Out of an abundance of curiosity, I decided to count the number of playlists I have on Spotify. It's 114. One-hundred and fourteen times, I've tried capturing what I feel through the meaning of song. To put this number into perspective, I've had my Spotify account since 2011. On average, that means I curate 11-12 playlists each year. Is that normal??? Or am I just strangely addicted to creating playlists? I have always said it should be a skill I could add to my resume, but I do wonder if the sheer quantity is a bit abnormal.
Sometimes the playlist names are random and have nothing to do with the name (Rose Gold has a very punk pop vibe). Other times, the playlist names are very on the nose (Coldsnap was created last year during the literal snow and ice storm we had in Kansas). Some are named after a song that inspired the playlist (Enamore was inspired by Me Enamore by Shakira), while some are named after the general theme of the overall playlist (Melancholic is very sad vs abcdefu is very angry).
Sometimes the playlist names are random and have nothing to do with the name (Rose Gold has a very punk pop vibe). Other times, the playlist names are very on the nose (Coldsnap was created last year during the literal snow and ice storm we had in Kansas). Some are named after a song that inspired the playlist (Enamore was inspired by Me Enamore by Shakira), while some are named after the general theme of the overall playlist (Melancholic is very sad vs abcdefu is very angry).
I can't remember a time when music wasn't influencing some part of my life. When I was a toddler, I'd strum the seatbelt and sing to country ballads. At 9, I got a karaoke machine and my first CD- Christina Aguilera's self-titled album. At 10, I started playing the flute. In middle school, I chose choir and band as my electives.
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I didn't personally pursue music in college, but I was able to experience my first concerts during that time in my life. I saw Sara Bareilles at the Granada in Lawrence and The Fray at Starlight Theatre in Kansas City). Glee was also a part of the Zeitgeist at that point in time and it had me obsessed with covers (when Pitch Perfect happened, I moved onto the acapella craze).
Then from fall 2012-winter 2016, I didn't have a car and was commuting by foot and bus so it was almost guaranteed that I was wearing headphones. I easily logged 10-15 hours per week of music-listening only. I imagine the bulk of my playlists came out of this era.
August 2016 was exceptional because I saw my first Broadway show, Waitress, and it revived my interest in theatre. May 2019 was just as exceptional because I got to see my second Broadway show (Kiss Me Kate) and be a part of a choir that performed at Carnegie Hall.
Then from fall 2012-winter 2016, I didn't have a car and was commuting by foot and bus so it was almost guaranteed that I was wearing headphones. I easily logged 10-15 hours per week of music-listening only. I imagine the bulk of my playlists came out of this era.
August 2016 was exceptional because I saw my first Broadway show, Waitress, and it revived my interest in theatre. May 2019 was just as exceptional because I got to see my second Broadway show (Kiss Me Kate) and be a part of a choir that performed at Carnegie Hall.
In 2022, I hate to admit it, but I'm listening to music less and less. Music is still an important part of my life, it's just that now, podcasts and audiobooks are also a huge part of the equation. There never seems to be enough time to listen and consume all the content, but when I am needing a brain break, I jump to my playlists to get a rush of musically charged endorphins. Music continues to serve as a marker in time. I can listen to any one of those 114 playlists, and I'm taken right back to the moment I created them. I can smell the woods and the bonfires in the Pacific Northwest, or I can feel the bumping of the bass in the clubs. Even better, I'm reminded of love and elation and laughter and dreams come true.