I write into the void from my fire escape on 7th street. My hands are still sticky from an orange juice popsicle, which is only important because as of two days ago, I finally made homemade popsicles - the last quest on my Summer Bucket List.
It happened serendipitously, as everything seems to be happening lately. When I first moved into The Apartment On 7th Street, I found a high-quality popsicle mold in the freezer. Mitch happened to have one I guess. The same weekend, I bought oranges as they have been My Comfort Fruit lately. I saw them in the store and felt like I was back at big save picking out an orange for my lunch, which I only really got so I could share it with Jane or Marcela or Pua or Malia. However, we don’t have a squeezer, and I’ve been pretty frugal about moving costs. But of course, I went thrifting with Ben for “new” work pants and found the juice squeezer of my dreams for $4. So here we are. One fresh-squeezed orange juice popsicle later, and summer is finally truly over.
The sky is big and blue like a memory of the ocean. The soft noise of cars driving by, distant sirens, and leaves falling on concrete is my music for the evening. I can hear my roommate through the kitchen window putting away the dishes from the dishwasher - something I’ve discovered is my least favorite chore. I’m not sure how much longer I can get away with not doing it, but I don’t intend to investigate because I’m doing this new thing called Minding My Own Business At Any Cost. Updates to come.
If I haven’t already been obnoxious to you about this, then I have news -
I’ve deleted my spotify.
Or at least changed my profile so that all my playlists only exist as personal archives and I no longer have the app on my phone. I’ve wanted to do something like this for a while, but it was (of course) this binchtopia episode that finally convinced me.
I am hoping that this journey will eventually lead me to listening to music in physical form or at least using a more “ethical” streaming service. But for now, I’ve been listening exclusively to albums on apple music which is actually the whole inspiration for my first post. My offering to the void is these such albums. Due to My Boycott I will not be embedding the spotify links :/
This one has been Sun Through Big Windows. Morning tea growing cold in a handmade mug. Waiting in a hospital waiting room. Hanging up clothes as an act of meditation. Dreaming in the shower. It’s first for reasons that will only become obvious if you listen to it. If you have my number, please text me your highlights so I can know exactly how deeply our souls are connected. Not to quantify soul connections or anything, it’s not like that. I also think there’s a comment function on this app?
Lonely Runs Both Ways - Alison Krauss and Union Station
I listened to their most recent album, Acardia, with Corrina last month and had a bodily remembrance of my love for Alison Krauss. After wearing that one out, I went through some of her older stuff, and this one has me hooked. Been more of a solo driving listen for me.
After EP - After
Hana sent me their single Deep Diving and I lost my mind. She said it “came from an underwater cave that a little mermaid DJ lives in”. I slipped into my own mermaid tail and dove through sparkling waters on a sunny day to meet her, and she showed me this EP. “Obvious” has been a hot favorite.
Trail of Flowers - Sierra Ferrell
I’m going to see Sierra this weekend with Jack and Alex in Charleston, so in preparation, I’ve been listening to this album and watching her tiny desk. If you don’t know about her, a quick google search will tell you that she is one of the most special people in the scene right now. She’s all the sick drama and costume, but still very real and down to earth, and most of all - insanely talented.
Lifetime - Erika de Casier
We do a lot of driving at work which means more time for listening to albums. The opening track “Miss” is a prime example of music as a portal. I convinced my coworkers to spend our lunch break wading in the creek near one of our local waterfalls. It had rained enough recently that I was able to swim and as I slipped like a salamander in and out of the fresh water, I felt myself shift through the portal to naiad form.
Sour & Guts - Olivia Rodrigo
After our fairie lunch we listened to these two albums on the way home. Absolute classics that have only gotten better with time imo.
choke enough - Oklou
Oklou’s music is just the gift that keeps on giving. Always wishing for more of these songs, and she goes and releases this. It’s been getting me through the boring online trainings that come with starting a new job.
Graceland - Paul Simon
This album is exactly why I deleted spotify. My algorithm was never reminding me of Paul Simon, despite my consistent love for classic american singer-songwriters. It was a good reset listen and I had to “grace” the new apartment with this in early days.
SWAG II - Justin Bieber
Idc what anyone says this album is fire. Whoever you are, all 44 tracks deserve at least one Listen Through. Like just for the sake of it. Eye Candy is such a classic Justin song to me in the best way.
Perhaps one or more of these albums will find you this week. I’ll be like this, thinking of you out there somewhere listening.
