spring awakening
The Arrival of Spring, David Hockney, May 2011
Helloooo!!! The blog has seen a serious void recently, as I’ve had to prioritise the (slightly :p) more serious stuff in my life, being my University final year dissertation- which is very almost over!. This, combined with working on another very exciting project soon to come, means The Grateful Peg has been put on the back burner (I’m MASSIVELY procrastinating by writing this as we speak however, but then again I did start this blog as one big procrastination tactic so). I also had quite a tricky few weeks in March mentally; lots of which was triggered by everything that unfolded with Sarah Everard as well as other things. I’ll probably write about it all on here soon, but today I just want to natter on about two things that make me very happy: the season of Spring, and music.
I probably sound like every other person in their early 20s, but I have always been a mad music fanatic. Like proper canny get enough of the stuff, couldn’t choose a desert island top 5 if I tried! It can say so much without saying anything at all, and vice versa. I love how malleable a song can be, dependent on your mood or environment the same song can have so many different meanings. Of course, this can be both good and bad; listening to music can dampen your mood if it reminds you of something you don’t want reminding of. But it can also be a good friend, one that gasses you up and comforts your serotonin. I know that some people prefer listening to a podcast on their daily walk instead of a playlist, and each to their own of course. But I guess a good hybrid between the two is the radio. I’ve recently been having a particularly obsessive little moment for it, which started when I bought myself a radio alarm clock last year. Waking up to Lauren Laverne’s dulcet tones on Radio 6 in the morning instantly lifts my mood. I also always have time for listening to (a fraction in the plethora of) shows on the holy grail online network NTS.
[[[[[[[[[ I’ve been at my desk for 12 hours and haven’t left the house today, and after writing all that I just thought of an idea. If I were to have a radio show right now I’d play the tracks below, a compilation I’ll call a soundtrack to a Spring awakening. ]]]]]]]]]
I love Spring because it is a season budding with positive change; the blooming flowers, longer days and lighter skies. What is even more enjoyable is the conjunction this year it has with lockdown easing here in the UK, meaning we are able to enjoy the build up to Summer both organically and socially (FINALLY!!). The mixture of both will hopefully be a positive to look to for anyone out there struggling mentally after a really harsh 3rd lockdown and cold winter, I know it’s helping me. With any mental hardship, these things take time and so let it, by taking each day as it comes. Just remember there is so much out there to look forward to, there are brighter days ahead. I hope these tunes can help, too. I certainly can’t wait to get out in the sunshine when my dissertation’s over and give my ears a sweeet ride, it’s the least we deserve!
I’ll stop blabbering now and let the music speak for itself!! Enjoy and stay safe. G X
(listen in order)
The Verve, A Man Called Sun
Fleetwood Mac, Hypnotized
Sonia Ferguson, Easy to Love
Gloria Ann Taylor, Love is a Hurtin’ Thing
Minnie Riperton, Les Fleurs
Floating Points, Movement 6
Yasuaki Shimizu, Umi No Ue Kara
Little Dragon and Moses Sumney, The Other Lover
Aphex Twin, Ageispolis
Solange, Binz
Yussef Dayes, Alfa Mist and Mansur Brown, Love Is the Message
Outkast, Jazzy Belle
Frank Ocean, Swim Good
Greentea Peng, Hu Man
Georgia Anne Mudrow, Brokenfolks
DJ Cam, Dieu Reconnaitra Les Siens
Serge Gainsbourg, L’Anamour
Big Muff and Lisa Shaw, Feel What You Know (Smith & Mighty remix)
The The, Giant
The Cocteau Twins, Heaven or Las Vegas
Okay Kaya, Mother Nature’s Bitch
Solange, Losing You
*Edit: Finally worked out how to link a Youtube playlist which is linked below. Just press play and it’ll play itself!
