All the Playlists

Sunshine – Alice in Chains

13 March 2017

Did You Ever – Daniela La Luz

13 March 2017

On Saturday night I arrived to Griessmühle; formerly a pasta factory, and presently one of my favorite clubs in Berlin. Not only is it just a few U-bahn stops from my house, but it’s a bit off the beaten path (and a bit gritty), which means it doesn’t attract a lot of tourists.

What Music to Listen to when Studying for or Taking a Test?

10 March 2017

If you’re reading this chances are you’re probably in school of some kind and looking for help!  If you’re in the library or some common area like a coffee shop, have a look around and see how many people are wearing headphones…

Lord, I’m Discouraged – The Hold Steady

10 March 2017

Sad music doesn’t have to bring you down – sometimes a sad song punches you in the gut and leaves you staggering but strangely energized.  When you have a lyricist like Craig Finn and a guitar player like Tad Kubler, you get pummeled on many different levels.

Trozo – Tristan Eckerson

8 March 2017

Some tracks just have a way of bringing you into a specific state of mind – I wasn’t thinking of the music to grieve to playlist when I heard this but I couldn’t stop thinking about it afterwards.

Spirits – Jamie Woon

8 March 2017

Not all music to grieve to has to be downtempo and sad sounding.  You never know what track is going to be associated with certain events in your life and while much of the music on this playlist tugs at the heartstrings, tracks like this one are more up-lifting.

Tubular Bells – Pt. I – Mike Oldfield

8 March 2017

While many people associate the music with the Exorcist and Halloween soundtracks, I associate it with lying on my back in Singapore, looking up at the sky and playing along with every instrument as the mad Master of Ceremonies Vivian Stanshall announced them.

What House Is – Lady Blacktronika

8 March 2017

Since today is International Women’s Day I thought it would be most appropriate to feature one of my favorite DJs, Lady Blacktronika. She was one of the first friends I made when I arrived to Berlin and also the first person to ever tell me not to refer to “Techno” as “Electro.” When I asked her why, she said, “just don’t.” Duly noted Lady Black.

L’alternativa – bzur

8 March 2017

I’ve composed this one keeping in mind an idea of consolation after loss, just follow its flow and let it take care of you 🙂

When I’m Gone – Joey + Rory

8 March 2017

My husband and I decided life was too short to wait for retirement to have fun so we went out to buy a travel trailer. While standing in the fourth one, he had a heart attack and died. Two weeks after the funeral, I carried on with our dream, bought a 16 foot camper, and spent three months in the wilderness and backroads of Colorado…alone. 

Doesn’t Make It Alright – The Specials

7 March 2017

It seems unlikely that a ska revolution started at 51 Albany Road, Coventry – go ahead and take a look on Google Street View and tell me I’m wrong – but from these inauspicious surroundings, songwriting mastermind Jerry Dammers and his friends introduced the world to the music of the Caribbean filtered through the prism of the West Midlands.

Dear Mr President – Pink and the Indigo Girls

7 March 2017

The more things change, the more they say the same. This song from 2006 could have been written in 2017, which is not to say that protest is futile, but rather a solemn reminder that the fight for equality and justice against greed and brutality never ends.