I'm a big fan of youth binge culture with regard to media consumption.
I'm sure sociologists and journalists have branded this phenomenon with their own pithy soundbites, but I'm going to call it like I see it. Teenagers have a tendency to binge--sometimes on destructive things, but that's another story--especially when it comes to media. We find a band we like; we listen to all their albums on Spotify, watch all their music videos, watch interviews with the lead singer. We find a good TV show; we barrel through all eight seasons in three weeks on Netflix (what? I didn't say that. I've never done that. I have a healthy relationship with television). We see a great stand-up special; we spend hours scouring YouTube for clips of that comedian doing other shows. It's a habit that I've fallen into. The Internet makes it easy. But I'm in a bit of a rut right now. I'm not in the process of bingeing anything at all.
I could start in with some new TV show or explore the discography of an artist I've never listened to. But instead, I've decided to examine what it is, exactly, that drives me to do this. Part of it is my obsessive personality; I'm very all or nothing, so if I like something, I'm gonna invest myself into it as much as possible. But I think it's a process that many people in my generation go through.
At the age of 18, I'm only just now entering the world of mass media. As a child and even somewhat as a teenager, my tastes were mandated by what I was allowed to watch and what was marketed towards me. Though I've always been very individualistic, it wasn't until the end of high school that I began discovering things that weren't recommended to me by my parents or commercials for shows I was already watching. This mainly took the form of stand-up comedy, a long-forbidden haven of jokes both dirty and way over my head, but also in new kinds of literature, interesting music, and bizarre movies (Being John Malkovich is my second favorite movie and also the weirdest thing I've ever seen).
The moment teenagers like me enter this realm of new entertainment possibilities, we go a little bit crazy. We are at such a fascinating point in history in which if I find something I like to consume, I can view it over and over again or use the endless archive of the Internet to find things similar to it. I don't have to go to the library or the record store or the Blockbuster. Almost everything I want to watch, read, or listen to is available on my laptop, in my bedroom, and a lot of it is free.
However, there is a point at which we run out of material on a particular subject. I'm going to use Louis C.K. as an example. I found one of his specials, "Oh My God," on Netflix, remembered hearing his name in some context, and decided to check it out. I laughed harder at that special than I have at anything in my entire life. I eagerly await the idea that someone or something makes me laugh that hard again. I was so enamored of his POV and style that I quickly digested his other specials and began combing the web for more clips of him in interviews and his TV show, Louie. I like Louie (from what I've seen, which is only about half a season), but to me it's not as rip-roaringly hilarious as his stand-up, so now I'm at a bit of an impasse. I can keep rewatching his specials on Netflix or through his website, but I'm going to have to wait a while for new material. Joining the Louis C.K. boat this late meant a tremendous backlog of content for me to watch, but also missed opportunities to see him on tour or get access to the new stuff just as it was coming out. I'm constantly searching for his name in the news to see if he's got a new tour or special planned, but he came out with something in May of 2015 (that I loved), so it's going to be a minute.
Same thing with me and John Mayer. My senior year of high school I became obsessed with him. He's one of my all-time favorite artists, and he wrote my all-time favorite song ("In Your Atmosphere," which is on his live album Where the Light Is). I spent most of 2015 listening to his albums, of which there are many. Now that I've heard every song of his (I believe), I've grown incredibly impatient for his next record, which is due out in the fall. Every time he posts on social media about it, I freak out for like ten minutes and start imagining it and how incredible it will be because he's going in the studio with the same people who made Continuum which I believe is inarguably his best album and maybe one of the best albums of all--
I need to relax with this whole John Mayer thing, I'm aware.
I think my point is that while there are drawbacks to the way that teenagers consume artistic content-- in the way that we essentially overdose on an artist or media personality and very quickly run out of our supply--it's a pretty great time to be alive. And while I am very eager for my favorite creators to put out new products, the old stuff is always just a click away. And it always stands up to another binge.
Wednesday, February 10, 2016
Friday, January 29, 2016
January Playlist
January Playlist
Well, we've all got our first month of 2016 under our belt, which means it's time for me to give you guys a playlist of what I've been bumping. I decided to change things up this year, and make public playlists on Spotify for everything I listen to! So here's a link:
https://open.spotify.com/user/12149039602/playlist/3O8G7JY6Rtc0kTufxaeM11
If you want to get a preview of what's on there, though, here are the tracks all written out the old-fashioned way:
1. "Fly - Acoustic" - 3:32
ARTIST: Meadowlark
ALBUM: Dual
2. "Georgia" - 3:51
ALBUM: Dream Your Life Away
ARTIST: Vance Joy
3. "Chateau Lobby #4 (in C for Two Virgins)" - 2:51
ALBUM: I Love You, Honeybear
ARTIST: Father John Misty
4. "Something" - 3:53
ALBUM: Sprained Ankle
ARTIST: Julien Baker
5. "The New Year" - 4:06
ALBUM: Transatlanticism
ARTIST: Death Cab for Cutie
6. "Everything is Temporary" - 4:06
ALBUM: Songs for Felix
ARTIST: The Nova Darlings
7. "Devil Side" - 3:59
ALBUM: Devil Side
ARTIST: Foxes
8. "Way Back When" - 3:26
ALBUM: In A Perfect World
ARTIST: Kodaline
9. "T-Shirt Weather" - 3:14
ALBUM: T-Shirt Weather
ARTIST: Circa Waves
10. "Reaper" - 3:38
ALBUM: This Is Acting
ARTIST: Sia
11. "Outer Space feat. Genevieve)" - 3:31
ALBUM: Outer Space (feat. Genevieve) - Single
ARTIST: G, Genevieve
12. "Loudspeaker" - 3:30
ALBUM: Loudspeaker - Single
ARTIST: MUNA
13. Heartbeats" - 2:42
ALBUM: Imperial Recordings Best Of
ARTIST: José Gonzalez
14. "The Sound" - 4:09
ALBUM: The Sound
ARTIST: The 1975
15. "Feels" - 3:03
ALBUM: Feels
ARTIST: Kiiara
16. "You're Such A" - 3:36
ALBUM: HAIZ
ARTIST: Hailee Steinfeld
17. "Worry" - 4:01
ALBUM: Remnants
ARTIST: Jack Garratt
18. "1612" - 3:20
ALBUM: Fugue State
ARTIST: Vulfpeck
19. "Elevate" - 5:08
ALBUM: When The Night
ARTIST: St. Lucia
20. "Clay & Cast Iron" - 2:56
ALBUM: Birds Say
ARTIST: Darlingside
Those are the 20 songs I've been listening to this past month! 2016 is off to a good start. I'm feeling mostly content and calm (even though I've got a WRIT-150 essay to finish and a whole boatload of cover sheets for performance class to do...but let's not muddy this beautiful Friday with talk of schoolwork). I'm eating healthy, dressing confidently, and just in general trying to enjoy my life. I've been writing down good memories every day and putting them in this ceramic box I've got in my dorm room. At the end of the semester, I'm gonna dump 'em all out and look at all the cool things I did. I've tried to do it before but I always forgot; here's hoping I keep it up! On an unrelated note...don't give up hope. Don't put your life on hold for someone that isn't making themselves available to you, for whatever reason. But if you've been waiting a little while...well, there's gotta be a reason, right? So keep moving forward and living and making changes--but save a little space inside yourself for the waiting thing. It might surprise you someday. Talk soon. xo
Well, we've all got our first month of 2016 under our belt, which means it's time for me to give you guys a playlist of what I've been bumping. I decided to change things up this year, and make public playlists on Spotify for everything I listen to! So here's a link:
https://open.spotify.com/user/12149039602/playlist/3O8G7JY6Rtc0kTufxaeM11
If you want to get a preview of what's on there, though, here are the tracks all written out the old-fashioned way:
1. "Fly - Acoustic" - 3:32
ARTIST: Meadowlark
ALBUM: Dual
2. "Georgia" - 3:51
ALBUM: Dream Your Life Away
ARTIST: Vance Joy
3. "Chateau Lobby #4 (in C for Two Virgins)" - 2:51
ALBUM: I Love You, Honeybear
ARTIST: Father John Misty
4. "Something" - 3:53
ALBUM: Sprained Ankle
ARTIST: Julien Baker
5. "The New Year" - 4:06
ALBUM: Transatlanticism
ARTIST: Death Cab for Cutie
6. "Everything is Temporary" - 4:06
ALBUM: Songs for Felix
ARTIST: The Nova Darlings
7. "Devil Side" - 3:59
ALBUM: Devil Side
ARTIST: Foxes
8. "Way Back When" - 3:26
ALBUM: In A Perfect World
ARTIST: Kodaline
9. "T-Shirt Weather" - 3:14
ALBUM: T-Shirt Weather
ARTIST: Circa Waves
10. "Reaper" - 3:38
ALBUM: This Is Acting
ARTIST: Sia
11. "Outer Space feat. Genevieve)" - 3:31
ALBUM: Outer Space (feat. Genevieve) - Single
ARTIST: G, Genevieve
12. "Loudspeaker" - 3:30
ALBUM: Loudspeaker - Single
ARTIST: MUNA
13. Heartbeats" - 2:42
ALBUM: Imperial Recordings Best Of
ARTIST: José Gonzalez
14. "The Sound" - 4:09
ALBUM: The Sound
ARTIST: The 1975
15. "Feels" - 3:03
ALBUM: Feels
ARTIST: Kiiara
16. "You're Such A" - 3:36
ALBUM: HAIZ
ARTIST: Hailee Steinfeld
17. "Worry" - 4:01
ALBUM: Remnants
ARTIST: Jack Garratt
18. "1612" - 3:20
ALBUM: Fugue State
ARTIST: Vulfpeck
19. "Elevate" - 5:08
ALBUM: When The Night
ARTIST: St. Lucia
20. "Clay & Cast Iron" - 2:56
ALBUM: Birds Say
ARTIST: Darlingside
Those are the 20 songs I've been listening to this past month! 2016 is off to a good start. I'm feeling mostly content and calm (even though I've got a WRIT-150 essay to finish and a whole boatload of cover sheets for performance class to do...but let's not muddy this beautiful Friday with talk of schoolwork). I'm eating healthy, dressing confidently, and just in general trying to enjoy my life. I've been writing down good memories every day and putting them in this ceramic box I've got in my dorm room. At the end of the semester, I'm gonna dump 'em all out and look at all the cool things I did. I've tried to do it before but I always forgot; here's hoping I keep it up! On an unrelated note...don't give up hope. Don't put your life on hold for someone that isn't making themselves available to you, for whatever reason. But if you've been waiting a little while...well, there's gotta be a reason, right? So keep moving forward and living and making changes--but save a little space inside yourself for the waiting thing. It might surprise you someday. Talk soon. xo
Friday, January 22, 2016
My Favorite Slams! (Part I)
Hey, all! As some of you may know, I am an amateur slam poet. I was on my slam poetry team for two years in high school and my senior year, my team came in third place in the finals for the Get Lit Classic Slam, one of the biggest poetry competitions for teens in Los Angeles. A video of a poem I did with my friend Alex wound up on Button Poetry, which is THE premier YouTube channel for slam poetry - aka one of the most exciting things that's ever happened to me! Here's a link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MfLdvMxeQWg
But I thought I'd also share some of my favorite spoken word pieces by other poets. You can find all of these on Button Poetry, but here's a starter guide to some of the best ones.
Neil Hilborn - "OCD"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vnKZ4pdSU-s
The most famous upload to the Button Poetry channel - over 10 million views. Sort of a rite of passage that you watch this first. Subject: love and mental illness. Big stuff.
Neil Hilborn - "The Future"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xUEg2WxGqQ
Another Hilborn piece! One of my all-time favorites. I watch it at least once a week. It just makes me feel good inside. Neil is a really incredible artist. He's also got some books out - I haven't bought any yet but I'm sure they're worth checking out! Subject: mental illness and survival. Beautiful and inspirational.
Dylan Garity - "Rigged Game"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bo3KFUzyMUI
Fun fact - Garity helped tape the Get Lit slam for Button Poetry and I got to meet him! I fangirled a lot. He was confused. Fair enough. Anyway, this poem is among the first I watched and it's got a lot of crazy intense one-liners. Whole thing is a must-see. Subject: the state of education in the U.S. He nails it.
Simon Stolzoff - "Boyfriend Material"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVpbvxEd1iE
Hilarious but weirdly sweet. A great poem to watch if you're feeling a bit down and want a good laugh (and to look at a cute boy from UPenn doing slam!) Subject: satire and relationships. Great combo.
Phil Kaye - "Repetition"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6KI6c_IfvHg
I adore Phil Kaye. He always delivers really heartfelt stuff, and this poem is no different. Definitely get his book and watch this little deal. Subject: family issues and speech impediments. He ties them together perfectly.
Anthony McPherson - "All Lives Matter: 1800s Edition"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGR0ihYux6w
HOLY MOTHER. This is one of the most crazy-good videos I have EVER seen. I get chills during every line. McPherson is a poetry god. Subject: race relations across generations. Utterly breathtaking.
Blythe Baird - "When the Fat Girl Gets Skinny"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16Tb_bZZDv0
Heartbreaking and so, so real. Blythe Baird really digs into the hard stuff with this one and it hits especially close to home with me. Subject: eating disorder and body image.
Kevin Kantor & Sienna Burnett - "Phases"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=su75AX_urjU
This poem uses a lot of really great devices to talk about a really tough subject, which I believe is truly the point of great slam - to communicate powerful emotion and politics through wordplay and wit. This poem is exactly that. Subject: sexual orientation and the heartbreaking realities of questioning it. Really beautiful piece that caught me way off-guard.
I'll make another post like this in the future, but if you're trying to figure out why there's so much hype about spoken word, hopefully these videos get you into it. Enjoy, and of course, talk soon. xo
But I thought I'd also share some of my favorite spoken word pieces by other poets. You can find all of these on Button Poetry, but here's a starter guide to some of the best ones.
Neil Hilborn - "OCD"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vnKZ4pdSU-s
The most famous upload to the Button Poetry channel - over 10 million views. Sort of a rite of passage that you watch this first. Subject: love and mental illness. Big stuff.
Neil Hilborn - "The Future"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xUEg2WxGqQ
Another Hilborn piece! One of my all-time favorites. I watch it at least once a week. It just makes me feel good inside. Neil is a really incredible artist. He's also got some books out - I haven't bought any yet but I'm sure they're worth checking out! Subject: mental illness and survival. Beautiful and inspirational.
Dylan Garity - "Rigged Game"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bo3KFUzyMUI
Fun fact - Garity helped tape the Get Lit slam for Button Poetry and I got to meet him! I fangirled a lot. He was confused. Fair enough. Anyway, this poem is among the first I watched and it's got a lot of crazy intense one-liners. Whole thing is a must-see. Subject: the state of education in the U.S. He nails it.
Simon Stolzoff - "Boyfriend Material"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVpbvxEd1iE
Hilarious but weirdly sweet. A great poem to watch if you're feeling a bit down and want a good laugh (and to look at a cute boy from UPenn doing slam!) Subject: satire and relationships. Great combo.
Phil Kaye - "Repetition"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6KI6c_IfvHg
I adore Phil Kaye. He always delivers really heartfelt stuff, and this poem is no different. Definitely get his book and watch this little deal. Subject: family issues and speech impediments. He ties them together perfectly.
Anthony McPherson - "All Lives Matter: 1800s Edition"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGR0ihYux6w
HOLY MOTHER. This is one of the most crazy-good videos I have EVER seen. I get chills during every line. McPherson is a poetry god. Subject: race relations across generations. Utterly breathtaking.
Blythe Baird - "When the Fat Girl Gets Skinny"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16Tb_bZZDv0
Heartbreaking and so, so real. Blythe Baird really digs into the hard stuff with this one and it hits especially close to home with me. Subject: eating disorder and body image.
Kevin Kantor & Sienna Burnett - "Phases"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=su75AX_urjU
This poem uses a lot of really great devices to talk about a really tough subject, which I believe is truly the point of great slam - to communicate powerful emotion and politics through wordplay and wit. This poem is exactly that. Subject: sexual orientation and the heartbreaking realities of questioning it. Really beautiful piece that caught me way off-guard.
I'll make another post like this in the future, but if you're trying to figure out why there's so much hype about spoken word, hopefully these videos get you into it. Enjoy, and of course, talk soon. xo
Wednesday, December 23, 2015
December Playlist
December Playlist
New viewers - don't forget to check out my YouTube channel (youtube.com/jensenmcraeofficial), my official site (jensenmcrae.com), and my Twitter (@mcraejensen) <3
Unbelievably, we have arrived at my last playlist of 2015. It's been a little chilly here in LA (although of course, it's not a real winter by most standards)...
My fall semester grades came out today, and I did pretty well! Not quite as good as my older brother, but then again, not all of us can graduate a semester early from Harvard with a 4.0 GPA. (Yep.)
In any event, it's time for me to provide you with some tunes that will help you close out the year. I hope you like them! I really did! :)
1. "The Lung" - 4:53
ALBUM: Choose Your Weapon
ARTIST: Hiatus Kaiyote
2. "I Used to Love Him" - 5:40
ALBUM: The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill
ARTIST: Lauryn Hill
3. "No Pressure (feat. Big Sean)" - 4:47
ALBUM: Purpose
ARTIST: Justin Bieber
4. "Catch & Release (Deepend Remix)" - 3:16
ALBUM: Catch & Release (Deepend Remix) - Single
ARTIST: Matt Simons
5. "Lean On (feat. MØ)" - 2:57
ALBUM: Peace Is The Mission
ARTIST: Major Lazer & DJ Snake
6. "Different Colors" - 3:42
ALBUM: TALKING IS HARD
ARTIST: WALK THE MOON
7. "Cassy O'" - 3:04
ALBUM: Wanted On Voyage
ARTIST: George Ezra
8. "Naked" - 3:22
ALBUM: VHS
ARTIST: X Ambassadors
9. "The Daylight" - 4:43
ALBUM: The Daylight EP
ARTIST: Andrew Belle
10. "Halo" - 3:19
ALBUM: The Morning
ARTIST: Lewis Watson
11. "Divorcée" - 3:29
ALBUM: The Widowmaker
ARTIST: Donovan Woods
12. "The Blower's Daughter" - 4:47
ALBUM: O
ARTIST: Damien Rice
13. "Shallows" - 6:54
ALBUM: If You Leave
ARTIST: Daughter
14. "Blood" - 5:17
ALBUM: If I Should Go Before You
ARTIST: City and Colour
15. "This Is After" - 3:15
ALBUM: Songs for Felix - EP
ARTIST: The Nova Darlings
16. "Samson" - 3:09
ALBUM: Begin to Hope
ARTIST: Regina Spektor
So those are the 16 songs I've been listening to this month. 2015 has really felt like two distinct parts, instead of 12, or 52, or 365...it's truly BC and AC (before and after college). I'd like to think I've grown and changed in some ways. A few weeks ago, I might have said that I hadn't. But now that I'm looking back at where I was on the last night of 2014, and where I am now, I feel pretty good about all the things I've accomplished. I've written a lot of great things. I've let go of childish fantasies that do me more harm than good to harbor. And I'm looking toward 2016 (and turning 19! Cool...) with excitement, not with dread.
Merry early Christmas, and happy early New Year. Talk soon. xo
New viewers - don't forget to check out my YouTube channel (youtube.com/jensenmcraeofficial), my official site (jensenmcrae.com), and my Twitter (@mcraejensen) <3
Unbelievably, we have arrived at my last playlist of 2015. It's been a little chilly here in LA (although of course, it's not a real winter by most standards)...
My fall semester grades came out today, and I did pretty well! Not quite as good as my older brother, but then again, not all of us can graduate a semester early from Harvard with a 4.0 GPA. (Yep.)
In any event, it's time for me to provide you with some tunes that will help you close out the year. I hope you like them! I really did! :)
1. "The Lung" - 4:53
ALBUM: Choose Your Weapon
ARTIST: Hiatus Kaiyote
2. "I Used to Love Him" - 5:40
ALBUM: The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill
ARTIST: Lauryn Hill
3. "No Pressure (feat. Big Sean)" - 4:47
ALBUM: Purpose
ARTIST: Justin Bieber
4. "Catch & Release (Deepend Remix)" - 3:16
ALBUM: Catch & Release (Deepend Remix) - Single
ARTIST: Matt Simons
5. "Lean On (feat. MØ)" - 2:57
ALBUM: Peace Is The Mission
ARTIST: Major Lazer & DJ Snake
6. "Different Colors" - 3:42
ALBUM: TALKING IS HARD
ARTIST: WALK THE MOON
7. "Cassy O'" - 3:04
ALBUM: Wanted On Voyage
ARTIST: George Ezra
8. "Naked" - 3:22
ALBUM: VHS
ARTIST: X Ambassadors
9. "The Daylight" - 4:43
ALBUM: The Daylight EP
ARTIST: Andrew Belle
10. "Halo" - 3:19
ALBUM: The Morning
ARTIST: Lewis Watson
11. "Divorcée" - 3:29
ALBUM: The Widowmaker
ARTIST: Donovan Woods
12. "The Blower's Daughter" - 4:47
ALBUM: O
ARTIST: Damien Rice
13. "Shallows" - 6:54
ALBUM: If You Leave
ARTIST: Daughter
14. "Blood" - 5:17
ALBUM: If I Should Go Before You
ARTIST: City and Colour
15. "This Is After" - 3:15
ALBUM: Songs for Felix - EP
ARTIST: The Nova Darlings
16. "Samson" - 3:09
ALBUM: Begin to Hope
ARTIST: Regina Spektor
So those are the 16 songs I've been listening to this month. 2015 has really felt like two distinct parts, instead of 12, or 52, or 365...it's truly BC and AC (before and after college). I'd like to think I've grown and changed in some ways. A few weeks ago, I might have said that I hadn't. But now that I'm looking back at where I was on the last night of 2014, and where I am now, I feel pretty good about all the things I've accomplished. I've written a lot of great things. I've let go of childish fantasies that do me more harm than good to harbor. And I'm looking toward 2016 (and turning 19! Cool...) with excitement, not with dread.
Merry early Christmas, and happy early New Year. Talk soon. xo
Sunday, November 29, 2015
November Playlist
November Playlist
Yo, what's up, party people?! November is almost over WHICH MEANS IT'S ALMOST CHRISTMAS! And though I am Jewish, my Christmas senses are tingling!
Also, I am very excited for winter break. Thanksgiving break was crucial, but now I'm just ready for the big kahuna. You feel me?
Oh, and I could stand to leave 2015 behind. Some great things happened this year, but it felt...so muddled and confusing. The end of 2014 just bled into the beginning of 2015 and I never really got my momentum. I'm already deep in the trenches of spiritual preparation for 2016 (whoa...that's crazy) and I look forward to starting on the right foot. Especially since I sense BIG things on the horizon for my music and my writing. You'll have to stick around and see what happens! ;)
Enjoy my November playlist and coast into that sweet, wintry, final month with me...
OOP! Before I forget - check out "Songs for Felix," the new EP by USC band The Nova Darlings! I'm friends with a couple of those guys and they really know how to make a great tune. Search 'em up on Soundcloud, Spotify, or iTunes (they're everywhere)! And now for the playlist!
1. "Gold" - 3:46
ALBUM: Gold - Single
ARTIST: Kiiara
2. "Lay It All on Me (feat. Ed Sheeran)" - 4:03
ALBUM: We the Generation
ARTIST: Rudimental
3. "Alive" - 4:24
ALBUM: This Is Acting
ARTIST: Sia
4. "Bird Set Free" - 4:13
ALBUM: This Is Acting
ARTIST: Sia
5. "Hello" - 4:56
ALBUM: 25
ARTIST: Adele
6. "Diary (feat. Jermaine Paul & Tony! Toni! Toné!)" - 4:44
ALBUM: The Diary of Alicia Keys
ARTIST: Alicia Keys
7. "Fingerprints" - 4:17
ALBUM: Choose Your Weapon
ARTIST: Hiatus Kaiyote
8. "Take the Box" - 3:20
ALBUM: Frank
ARTIST: Amy Winehouse
9. "Driving in Circles" - 3:29
ALBUM: Confluence
ARTIST: Zane Carney
10. "Tower of Song" - 3:47
ALBUM: Leonard Cohen: I'm Your Man (Motion Picture Soundtrack)
ARTIST: Martha Wainright
11. "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right" - 3:38
ALBUM: Bob Dylan
ARTIST: The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan
12. "Half Asleep" - 3:14
ALBUM: Heigh Ho
ARTIST: Blake Mills
13. "Hold You In My Arms" - 5:06
ALBUM: Trouble
ARTIST: Ray LaMontagne
14. "I've Just Seen a Face" - 2:05
ALBUM: Help!
ARTIST: The Beatles
15. "Cold Is the Night" - 3:15
ALBUM: The Oh Hellos - EP
ARTIST: The Oh Hellos
16. "Shine" - 2:59
ALBUM: Last Smoke Before the Snowstorm
ARTIST: Benjamin Francis Leftwich
17. "Between the Bars" - 2:21
ALBUM: Either/Or
ARTIST: Elliott Smith
18. "Count Your Blessings" - 4:05
ALBUM: Count Your Blessings - EP
ARTIST: George Ogilvie
19. "Sink Or Swim" - 3:44
ALBUM: The Morning
ARTIST: Lewis Watson
20. "Petrolia" - 4:11
ALBUM: Don't Get Too Grand
ARTIST: Donovan Woods
21. "In July" - 2:23
ALBUM: Hi Fidelity
ARTIST: Ernie Halter
22. "Wild Things" - 3:09
ALBUM: Know-It-All
ARTIST: Alessia Cara
23. "In Exile" - 3:53
ALBUM: Beggars
ARTIST: Thrice
24. "Hollow" - 3:31
ALBUM: Hollow - Single
ARTIST: Tori Kelly
25. "Annie's Always Waiting (For the Next One to Leave)" - 2:56
ALBUM: Last of the Great Pretenders
ARTIST: Matt Nathanson
26. "Radio" - 3:31
ALBUM: Labor of Love
ARTIST: Ernie Halter
27. "Don't Wanna Fight" - 3:53
ALBUM: Sound & Color
ARTIST: Alabama Shakes
28. "Ain't That Peculiar" - 2:59
ALBUM: Number 1s: Marvin Gaye
ARTIST: Marvin Gaye
Jeez, didn't realize how long this thing was! Anyway, I hope you enjoy these 28 tunes in the last few hours of November. Time is precious. It slips away quickly. Before you know it, you're halfway through your freshman year of college and you're no closer to figuring out where you belong in the world...or maybe that's just me. I'm feeling good, though. Like I said, big things are on the horizon. Wheels are turning. The universe is preparing for us all.
Talk soon. xo
Yo, what's up, party people?! November is almost over WHICH MEANS IT'S ALMOST CHRISTMAS! And though I am Jewish, my Christmas senses are tingling!
Also, I am very excited for winter break. Thanksgiving break was crucial, but now I'm just ready for the big kahuna. You feel me?
Oh, and I could stand to leave 2015 behind. Some great things happened this year, but it felt...so muddled and confusing. The end of 2014 just bled into the beginning of 2015 and I never really got my momentum. I'm already deep in the trenches of spiritual preparation for 2016 (whoa...that's crazy) and I look forward to starting on the right foot. Especially since I sense BIG things on the horizon for my music and my writing. You'll have to stick around and see what happens! ;)
Enjoy my November playlist and coast into that sweet, wintry, final month with me...
OOP! Before I forget - check out "Songs for Felix," the new EP by USC band The Nova Darlings! I'm friends with a couple of those guys and they really know how to make a great tune. Search 'em up on Soundcloud, Spotify, or iTunes (they're everywhere)! And now for the playlist!
1. "Gold" - 3:46
ALBUM: Gold - Single
ARTIST: Kiiara
2. "Lay It All on Me (feat. Ed Sheeran)" - 4:03
ALBUM: We the Generation
ARTIST: Rudimental
3. "Alive" - 4:24
ALBUM: This Is Acting
ARTIST: Sia
4. "Bird Set Free" - 4:13
ALBUM: This Is Acting
ARTIST: Sia
5. "Hello" - 4:56
ALBUM: 25
ARTIST: Adele
6. "Diary (feat. Jermaine Paul & Tony! Toni! Toné!)" - 4:44
ALBUM: The Diary of Alicia Keys
ARTIST: Alicia Keys
7. "Fingerprints" - 4:17
ALBUM: Choose Your Weapon
ARTIST: Hiatus Kaiyote
8. "Take the Box" - 3:20
ALBUM: Frank
ARTIST: Amy Winehouse
9. "Driving in Circles" - 3:29
ALBUM: Confluence
ARTIST: Zane Carney
10. "Tower of Song" - 3:47
ALBUM: Leonard Cohen: I'm Your Man (Motion Picture Soundtrack)
ARTIST: Martha Wainright
11. "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right" - 3:38
ALBUM: Bob Dylan
ARTIST: The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan
12. "Half Asleep" - 3:14
ALBUM: Heigh Ho
ARTIST: Blake Mills
13. "Hold You In My Arms" - 5:06
ALBUM: Trouble
ARTIST: Ray LaMontagne
14. "I've Just Seen a Face" - 2:05
ALBUM: Help!
ARTIST: The Beatles
15. "Cold Is the Night" - 3:15
ALBUM: The Oh Hellos - EP
ARTIST: The Oh Hellos
16. "Shine" - 2:59
ALBUM: Last Smoke Before the Snowstorm
ARTIST: Benjamin Francis Leftwich
17. "Between the Bars" - 2:21
ALBUM: Either/Or
ARTIST: Elliott Smith
18. "Count Your Blessings" - 4:05
ALBUM: Count Your Blessings - EP
ARTIST: George Ogilvie
19. "Sink Or Swim" - 3:44
ALBUM: The Morning
ARTIST: Lewis Watson
20. "Petrolia" - 4:11
ALBUM: Don't Get Too Grand
ARTIST: Donovan Woods
21. "In July" - 2:23
ALBUM: Hi Fidelity
ARTIST: Ernie Halter
22. "Wild Things" - 3:09
ALBUM: Know-It-All
ARTIST: Alessia Cara
23. "In Exile" - 3:53
ALBUM: Beggars
ARTIST: Thrice
24. "Hollow" - 3:31
ALBUM: Hollow - Single
ARTIST: Tori Kelly
25. "Annie's Always Waiting (For the Next One to Leave)" - 2:56
ALBUM: Last of the Great Pretenders
ARTIST: Matt Nathanson
26. "Radio" - 3:31
ALBUM: Labor of Love
ARTIST: Ernie Halter
27. "Don't Wanna Fight" - 3:53
ALBUM: Sound & Color
ARTIST: Alabama Shakes
28. "Ain't That Peculiar" - 2:59
ALBUM: Number 1s: Marvin Gaye
ARTIST: Marvin Gaye
Jeez, didn't realize how long this thing was! Anyway, I hope you enjoy these 28 tunes in the last few hours of November. Time is precious. It slips away quickly. Before you know it, you're halfway through your freshman year of college and you're no closer to figuring out where you belong in the world...or maybe that's just me. I'm feeling good, though. Like I said, big things are on the horizon. Wheels are turning. The universe is preparing for us all.
Talk soon. xo
Monday, November 9, 2015
White Privilege Reader's Theater
INT. - LIVING ROOM - DAY
A, the homeowner, stands in the middle of a room, ankle deep in water. B, the handyman, stands on a raised platform with wheels, carrying a toolbox.
A: Thank you for coming on such short notice.
B: No problem. Ivory Roofers is here to help. Now what seems to be the problem?
A: Well, as you can see, my house is flooded due to a leak in the ceiling. Not surprising, considering how bad the weather has been these days.
B: Whoa, whoa, slow down there.
A: Sorry?
B: I just don't want you to jump to any conclusions.
A: I'm afraid I don't know what you mean.
B: Well, we don't know if there's really a leak in the ceiling.
A: How can you say that?
B: Don't antagonize me, I'm just playing devil's advocate. All I'm saying is that from where we're standing, it's impossible to tell if there's really a leak in the ceiling.
A: My house is flooded. That's a pretty good indicator that the ceiling has been leaking.
B: Flooding is kind of a strong word. There's not really that much, is there?
A: Do you not see the water on the floor?!
B: Try not to get too emotional, it's only water.
A: Surely you wouldn't want to live in a house where you're constantly ankle deep in water. It's damaging everything I own and generally ruining my quality of life.
B: At least you have a home.
A: Excuse me?
B: A lot of people don't even have homes to flood.
A: I mean, sure, but that's hardly the point right now. The point is that my home is flooded, and I called you to fix it.
B: Why do I have to fix it?
A: Well, for one thing, you're a roofer. That's literally your job. And second of all, because your company put the roof up in the first place, so you're really in the best position to fix it.
B: It's not my house. It's your house. Shouldn't you fix it?
A: I'm not a roofer! You are a roofer! Why won't you just fix the leak?
B: Couldn't you just learn to live with it?
A: I've been living with it for some time now, but I'm tired of just "living with it." That's why I called you. The weather has been bad, and--
B: Whoa, whoa, don't blame the weather for your problems.
A: How can I not blame the weather? The only reason there's water flooding my home is because of all the rain.
B: No, there's water in your home because you let it in your home.
A: That literally makes no sense. There is a hole in my roof--
B: Conjecture.
A: --And it's been raining, so there's now an excess of water all over my home. Please just fix it so I can move on with my life.
B: Look, it really doesn't seem that bad. Why don't you just stand on your platform?
A: Sorry, what?
B: As you can see, I've got a platform that I always stand on when things get too wet. Why don't you stand on your platform?
A: I don't have a platform.
B: I guess you could stand on mine.
A: There are no stairs. Could you help me up?
B: Wow, I offer you a spot on my platform, out of the water, and now I have to help you up, too?
A: There's really no other way for me to get up there.
B: That's not my problem.
A: Look. YOU put in the faulty roof. YOU refuse to fix the problems with it. I'M the one that's suffering because of it.
B: Technically, I didn't put that roof in. My grandfather did. When HE built this house, by the way. You really ought to be thanking me.
A: Why on earth should I thank you?!
B: Like I said. MY grandfather built this roof and put a roof over YOUR head.
A: The roof is leaking! And you refuse to fix it!
B: You can't blame me for something my grandfather did.
A: You're being ridiculous.
B: I'm not being ridiculous. You're the one complaining about everything and ignoring all your good fortune. If my grandfather hadn't built this house, you would have nowhere to live.
A: No, I'd just be living somewhere else.
B: But this house is so big and beautiful! It's got plenty of space for you to move around. And it's soundproof. You can say whatever you want as loud as you want!
A: All that would be great if it weren't flooded and all my things weren't water damaged. Why did you even come here if you weren't going to fix my roof?
B: I was trying to help you look on the bright side.
A: You're a roofer! That isn't what I hired you to do!
B: You haven't even paid me yet.
A: Because you haven't done your job!
B: I'm done being yelled at. I'm leaving.
A: Wait! You haven't fixed my roof! What am I supposed to do?
B: Solve your own problems!
B pulls out an oar from the toolbox and unfolds it to its full size.
A: Can I at least have that oar? Jesus, where the hell did you get that thing?
B: My father gave it to me so it's mine.
A: Is your house flooded?
B: No. But all the houses in this neighborhood have water in them. So I'm gonna need this to get around.
A: Are you going to fix the other houses, then?
B: Probably not. Hopefully they'll be more receptive to my help than you've been.
B uses the oar and the rolling platform to leave the house. A sighs and removes a blanket from a nearby couch, beginning - however futilely - to mop up all the water.
A, the homeowner, stands in the middle of a room, ankle deep in water. B, the handyman, stands on a raised platform with wheels, carrying a toolbox.
A: Thank you for coming on such short notice.
B: No problem. Ivory Roofers is here to help. Now what seems to be the problem?
A: Well, as you can see, my house is flooded due to a leak in the ceiling. Not surprising, considering how bad the weather has been these days.
B: Whoa, whoa, slow down there.
A: Sorry?
B: I just don't want you to jump to any conclusions.
A: I'm afraid I don't know what you mean.
B: Well, we don't know if there's really a leak in the ceiling.
A: How can you say that?
B: Don't antagonize me, I'm just playing devil's advocate. All I'm saying is that from where we're standing, it's impossible to tell if there's really a leak in the ceiling.
A: My house is flooded. That's a pretty good indicator that the ceiling has been leaking.
B: Flooding is kind of a strong word. There's not really that much, is there?
A: Do you not see the water on the floor?!
B: Try not to get too emotional, it's only water.
A: Surely you wouldn't want to live in a house where you're constantly ankle deep in water. It's damaging everything I own and generally ruining my quality of life.
B: At least you have a home.
A: Excuse me?
B: A lot of people don't even have homes to flood.
A: I mean, sure, but that's hardly the point right now. The point is that my home is flooded, and I called you to fix it.
B: Why do I have to fix it?
A: Well, for one thing, you're a roofer. That's literally your job. And second of all, because your company put the roof up in the first place, so you're really in the best position to fix it.
B: It's not my house. It's your house. Shouldn't you fix it?
A: I'm not a roofer! You are a roofer! Why won't you just fix the leak?
B: Couldn't you just learn to live with it?
A: I've been living with it for some time now, but I'm tired of just "living with it." That's why I called you. The weather has been bad, and--
B: Whoa, whoa, don't blame the weather for your problems.
A: How can I not blame the weather? The only reason there's water flooding my home is because of all the rain.
B: No, there's water in your home because you let it in your home.
A: That literally makes no sense. There is a hole in my roof--
B: Conjecture.
A: --And it's been raining, so there's now an excess of water all over my home. Please just fix it so I can move on with my life.
B: Look, it really doesn't seem that bad. Why don't you just stand on your platform?
A: Sorry, what?
B: As you can see, I've got a platform that I always stand on when things get too wet. Why don't you stand on your platform?
A: I don't have a platform.
B: I guess you could stand on mine.
A: There are no stairs. Could you help me up?
B: Wow, I offer you a spot on my platform, out of the water, and now I have to help you up, too?
A: There's really no other way for me to get up there.
B: That's not my problem.
A: Look. YOU put in the faulty roof. YOU refuse to fix the problems with it. I'M the one that's suffering because of it.
B: Technically, I didn't put that roof in. My grandfather did. When HE built this house, by the way. You really ought to be thanking me.
A: Why on earth should I thank you?!
B: Like I said. MY grandfather built this roof and put a roof over YOUR head.
A: The roof is leaking! And you refuse to fix it!
B: You can't blame me for something my grandfather did.
A: You're being ridiculous.
B: I'm not being ridiculous. You're the one complaining about everything and ignoring all your good fortune. If my grandfather hadn't built this house, you would have nowhere to live.
A: No, I'd just be living somewhere else.
B: But this house is so big and beautiful! It's got plenty of space for you to move around. And it's soundproof. You can say whatever you want as loud as you want!
A: All that would be great if it weren't flooded and all my things weren't water damaged. Why did you even come here if you weren't going to fix my roof?
B: I was trying to help you look on the bright side.
A: You're a roofer! That isn't what I hired you to do!
B: You haven't even paid me yet.
A: Because you haven't done your job!
B: I'm done being yelled at. I'm leaving.
A: Wait! You haven't fixed my roof! What am I supposed to do?
B: Solve your own problems!
B pulls out an oar from the toolbox and unfolds it to its full size.
A: Can I at least have that oar? Jesus, where the hell did you get that thing?
B: My father gave it to me so it's mine.
A: Is your house flooded?
B: No. But all the houses in this neighborhood have water in them. So I'm gonna need this to get around.
A: Are you going to fix the other houses, then?
B: Probably not. Hopefully they'll be more receptive to my help than you've been.
B uses the oar and the rolling platform to leave the house. A sighs and removes a blanket from a nearby couch, beginning - however futilely - to mop up all the water.
Tuesday, October 27, 2015
October Playlist
October Playlist
Hey there! Happy (almost) Halloween! October has been kind of a strange month. It feels like it's been October forever. On the plus side, I had my first performance midterm (which went AWESOME, I think!) AND I got to perform an acoustic, original set at Tommy's Place, which is a supercool USC venue - not only did I get to do my own stuff up there, but I was opening for some hella talented upperclassmen. Plus, you know, life happens; people coming in and out of your life, some opportunities fading into nothingness and others coming to the forefront...I know I'm on the precipice of change. It seems like just yesterday I was moving into this dorm, but I'm already for the next step. Am I crazy for thinking that? Or am I just finally growing up and learning to deal with all that life throws at me?
I'm probably crazy.
Anyway, here are the songs I couldn't stop playing this month. I hope you like them as much as I do :)
1. "That Hotel" - 3:14
ALBUM: That Hotel - Single
ARTIST: Donovan Woods
2. "Rylynn" - 5:14
ALBUM: Art of Motion
ARTIST: Andy McKee
3. "Traveling Song" - 3:14
ALBUM: The Fool
ARTIST: Ryn Weaver
4. "On the Way Home" - 3:57
ALBUM: Paradise Valley
ARTIST: John Mayer
5. "My Heart and the Headless" - 3:30
ALBUM: Uniform - EP
ARTIST: Jack Ingram
6. "Hello My Old Heart" - 4:16
ALBUM: The Oh Hellos - EP
ARTIST: The Oh Hellos
7. "One Sweet Love" - 4:21
ALBUM: Little Voice
ARTIST: Sara Bareilles
8. "Husks and Shells" - 3:44
ALBUM: Unmap
ARTIST: Volcano Choir
9. "When That Fever Takes a Hold On You" - 3:29
ALBUM: From the Wreckage
ARTIST: The Wind and The Wave
10. "Tiderays" - 4:57
ALBUM: Repave
ARTIST: Volcano Choir
11. "Circles" - 4:19
ALBUM: Beggars
ARTIST: Thrice
12. "Angeles" - 2:57
ALBUM: Either/Or
ARTIST: Elliott Smith
13. "Alone Together (feat. Marsha Ambrosius)" - 3:59
ALBUM: Alone Together - EP
ARTIST: Daley
14. "Eden" - 4:06
ALBUM: The Blessed Unrest
ARTIST: Sara Bareilles
15. "Love Is a Losing Game (Demo Version)" - 3:44
ALBUM: Back to Black: B-Sides
ARTIST: Amy Winehouse
16. "I'd Look Good on You" - 3:23
ALBUM: Labor of Love
ARTIST: Ernie Halter
17. "If I'm Unworthy" - 4:43
ALBUM: Heigh Ho
ARTIST: Blake Mills
18. "Boys & Girls" - 3:26
ALBUM: Boys & Girls
ARTIST: Alabama Shakes
Here are 18 cool tunes for you to close out this spooooooky month. Question: how are you supposed to tell how people really feel about you? It seems like in college, everybody - friends, romantic interests, collaborators - will be borderline obsessed with you one day only to have no interest in you the next. Maybe I'm just reading too much into things (as usual). Maybe I'm not reading ENOUGH into things (the greatest cinematic plot twist in history). Anyway, I hope you're having a decent year, no matter what stage of life you're in. Transitions are hard. But you get through them. And then you get whatever's on the other side, which is probably pretty cool.
Talk soon. xo
Hey there! Happy (almost) Halloween! October has been kind of a strange month. It feels like it's been October forever. On the plus side, I had my first performance midterm (which went AWESOME, I think!) AND I got to perform an acoustic, original set at Tommy's Place, which is a supercool USC venue - not only did I get to do my own stuff up there, but I was opening for some hella talented upperclassmen. Plus, you know, life happens; people coming in and out of your life, some opportunities fading into nothingness and others coming to the forefront...I know I'm on the precipice of change. It seems like just yesterday I was moving into this dorm, but I'm already for the next step. Am I crazy for thinking that? Or am I just finally growing up and learning to deal with all that life throws at me?
I'm probably crazy.
Anyway, here are the songs I couldn't stop playing this month. I hope you like them as much as I do :)
1. "That Hotel" - 3:14
ALBUM: That Hotel - Single
ARTIST: Donovan Woods
2. "Rylynn" - 5:14
ALBUM: Art of Motion
ARTIST: Andy McKee
3. "Traveling Song" - 3:14
ALBUM: The Fool
ARTIST: Ryn Weaver
4. "On the Way Home" - 3:57
ALBUM: Paradise Valley
ARTIST: John Mayer
5. "My Heart and the Headless" - 3:30
ALBUM: Uniform - EP
ARTIST: Jack Ingram
6. "Hello My Old Heart" - 4:16
ALBUM: The Oh Hellos - EP
ARTIST: The Oh Hellos
7. "One Sweet Love" - 4:21
ALBUM: Little Voice
ARTIST: Sara Bareilles
8. "Husks and Shells" - 3:44
ALBUM: Unmap
ARTIST: Volcano Choir
9. "When That Fever Takes a Hold On You" - 3:29
ALBUM: From the Wreckage
ARTIST: The Wind and The Wave
10. "Tiderays" - 4:57
ALBUM: Repave
ARTIST: Volcano Choir
11. "Circles" - 4:19
ALBUM: Beggars
ARTIST: Thrice
12. "Angeles" - 2:57
ALBUM: Either/Or
ARTIST: Elliott Smith
13. "Alone Together (feat. Marsha Ambrosius)" - 3:59
ALBUM: Alone Together - EP
ARTIST: Daley
14. "Eden" - 4:06
ALBUM: The Blessed Unrest
ARTIST: Sara Bareilles
15. "Love Is a Losing Game (Demo Version)" - 3:44
ALBUM: Back to Black: B-Sides
ARTIST: Amy Winehouse
16. "I'd Look Good on You" - 3:23
ALBUM: Labor of Love
ARTIST: Ernie Halter
17. "If I'm Unworthy" - 4:43
ALBUM: Heigh Ho
ARTIST: Blake Mills
18. "Boys & Girls" - 3:26
ALBUM: Boys & Girls
ARTIST: Alabama Shakes
Here are 18 cool tunes for you to close out this spooooooky month. Question: how are you supposed to tell how people really feel about you? It seems like in college, everybody - friends, romantic interests, collaborators - will be borderline obsessed with you one day only to have no interest in you the next. Maybe I'm just reading too much into things (as usual). Maybe I'm not reading ENOUGH into things (the greatest cinematic plot twist in history). Anyway, I hope you're having a decent year, no matter what stage of life you're in. Transitions are hard. But you get through them. And then you get whatever's on the other side, which is probably pretty cool.
Talk soon. xo
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