A collection of memories through music

Someone asked me recently what I listen to when I'm working. That question is not easy for me because it depends on many factors.

1. What’s my mood for the day?

2. What project am I working on?

3. Am I alone in the house, or is the family home?

4. Is my wife on business calls?

5. Am I in the studio, office, or living room?

I can say that when I’m writing, I need music that sits in the background without being too distracting. For example, while writing this, I’m listening to a playlist that includes Best Coast, Tokyo Police Club, and Spoon.

That music is playing relatively quietly in another room, and though it’s very present to me in this exact moment because I’m talking about it, the tones are rather subtle. Sometimes, songs with lyrics are too much while writing, and I’ll switch to instrumental music, usually hip-hop or deep house.

All bets are off when I’m in the studio working on art. Sometimes, it’s down-tempo tunes, but more often than not, it’s rock, hip-hop, or punk, and it’s almost always loud.

My Annual Pilgrimage of Tunes

One thing I’ve gotten into a habit of doing is creating a new playlist at the start of the year, where I document the songs that made an impact on me. I’ve been doing this since 2018, and when I go back to listen to previous years, it brings back memories, both fond and melancholy.

I’m also reminded of some tunes I had forgotten, which almost makes them new again. I rarely, however, visit the current year’s playlist except to add new songs. I much prefer returning to the archive, and often, it will help me understand how the music relates to where I was as an artist, father, and human.

If you’re interested in going back through my musical time capsule, here are all my annual jaunts since 2018: