spotify – 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!

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.

Selena, You’re Better Than This.

Ah yes, the infamous pop culture couple. Selena Gomez and Justin Bieber. It feels like we have grown up with this relationship. From the beginning, to the end, we have seen it all with these two. Hopefully. I don’t want to jump straight into this and start ragging on Selena. So, let’s reel it back a little bit.

The year is 2011, maybe even 2012, they get a little jumbled in the mess. This is when the pair STARTED dating. Let that sink in. Most of us were youngins. Not even thinking about dating, but I mean they are relatively the same age. Just two super young celebrities, trying to navigate love, in the public spotlight. I mean wow. Can you imagine how hard that must be? Not only are you trying to get a grip on what dating is, but you hardly even know yourself at that point. So, imagine trying to do that with a whole nation looking at you. It is hard to imagine, I will give them that. However, they did not really need to make everything so public. As a couple, you have the power to choose what people know about the intimate details of your relationship. This is where things get a little messy.

In 2012, it seemed that the couple broke up, for the first time. Yeah I know, almost 7 years later and we are still not really sure what is actually happening anymore. So, they break up, seemingly for a couple years. Selena makes breakup songs, Justin goes on a drunken bender, the usual. They stayed off and on until about 2014. The pair just couldn’t make up their minds. However, the media loved it. We all loved it, right? I mean it’s a tale as old as time. When nothing interesting is happening in your own life, there is ALWAYS some celebrity drama. This is where things get a little messy. It seemed that in 2015, they really were ready to go their own ways. Gearing up for a 2015-2016 tour season, they were both starting to date other people. Justin decided to pair with Sofia Richie, and Selena with The Weeknd. Good choice girl. Well, you know it couldn’t just end there, right? Nope. It’s petty season boys and girls. Amid Justin having fun with his new boo, Selena couldn’t help but constantly throw her two cents in the social media mix. From tweeting about them rather obviously, to blatantly commenting on his pictures, you could tell she was starting to crack. Don’t worry, Justin wasn’t too happy about her short fling with The Weeknd either.

It appeared The Weeknd’s playboy energy was no match for Justin Bieber. After a mere 10 months, Selena dumped him. Only days later, she was seen with Justin one last time. This lasted on and off again for about two years. They broke up early 2018, where Justin quickly ran back to Hailey Baldwin, someone he was seen with at some point in this messy timeline. Well, flash forward to now. Hailey traded Baldwin for Bieber, and the two are still happily married to this day. Now what about Selena?

The star seemingly decided to take a break from everything. Deactivated some social media, just basically disappeared. Honestly, a power move. It is so extremely hard to try and move on these days. Going off the grid is really your only option, especially as a celebrity. Now, this is where I have an issue.

Clearly, this relationship had been doomed from the start. Once the two began to grow older, emotional abuse and alcoholism began to take a toll on the two. While I know everyone’s side of the story is different, this is just the general realm of what we’ve all been hearing. However, I know how easy it is to go back to something familiar. My issue is not that. I have an issue with the way Selena has been attacking the other women. Anytime I see a Twitter drama account reporting the news, it never seems to have anything positive about Selena moving on anymore. I understand we all hurt in different ways, however, Justin is now married. It seems as if he has been nothing but supportive of Selena’s journey. Whether that be as an artist or her immense health issues. While she has since deleted all of the nasty comments and tweets, for a while she was on a Hailey rampage. I get it. They got married after a year, a little crazy. However, no longer your battle to fight. I am also positive Justin does not think it’s quirky to see you posting petty captions on social media, the day of his wedding. Move on.

My other issue. Her new music. Now this is really going to stir the pot, I am sure. My issue is not necessarily the context of her latest singles, because I think they are actually rather beautiful. A woman healing through her music is a powerful thing to watch. Her album context however, terrifies me. It is one thing to make a hit single or two about your breakup, and what you endured. However, a whole album? Selena. Please. I know for a FACT that more exciting things have happened in your life in the last 2 years. I know you have had exciting one night stands, random girls nights out, and just overall better times. But no. You’re choosing to release an album that is basically your emotional “diary.” Whatever that means. I personally just do not think it is a good look. To capitalize off of this breakup that happened so long ago. I mean, I am sure I am not the only one who is sick of hearing it?

What I want for Selena is to stop releasing the sad breakup hits. One or two, go for it. A whole album? Save it. I personally want to hear her positivity! You know what hurts the most? A bad bitch anthem. I mean, Dua Lipa just released “Don’t Start Now.” Basically a song telling her ex to kick rocks. I want that from Selena. I know she has it in her. In previous years when they broke up she was releasing bangers. Pretending she didn’t care what he was up to at all. The world needs that. She needs that. He also needs that. I am sure Hailey hurts for you too. No woman wants to see another woman suffer. However, she also doesn’t want to feel guilty for what happened in your long time ago relationship either.

So Selena, sweetie, please do better. For yourself and for all of us as well. I know you have it in you, and your fans will always support you through anything. It is time to let this relationship rest though. It’s been almost 2 years. You’re hot, and any guy would probably be dying to marry you. Justin is taken. Let’s get those baddie anthems firing girl because honestly, I am sick of it. Like the famous vine says, “If he doesn’t treat you right, you’re gone.” “I’m gone.” BOY BYE.

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.

Praise Our Founding Fathers

Well this is definitely some new territory as far as topics go for me. PODCASTS. They have been around forever, but for some reason, everyone is just now hopping on the bandwagon. I remember the first podcast I ever truly enjoyed, Serial. I am a big murder mystery fan, but that’s a topic for another time. Personally, I never found myself in a position where I would want to sit down and listen to another person talk. Unless I was having a face to face conversation. Books on tape were never up my alley. However, one day, everything changed.

My friend sent me a text saying something along the lines of, “Have you listened to Call Her Daddy?” Initially, I thought this was going to be a new song that had just been released. However, she informed me that if I like anything to do with Barstool Sports, then I would love this. Obviously, I had to do my research. Now, any NORMAL person would think to start a podcast from the beginning. I later learned that the Daddy Girls strongly advise this concept. However, my initial research began with watching their vlogs on Youtube to get a feel for who they are. For me, I would like to see who exactly is giving me all this raunchy advice.

Now yes, let me preface this whole post by saying, Call Her Daddy is not for the weak of heart. It may not even be for anyone reading this who is over the age of 40. Let me tell you why. It is RAUNCHY and RELATABLE. Which for most adults, is horrifying. Especially for parents. I can’t imagine any parent sitting down to listen to this podcast and thinking, “Groovy”. However, it is 2019, and young adults are being young, wild, and free. Most of the premise of these podcast episodes, deal with the trial and error of dating. Just when you think you’ve met the one, something isn’t right. These girls also give real and raw (no pun intended) sex advice. Now for some people, this is where their opinions on the podcast waiver. Maybe you aren’t a hoe, so to hear some of these stories is scarier than Halloween Horror Nights at Universal. However, maybe you are, and you’re looking for something to spice it up. These girls do it all.

Let me give you an example. Tragically, most of us reading this, like men. It’s more often than not, tragic. However, like the saying goes, you truly cannot live without them. In a more recent episode, Alex invites her male friend to come on the podcast. Now you’re thinking, cool, time for some useful advice from the man’s perspective. Judging by his name, Milf Hunter, you can only assume it isn’t going to be romantic. While I am sitting in my car listening, I am mistakenly waiting to hear advice from a guy on how girls SHOULD act. Instead, I am listening to a normal guy talk about all the savage things he has done in the past, and how he doesn’t plan on settling down anytime soon. If that doesn’t confirm my point that men are TRASH, I don’t know what will. I’m kidding. I actually found the episode super amusing and maybe a TAD insightful. I mean, who am I to kid, I have the worst taste in men. So, he seems right up my alley. I actually, in turn, learned a couple tips and tricks on how to play a player. NO MAN IS SAFE FROM ME NOW. I say as I am literally typing this alone in bed with my cat.

My favorite portion of the podcast however, is when youngins like myself, get to submit questions. At the end of the episode, Alex and Sofia pick which questions may be the most relevant and useful. Most of the time it’s about a cheating spouse, or sometimes it is just a crazy story about college. While I am no longer at the age where I have to worry about boys at frat parties, I still love to hear the advice. It makes me wish I had these girls in college, would that have changed anything? Probably not. Would I have steered clear of the frat stars? Most definitely. It was just recently that I found myself writing in to these girls for advice. On what, I won’t disclose just yet. However, whether I get chosen or not, there was some comfort in thinking they might see it. It almost feels…fatherly. Maybe they are the daddy’s of the internet.

While I would LOVE to tell each and every one of you to go listen to this podcast, I feel as if I should disclose a warning. This podcast is EXTREMELY inappropriate. Mom and Dad, close your ears and stay away okay? But, while it is raunchy, do not go judging your friends for being die hard fans. In all reality, this podcast is what girls talk about at slumber parties with their friends. If you are a guy reading this and have listened to the podcast, yes it is true, we are talking shit about you behind your back. Lastly, to the men. If you use your little Airpods and decide to listen, kudos to you. HOWEVER, this is not a reflection of any of your female friends’ endeavors, okay? There is no slut shaming in this house. These stories are obviously not ours, and that’s why they’re hilarious to listen to.

With that being said, if you are not scared away yet, listen to the podcast. Maybe it’ll spark some memories from your wild past. Or, maybe it’ll just make you grateful for your easy, breezy, beautiful dating life. Either way, Call Her Daddy, has a little something for everyone.

Hot Girl Summer Recap

Well, here we are. Hot Girl Summer has officially ended. While we leave our sexy energy at the beach, it’s time to gear up for Thotumn. Now, before you ask, yes I DID get all these terms from the internet. Sue me.

When moving into a new season, it’s good to reflect and carry on some of the summer energy. Seasonal depression is a very real thing. With school starting and work slowing down, things can get a little sad. Let’s not even get started on the universal feeling we all get when the sun starts to go down earlier. I AM NOT READY. However, I am ready to continue on blasting music from every speaker I can possibly get my hands on. So, let’s talk about our summer. How was yours? When I think about mine, the lines are pretty blurred on where I believe my season to have started. Apparently, to me, my summer began with Coachella. For those of you who are sheltered, this festival happened in the Spring. My internal timeline is extremely confused.

Really though, I would say my summer REALLY started at my friend’s dirty 30 birthday party. It was BASICALLY Coachella, considering we spent a few days in Palm Springs. While we were there one afternoon, I got my hands on the big speaker we had outside. Everyone was relaxing by the pool, enjoying a nice little beverage. I decided to play my music, and set up a little queue of what I have been listening to recently. Little did I know, this was going to be the highlight of my summer. Now, my friends know how much I pride myself on my music taste. So, I feel like they like to tread lightly when it comes to complimenting my playlists, or telling me how much they like a song being played. I don’t blame them, I think about every music compliment for days, and my ego is extremely large the entire time. You would think I am walking around acting like the world’s most renowned DJ. However, in my head, that is exactly what is going on.

This brings me to my epitome of summer, TEA. So, while at the pool, a couple of my friends were digging the tunes I was throwing out. Asking me what playlist it’s on, where I found these songs, etc. When I said I was just playing from my liked songs, they were frantic. The lost look in their eyes inspired me to create what became the best playlist of the freaking summer. I get home and my friend is on his hands and knees, BEGGING for me to make him a playlist. It was almost pathetic. You know who you are, and I am definitely kidding, I love you. Can I just say though, finding out you have similar music taste with someone can really strengthen a bond. Making this playlist and texting every time I put a new song up, was almost euphoric. Anyways, let’s get to the bottom line. This playlist is my new favorite baby. I will be completely honest though, creating it was a little nerve wracking. While I knew the main people listening already liked the songs, I was worried they wouldn’t like the new ones I was about to add. These are the little things that keep me up at night people. Ridiculous, I know.

When I first created TEA, my initial friend it was made for didn’t have Spotify. If you know me, or even if you have just been catching up on my posts, you KNOW I am a ride or die for that app. No matter how many ads I get for a 30-day free Apple Music trial, I am a hater. However, this is going to paint a picture of how good this playlist is. My friend really went and downloaded Spotify, just to listen. While he still dabbles in his Apple Music, TEA became the star of the show. Once we started talking about it, EVERYONE wanted in on it. My friends followed the playlist, and I started promoting it. Why not toot your own horn? So, while summer is ending, here we are still blasting TEA.

Now, I can’t say that TEA is the only summer playlist I have. I mean, it was Hot Girl Summer right? Our next star is the one and only, HGS. Reading the previous sentence, I hope you can gather what that stands for. Now, while there may be a couple overlapping songs on this one, this is the party playlist. TEA consisted of chilling by the pool vibes, as well as happy dance vibes. HGS is all about feeling your best and wanting the world to know it. I want to say it is the perfect pre-game playlist before going out, but we already have one for that. This playlist is for those days you just aren’t sure. Do you feel like a hot girl, or are you just faking it? Once this playlist comes on, you’ll figure it out. I know that explanation seems extremely vague, whereas the previous had a whole backstory. Don’t worry, there is a reason I will be linking both playlists below.

With Hot Girl Summer ending, I realized that these playlists probably will not. HGS will change the name and TEA will stay the same. While both of these playlists represent Summer 2019 for me, I feel like they represent a lot more than that as well. Not to be TOO corny, but TEA reminds me of carefree times with better people. I’ll always be having a hot summer, so HGS doesn’t have the same heart-warming effect on me. Now that fall is right around the corner, we can reflect on our amazing summers, but also gear up for which songs we are taking with us in transition. I’m thinking, let’s all beat this end of summer sadness with some bops right?

As ALWAYS, I am linking these playlists down below. Feel free to click them, or just listen on your Apple music, I won’t judge. Also, get ready for some super steamy content soon, I will be heading to another music festival. STAY CALM, WE ALL KNOW THE DRILL.