without any more rambling, I give you: ZOHARA, The Interview.

When your song “Remember” fell into the hands of Gryffin, what was your initial reaction?

I was ecstatic! I knew the song was special when I wrote it three years ago and had no doubt it was going to be picked up, it was just a matter of when! Gryffin took the song to it’s next level and I’m super grateful to him!

I know you have a new song coming out soon with Gryffin as well titled ‘Out of My Mind,’ would you say the sounds are comparable to ‘Remember’? Or a completely new vibe?

I think both Remember and OOMM share many things in common – they’re both so relatable and tell such raw stories, yet they give the listener a totally different feeling. OOMM is the type of song I would listen to in the car on my way back from the beach while Remember will forever be my go to party song. I’m so grateful to have two songs on the album that showcase different aspects of my writing and my voice.

What was your first impression of LA when you moved? The East Coast vs. West Coast debate is large, so I would love to know what you think, considering you have now lived on both sides!

I have a lot to say about this so I’ll try to keep it short! Everyone who knows me well knows that I prefer NY over LA anyday. I was raised in NY and my entire family is still out there which makes LA a bit harder for me (I’m very close with my family, so I don’t like to be away from them for too long). I usually go back to NY every 2 months to refresh my mind. Reboot! I feel more inspired in NY – I love the subway because I get all my ideas there. While in LA, everyday starts to feel the same after a while and I start to miss home. BUT I have to say, the opportunities here in LA are unparalleled – which is something I am grateful for about LA…and grateful for the LA sunsets. I love the beauty of NY, it keeps me alive! I always tell people that I love NY so much because I feel like I’m part of this huge machine that never sleeps – I feel like I’m part of something and like I’m never alone because I have that commonality with everyone else walking on the street. NY makes me feel fearless. My dream is to make it big so I can move back to NY and split my time between there and LA 🙂

What has been your favorite venue or festival to play at so far, and why?

I would say Coachella was my favorite festival by far! It will always be special to me because it was a day of many firsts! It was my first time performing in front of an audience (unless you count my high school theatre days haha) and my first ever coachella! It was the most surreal weekend of my life. It’s a crazy story actually! I was only supposed to perform weekend 2 but when I went to the souncheck here in LA right before weekend 1 to prep for weekend 2, I met Gryffin for the first time and he heard me sing and told me “pack your bags, you need to perform with us tomorrow in palm springs. It’s going to be live streamed and it wouldn’t be the same without you. You got some pipes on you! You can really sing!” A few hours later I was on a bus with his entire crew to palm springs…I crashed at a friends house that was rented and then 24 hours later performed for the first time in front of 60,000 people. None of my family or friends came because of how last minute it was but I am so proud of myself because I was able to do it on my own. It is a huge accomplishment for me 🙂

What do you think you would be doing right now, if you weren’t all over performing with Gryffin?

Very good question! I have no clue haha I see myself focusing on my own music and my own artistry. Really going in 100% on who I am and showcasing that in my music.

On Instagram, you’re like a fashion icon! Where do you get inspo for your style?

Thank you! I’ve always loved fashion and am a huge believer in feeling good & special in what you wear and owning it! Having grown up in NY I got a lot of my inspiration from just seeing people walking down the street in their crazy outfits. I also get a lot of my inspo from Elsa Hosk & Emily Ratajkowski! Obsessed with them.
Lastly, can we be looking forward to a debut album sometime in the near future?

Yes!!! One of my main goals right now is to create music that gets me excited. It’s easy to write songs that are for other people (which I’ve been doing since I’ve lived here in LA for the past three years) but it’s a totally different ball game when its your feelings and your heart on the table. I want to show everyone the raw, vulnerable yet strong person I am through my music. I can’t wait to get creative and share it with the world.