Grappling with Fear and Control in Sara-Danielle’s “Scared”
There was a moment as a senior in college where I pretty much lost control. Ever the formal, by-the-book student, something within me snapped and I found myself rambling and spilling out my innermost thoughts on one of my last ever undergrad reflection assignments. Two hours later, I submitted a mess of jumbled thoughts peppered […]
Michael Baker’s “Caught in the Crossfire”: An Exploration of Connection and Perspective
If I’m going to be honest with myself, I have to admit that I am rather terrible at being in the present. Unless my mental spiraling is pointed out to me by a concerned friend or family member, my mind rarely slows down enough to be present in the moment. Although I know that I […]
A Blend of Power and Simplicity in Isobel Campbell’s “Together”
Admittedly, I have significantly less of those nostalgic summer feelings than I usually do at this time of year. As someone who vehemently hates change, the feeling of something ending usually crashes down on me as September begins, leaving me to fondly look back on and re-imagine the days of summer leisure. With our sudden […]
Nan Macmillan’s “Walk the Dog”: A Gentle Reminder to Live in the Present
Some songs just feel like a particular kind of day, a certain season, or a certain moment. They illicit feelings like the hopefulness of spring and long days of summer, the cooling nights of fall and biting days of winter. Nan Macmillan’s “Walk the Dog” is one of those that harbors an unmistakable feeling of […]
Tristan Brooks’ “Haze”: The Disconnect of Isolation, Self-Imposed or Otherwise
While I can’t categorize the majority of my 141 days here in quarantine as all bad, barring a few particularly nasty outliers, I cannot call them all good days, either. The shaky-at-best sleep schedule that I had before has been shredded, along with just about anything resembling consistency and stability. Mindlessly plugging away at papers […]
Tired Runner’s “Port Song”: Restless Waters, Restless Minds
There’s something about water, particularly the untamed wildness of oceans, that has always piqued human interest. This is evident simply in the sheer amount of art, dating back centuries, that centers the ocean as its subject. Looking at seascapes, poems, choreography, books, photographs, songs and countless other representations, the influence of water is undeniable. It’s […]
Exploring Grief Through Benfield’s “Morbid in the Morning”
If you asked me to name five musicians hailing from Australia, although its admittedly sad, I would most likely not be able to deliver. Even after a few serious moments of thought, the list would likely taper off somewhere between Vance Joy and Sia. Though he may not yet be on the world’s radar, and […]
Examining Fear and Uncertainty through NUJA’s “The Others”
As a chronic overthinker with more than my fair share of anxiety, songs that delve into the more dark and emotional aspects of life have always been a personal safe haven. From the first time that I got hold of a laptop and a good pair of headphones, I discovered that there is nothing so […]
“End Times”: Iliad Stone and the Monarchy’s Take on the End of the World
Fittingly, the first time that I heard Iliad Stone and the Monarchy’s “End Times” I was attempting to purchase a set of cloth masks online while watching Black Lives Matter protesters gather in Boston. Faced with the current climate of uncertainty and turmoil, the title alone was enough to pique my interest. Paired with Stone’s […]
T. Thomason’s “King of Spades Pt. II”: Painful, Vulnerable, Real
Simultaneously dark and airy, T. Thomason’s “King of Spades Part II” blows in like an end of summer wind: warm and inviting but tinged with sadness. With a Glass Animals-like quality, it beautifully captures the internal battles that are faced in the bitter wake of failed relationships. Low spaces to breathe and reflect intermingle with […]
