Cascade Writes
I think this feels like old friends catching up.
It feels safe and friendly – there’s an instant comfort and familiarity in the way the songs fit. It almost feels like a one act play, where each character has a moment in the spotlight to share a story or song, with the conversation becoming more raw as the night goes on.
We cover jokes and fun in the beginning (1-4), then somebody has a reaction to track 4, and we dive into frustration with the world (5), have a couple more upbeat responses to that (6-7), then move to beauty and nature and heartbreak, where we stay for a long time (8-17). At the end are the most honest admissions- “life kinda sucks, and maybe we don’t know what we want ” (18-21). Lastly there is a perfect wrap-up (almost a sitcom-style roll credits) that lifts the mood and brings it all to a close(22).
I love the idea of a campfire. With all the mentions of leaving society and the natural imagery in so many songs, it makes sense that the friends are out in nature, taking a true pause to assess who they are and where they have been. There’s nothing like fire for reflection.
Andrew Writes:
The first thing my wife and I bought on moving into our house together – before food, beds, mattresses, “normal” things etc. – was a fire pit. It’s true – fire has been at the heart of most of the magical times in this space and it was around that fire that Cascade and I got to meet 😉
The second ingredient that always comes with the fire is music – and while you can have one without it, well, that would be a shame no?! It’s tradition here to pass the phone around and let people queue up the next track – it’s a fabulous way of enabling people to bring their history into the space and generally results in a dynamic and diverse evening.
My experience of the space is that – when you get down to it – when you get down to it with fire and music – there really is very little that separates us as humans. Age, Gender, Culture become nothing more than interesting attributes that shape and contribute to the exchange of ideas and experiences.
Making connections between human beings is at the heart of musicto – that this playlist exists – this rather fabulous playlist exists :-p – is a perfect example of what we do. Thank you Cascade for the opportunity to reflect!
Playlist image by Andrew
About the Curators
Cascade
My name is Cascade, and I like music that makes me feel like I am outside, or floating, or writes me into a short story.
I have spent the years since I graduated high school walking across the country and working on a biology degree. The outdoors are my cathedral - they are intensely spiritual for me.
My other great love is fantasy, especially Dungeons and Dragons. My everyday tasks are transformed into epics by my D&D soundtracks!
My favorite music is music that mentions miles. After all the hiking I've done and all the journeys I intend, just the mention of them sends my mind wandering. I love that feeling, and all the other feelings music can give me. For me, that is what music is about- it is a way to channel and enhance my dreams or feelings or ideas. I can find whatever I am looking for in a song, and on the way I'll find a thousand things I wasn't- new perspectives and ideas that transform it all.
Andrew McCluskey
The first visual memory I have is that of the white upright piano in Singapore, Hell and the Dark Forces lived at the bottom, Heaven and the Angels at the top, they would play battles through my fingers and I was hooked.
As a psychology graduate I studied how sound affects human performance.
As a musician I compose instrumental music that stimulates your brain but doesn't mess with your language centers, leaving you free to be creative and brilliant without distraction.
As a curator I research how music can improve your life and create flow - I can tell you what music to listen to when studying for a test and why listening to sad music can make you feel better.
As a creator / contributor at musicto I’m part of a global creator community that collaborates through music. You can learn more about our community here.