Dearest Friend,
I wanted to present you with this gift of a playlist at the beginning of the month but sadly health / head problems had other ideas. So here we are, another blustery evening in the U.K. on our second named storm of the week no less, and I think we could all do with a bit of stardust in our coffee.
Are you the kind to look to January as a new year and new start? I see it as a time to firmly hunker down, reflect on the last year, recharge the batteries after the power drain that December can be (in all the best ways as well as the actually draining ones), enjoy the subtle ways the little bit more light every day brings joy, and stretch your roots into the ground a little deeper before a flourish of new growth in Spring. The people who manage to charge full steam at a whole bunch of newness and promises in the depths of Winter continue to baffle me, I’m just not built that way. I’m ok with that.
So, here we have a mix that will nurture magic in these wild Winter days that are loaded with potential but need a bit of something to coax it out. Sprinkle carefully or spoon it in liberally.
As always, the mix comes in under an hour and a half (because that’s all you can fit on a C-90 tape and I’m old-school about the idea if not the delivery vehicle of the thing) but I wanted to make a few mentions that have not been included because “the tape ran out” or they didn’t fit thematically but are too good not to share…
Folklore - Taylor Swift
If snow-domes had a Summer alternative, full of dust motes glinting in the sun and warm days in the woods / fields, then Folklore belongs in one. It is a Winter antidote, a warm hand to hold on a summer evening stroll instead of the currently freezing toes and fingers on a blustery night. My love of Taylor Swift is no secret, this is the album that made it so. “Seven” was included in the playlist but I couldn’t help but gently nudge you towards the whole album.
Ben Lawrence
A track from this was also included but I wanted to underline it on the folded up bit of paper that goes in with the tape with the track listing on. Instagram seems to have become a teen version of myself - constantly offering up new music for attention. I know I should hate the snooping / algorithm side of it but I’m always happy to discover new music, especially now that my head is a bit better at coping with it. I want to say something about the creation of good things from a place of loss but none of the words quite seem to fit in an order that is befitting, so just head over to Instagram or look Ben up on Spotify instead.
Julianne Bourne
Another Instagram finding. Beautiful and perfect for inducing introspective feelings.
Steal the Clouds
Who doesn’t love discovering music so new that the band only has one song to their name and that itself is less than a fortnight old at the time of writing? I had the privilege of sharing a cleaning cupboard of a workspace with one of the band members (I’m not joking, they moved a bunch of office rubbish out and us and the rest of the marketing team in - that’s a story for another time) and loved the band he used to be in (Scarlatti Tilt). I’m excited to see what comes of these guys.
Wynona
Another Instagram recommendation. Brings back 90’s teen feelings of The Cranberries and The Cure and hanging out at the train station watching trains come and go, watching people begin and end adventures, to a soundtrack served to me through foam covered headphones from a tape player in my pocket.
I’m not sure if I’ll include extras every time, would you like me to? Let me know.
I’d love for you to share your favourite new music or songs that give you that glimmer of comfort on a cold day over on Notes…
If you love a list or don’t have Spotify, the playlist is below.
Enjoy blanket days daydreaming about the big things to come*, whether you’re hunkering down under one or lying on top of one somewhere sunny,
V.V
* The year that I get to see Taylor Swift at the Eras Tour. No, I don’t have tickets - that’s why I need stardust in my coffee, I’ve got roughly 143 days to manifest those tickets! What things are you doing this year that you’re looking forward to? Let me know in the comments…
Act Two ~ (Wide) - Ben Lawrence
Two - Sleeping At Last
La Lune - Billie Marten
Twice - Little Dragon
Roam - Arbour Season
The Gold - Phoebe Bridgers Version - Manchester OrchestraPhoebe Bridgers
seven - the long pond studio sessions - Taylor Swift
House Song - Searows
Alpine Green - Jolé
I've Known Your Heart - AJIMAL
Re: Stacks - Bon Iver
Warped Window - Anna Mieke
East - RYVOLI
Vienna - Sean J O'Neill
Curls - Bibio
Continental Drift - Joel P West
Ready for the Harrow - Joel Porter
Penny Rabbit and Summer Bear - Kishi Bashi
Come Home Now - Cujo Moon
Opaline - Novo Amor
I'll Come Running - Paul Thomas Saunders
Big Love Ahead - Mon RovÎa
Simply the Best (From "Schitt's Creek") - Noah Reid
The Monthly Mix is a love letter to the mix tapes of my youth. Carefully curated and crafted, just for you. You can find more playlist joy right here. To make sure you don’t miss the next one…
If you want to bring a friend to the party / kitchen table / lounge floor / train carriage / daily walk or wherever you’ve enjoyed this playlist, share it using the handy button below.
This month’s mix. Love it? Hate it? Recommendations? I’m here for all of it, please do share your thoughts in the comments below.