Some seasons are so full of life that pausing to reflect, and record seems constantly at odds with the “living” of it all. This past summer and fall flew by in a hyperdrive of artistic expression, self-discovery, and ensuing flood of “anxieted” feelings that Brene reminds us accompany fucking first times. In the playlists above you’ll find the music that helped me center and savor my 2023 theme of “Space and Grace” through it all.

This summer I leaned into music as a tool to calm my nervous system and rebuild my self-confidence, as I switched jobs, taught my first business school class, and launched a podcast. There was a lot of self-doubt intermixed with nostalgia for chapters ending as they began and Bon Iver’s cover of “Heart of Gold” captured that bittersweet hope in June and July perfectly. Then I was switching gears again, heading back to Burning Man, after a 5 year hiatus. This reunion year would turn out to be a creative cornucopia as I had the pleasure of supporting two amazing art pieces exploring trans identity, tarot mythology, and the playful side of physics. The exhausting prep and run-up to that trip was fueled by catchy dance groves like “I Wanna Help Your Mind” by Goth Babe, and the ensuing decompression depression afterwards was softened with sweet acoustic ballads like “Willow” by Taylor Swift.

As summer turned into fall I was blown away by powerhouse performances from two of my favorite artists – Beyonce and Janelle Monae. While I’ve written many pages pontificating about my reverence for Queen Bey, suffice it to say that my 3rd time seeing her live DID NOT disappoint, she’s as empowered, inspiring, and dazzling as ever. God damn, we are lucky to be grooving, swooning, and thriving in Beyonce’s world. As for Janelle, it turned out that I would be treated to a doubleheader as she toured her phenomenal 2023 album, Age of Pleasure. First at Outside Lands, where I was tickled Pynk by her pool-themed attire on favorites like Water Slide, seeing her right after another great set by Yaya Bey, a new sultry funky R&B artist. Then I got to see Janelle a second time spontaneously at Bill Graham, when a change of plans meant that I got the rush, with my crush, of seeing this queer diva part deux, in their adopted city of gay liberation*.

With the glow of new beginnings also comes the shadow of closure, and this fall was the end of an era for my family as we sold our property, Kikala Farms, after 20 years of living on Kauai. After weeks of packing up the house, I cried big heaving sobs listening to This Time Tomorrow by Brandi Carlile, watching from my window seat as the plane pulled away from The Garden Isle. As early fall turned into spooky season I leaned into the depths of family remembrance rituals like Dia de los Muertos, and spent long nights gazing at my favorite guide, the moon. During these melancholy moments, Mitski’s haunting reverb in My Love Mine All Mine was a cozy retreat.

And now we find ourselves on the precipice of the winter solstice, the wheel of the year turning us ever closer towards the pinnacle of darkness in the Northern Hemisphere. Perhaps you’re like me, struggling to get out of bed, knowing it will be dark again soon, hoarding bespoke candles and sparse songwriting with a hygge obsession that is borderline manic. This is the first holiday season in two decades time that I won’t be spending Christmas morning eating fresh papaya from the farm or swimming with sea turtles. The first-world problem of it all is ridiculous I know, but I’m grieving our family home all the same. Yet with old chapters ending, I know others now have fertile space to sprout. In fact, it might be time to rename my holiday playlist, Kauai Christmas. A creation built to bridge island music and the traditional holiday cannon for woodfire pizza parties held on the patio; all of us huddled around a Norfolk Island pine, singing Mele Kalikamaka. Or maybe I’ll change the title next year. Or maybe never.

*Adrienne Marie Brown’s analysis of the socio-political relevance of both these artists making such bright and beautiful music celebrating queer love, as strong black artists, is required reading IMHO, so treat yo self to this deep dive – Queer Delight Season: Concert Gush.

A friend recently described his trip home to NYC during “Rom Com” season aka shoulder season aka Spring or Fall. This too is my favorite time to travel, no extreme temps, (theoretically) cheap flights and a calmer adult-to-child ratio at tourist hotspots.

Last month I left a classic “Grey May” San Francisco for an oh-so sunny Lisbon, Barcelona, and Albstadt. Two weeks of being nowhere familiar was exactly the escape I needed after a rough month of layoffs, egg-freezing, and the ensuing WTF brain haze. I practiced Portuguese on street cars and sipped white port, savored Vermut and tapas lounging on a friend’s patio, and celebrated a decade of long-distance love in an idyllic German countryside lodge. The quality time with community, delightful culinary discoveries, Gaudi architecture, and a shift to a slower Mediterranean state of mind was just what I needed. I returned refreshed and ready for a summer of music.

Alas, this mix was made in Spring and its eccentric content represents the highs and lows of the past season. Truly, when times are challenging, I retreat from new music – returning to the auditory weighted blankets of old playlists and film soundtracks; providing comfort and familiarity when the foggy future and uncertain present overwhelms. Therefore this season’s playlist represents two different music discovery chapters – the pre-chaos period of early Spring, sunny shred jams and forest folk and the post-chaos period of late Spring, a mix of global tunes that thrummed in my earbuds while getting lost on cobblestone streets. As we reach Summer Solstice eve I’m feeling more grounded and hopeful than I have in a long time, which feels like a celebration in its own right. Hopefully, a few of these oddball tracks will join you on road trips, around the campfire, or wherever your summer adventures await.

Winter New Music Faves

Workout Jams

Favorite Ear Worm

Besties Making Badass Tunes

This winter I became one eighth of a Tahoe ski lease cabin, soon to be adventuring through California’s second snowiest season on record. The powder was deep, the highways often closed, and I was endlessly searching for a soundtrack to enjoy this snowboarding wonderland.

My 2018 standby, Triathalon Training Oh Yeah, had been an invaluable tool to completing my first sprint triathlon but these days it was insufferably dated and stale. The “Before Times Bangers” just weren’t slappin’ like they used to! Also in the past 5 years Spotify’s playlist curation had matured tremendously resulting in a steep decline in creating my own activity-specific playlists. Great finds like Golden Hour for a rooftop rendezvous, greenshaker//journey for whimsical roadtrips, Camping Playlist for s’mores night nostalgia, and Morning Pages for that tough to stick with, but oh so helpful, creative practice.

But through all my searching I couldn’t find the perfect workout playlist, a unique mix of joy and inspiration that uplifts while it inspires, delights while driving you harder. Alas this winter Shred, Flex, Shimmy Repeat was born, reflecting the quirky cocktail of activities that had kept me sane lately – snowboarding, yoga, and dance. It’s still evolving as I close out the season here in the beautiful Sierras, but it’s a solid start to a refreshed sporty soundtrack.

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On the winter new music playlist “Snow Bunny” you’ll find songs I’ve sung loudly along the I-80 corridor more times than I can count. In particular, the soaring multi-leveled 70s rock ballad Look At Us Now, by Daisy Jones & The Six. This album features Elvis’s granddaughter, Riley Keough and band/actor front man Sam Clafin on dynamite vocals. The whole album comes from an Amazon Prime show (and best-selling novel) based on the fictional rise and fall of the band Daisy Jones & The Six. I binged the whole series while recovering from Covid in March and that ballad became my healing anthem. Just try to listen and not fall in love with them, I dare you. Last but not certainly least, check out the hottest new Bay Area punk band, Furious Tits, founded by my friends and dear creative muses. Their queer activistic lyrics are raw, funky, and fresh.

Do you have a favorite workout playlist?

Or a favorite song to yell scream in the shower?

Lemme know. Music recommendations and writing feels always welcome.