“Moments In Song” asks people one simple question, “What are you listening to?” We believe that you can learn a lot about an individual and their experiences based off of the music they love. For every installment we ask someone to make a playlist of 10 songs they’re listening to, whether it be something new they stumbled upon, or a song they’ve always loved, and explain the story behind their choices. The person’s playlist is then uploaded to our Spotify account, giving them the chance to share it with others. Each post aims to profile someone from a different walk of life, whether they be an artist, a student, the mailman, a school teacher, an athlete, a nurse, your next-door neighbor, anyone with a love for music; showing that no matter where we come from, what we do, or what we look like, music has the ability to bring us together.
Kristen shares a lyric centered playlist full of songs that help put her emotions into words. The professional make-up artist tells us why lyrics mean so much to her, how going to school in Pennsylvania broadened her musical horizons, and about her love for Drake. Kristen currently runs her own aesthetics company, “Magnificently Made,” which aims to “have everyone feeling and looking magnificent” by satisfying an individual’s health, beauty and wellness needs.
Looking at your list, it’s got a little bit of everything. You got the old school Aerosmith, along with newer artists like Walk the Moon and Isaiah Rashad. Could you describe the thought process that went behind putting this playlist together?
“Alright so since I knew the songs had to be on Spotify, I literally went through every single song I have saved on my Spotify.”
Really?
“Yeah. I was very thorough. I chose the ones that I know I really love, which brought the list down to like 20, and about five of them were Drake. [Laughs] And so I had to pick one Drake song which is the hardest thing for me to do.”
What’s the theme, if there is one, of your playlist? Is it just songs you like? Songs you’re listening to right now? Songs you always go back and revisit? Or a mixture?
“In order for me to listen to a song over and over again, it has to have a certain part in it that really speaks to me. Like a part that I feel in a place that can’t be reached except for through music. And so every single one of those songs have something in it that resonates with me very personally, even if it’s kind of weird and doesn’t make sense.”
In one of your explanations you mentioned the instrumental break in “Amazing.” Would that be an example of what you were just talking about?
“Yeah. My heart starts beating all fast, I’m singing all the different instruments; it’s kind of crazy. That song just gives me the goose bumps.”
How would you describe your taste in music, and does your playlist reflect that?
“I guess you could say my taste in music is very lyric driven. I’m not one of those people that can just listen to a beat and be like ‘Oh, I like the beat.’ I really like when artists put time into the lyrics and the meaning behind a song. It means more when I can put myself in the situation that they’re trying to explain. I like seeing the story.”
So I guess I can say you prefer more relatable lyrics?
“Yeah, I guess. I would say relatable, but it’s kind of weird because sometimes it has nothing to do with anything that I’m going through. It’s just like, ‘Oh I remember that time in my life when I felt like that.’ I appreciate the artists for being able to put into words something I felt so strongly about.”
When would you say that lyrics driven taste in music developed?
“Well I grew up only being able to listen to gospel music.”
Really?
“Yeah it’s kind of funny, but it was a great way to grow up.”
I feel like that’s very lyrical powerful music.
“Yeah, so I was always very driven to lyrics, even as a child. My first real taste of secular music was like Lil Wayne…”
Ayyee! Good starting point.
“Good starting point. He’s just like all lyrics driven, so I guess that’s just where it started and it just grew from there.”
So how’d it go from Lil Wayne, to artists like Aerosmith and Lion Babe?
“Ok so, right before I went to college is when I got into Aerosmith. And when I went to college I was in Pennsylvania, so I was around a whole bunch of people, with a whole bunch of different music tastes. I started listening to Rock, Metal, Screamo, really random stuff. One of the songs on my playlist has screaming in it and it’s the best. I’ve gone to the concerts where they’re jumping on people, it’s an amazing time. So I feel like once I started to broaden my horizons I was able to really experience a lot of different music.”
So you would say that your time in Pennsylvania and the people you were surrounded by was reflected in your song choices?
“Yeah my roommates back in Pennsylvania, I’ve never heard half of the people they were listening to. Like Sleeping with Sirens, one of my roommates introduced me to them and I was immediately obsessed and it kind of just grew from there.”
Did you find when you were introduced to these new genres, songs, and artists, the ones that stuck with you went back to that lyric heavy preference?
“It always goes back to the lyrics. Every single song on my list means something to me very personally that is beyond words that I could explain myself.”
Can you pick one song from your playlist and give us the story behind it?
“I’m going to go with ‘Houstatlantavegas’ by Drake only because I feel like that’s the weirdest one. It’s like how can I relate to Drake taking a stripper home. The lyrics in that song really resonate with me, because he’s talking about a woman who feels like she’s stuck where she is and she’s not going to be able to get out from the place she’s in her life. There’s been so many times where I’ve felt like that, whether it’s a relationships, education, just in general. Anytime I’m having a hard day I listen to that song a lot. It’s so easy to feel like you’ re stuck in a place, and he puts it into words that I really like.”
Listen to Kristen’s playlist on Spotify and Apple Music.
“Moments In Song” asks people one simple question, “What are you listening to?” We believe that you can learn a lot about an individual and their experiences based off of the music they love. For every installment we ask someone to make a playlist of 10 songs they’re listening to, whether it be something new they stumbled upon, or a song they’ve always loved, and explain the story behind their choices. The person’s playlist is then uploaded, giving them the chance to share it with others. Each post aims to profile someone from a different walk of life, whether they be an artist, a student, the mailman, a school teacher, an athlete, a nurse, your next-door neighbor, anyone with a love for music; showing that no matter where we come from, what we do, or what we look like, music has the ability to bring us together.
Rya shares a playlist with a little bit of everything, and talks to us about her emotional connection with music, her love for Kid Cudi, and what song pushes her to be great.
Words by Julian.
Photos by Tayo.
What was the thought process behind making your playlist?
I was kind of conflicted, and didn’t really know what songs to pick. I didn’t want to be judged by the songs I did or did not pick. Most of the time, I don’t have a set playlist. I just hit shuffle and listen to whatever comes on. That’s kind of why my list is so random and has a little bit of everything.
You mentioned earlier, that it was really difficult for you to pick 10 songs. Can you tell me what was the criteria a song needed to meet to make that 10?
I didn’t really have a set criteria for what songs would make the list. I just picked random songs off the top of my head. Honestly, I started with a list of 20 and had to cut it down to my favorite 10. Picking just 10 songs was a lot harder than it sounds.
There are songs on there, both old and new. What’s a song on your playlist that you’ve always loved, and knew just had to be on there?
I L-O-V-E Kanye. Kanye is a pure genius. I think he’s this crazy, witty, and insanely wonderful human being. “Through the Wire,” was his first song and ever since then I’ve been a huge fan. He was this cool kid from the Chi who released a song with his mouth wired shut. That right there is pure ambition. That is why I had to have Kanye on my list.
How would you describe your taste in music?
I don’t really have a favorite type of music. I listen to a little bit of everything. As long as it’s not death heavy metal, I can pretty much vibe to anything. My go to is that 90s, 2000's R&B. Can't go wrong.
When you first start listening to music, you kind of just listen to what is on the radio, or what other people are playing, or what you see on TV. But after a while, there’s a point when you start actively looking for music, or you start to keep up with a certain artist. Is there an artist, album, or song that helped you get to the point of developing your own taste in music?
I don’t think I have a moment, where I was like, “Ok, I only want to listen to this type of music.” But I will say when I got older, I noticed that there are a lot of artists our here that aren’t about anything. They lack content. They rap about superficial things instead of the things that really matter. Me and Zack’s favorite artist in high school was Kid Cudi. Back in ‘09, we’d blast the “Man On The Moon” album like everyday. At that time I felt that Kid Cudi was one of the best conscious rappers. For me the music had to have content. Anything lacking a message was just junk.
What about his music really stuck with you?
Cudi just always talked about some of his darkest moments. It fueled a lot of his songs. He just got deep with his personal life and poured that passion and pain into his music. He was always really personal and I think that is to be appreciated.
What role, if any, would you say music plays in your life?
Music plays a big role in my life. Any emotion that you feel, there is always a song for that. When I was going through my break up, it was a lot of Keisha Cole, Mya, K. Michelle, and a lot of music that was like “F him.” For any emotion you feel, there’s a song for it. Whenever I’m in a mood, whether it be good, bad, or indifferent, I can turn on some music and it will instantly mellow me out. Music definitely is a savior for some people. I wouldn’t go as far and say is the case for me, but music has the power to move.
Can you pick one song on your playlist and give us the story behind it?
So the song that I want to elaborate on, is definitely Beyonce’s “I Was Here.” The song talks about how much she wants to be this great influence on the world. Not even in a materialistic way, but just through her contributions to the world. Whether it be on a humanitarian level, or just giving a girl a role model to look up to. So the song resonates with me so much because I want to pursue a career in community service. My degree is in psychology and my goal in life is to do work for those who aren't afforded some of life's luxuries. I want to give back to the community, especially the kids here in Baltimore. I want to do something that’s bigger than me. It doesn’t have to be giving money, but more so giving my time and sowing myself back into the community that exists only 25 minutes away from me. I was born and grew up in Baltimore County, but I have family who grew up in the city, and were a part of the system who still live within that mentality. That’s why I love this song. Every time I listen to it I get emotional, because it’s like, “ I have to be great, I'm hungry to be great.” Even if it’s not for me, it’s for the little kid on the corner so he knows he doesn’t just have to squeegee car windows or sell water. He can go to college and aspire to be so much more.
Listen to Rya’s playlist on Spotify and Apple Music.
“Moments In Song” asks people one simple question, “What are you listening to?” We believe that you can learn a lot about an individual and their experiences based off of the music they love. For every installment we ask someone to make a playlist of 10 songs they’re listening to, whether it be something new they stumbled upon, or a song they’ve always loved, and explain the story behind their choices. The person’s playlist is then uploaded, giving them the chance to share it with others. Each post aims to profile someone from a different walk of life, whether they be an artist, a student, the mailman, a school teacher, an athlete, a nurse, your next-door neighbor, anyone with a love for music; showing that no matter where we come from, what we do, or what we look like, music has the ability to bring us together.
Baltimore based digital artist Jordan creates a playlist full of songs that help him relive the past, and focus in on the now. Not only does music play a huge role in the creation of his art, but in the routine of his everyday life; whether it be hanging out with friends or getting ready in the morning. Through his playlist we learn more about the relationship between his art and music, his appreciation for Chance the Rapper’s genre-blending songs, and the artists he listened to as a kid with his parents. Catch Jordan at his upcoming art show, “We’re Going Live” August 12th, 2017 in Baltimore.
What was the thought process behind creating your playlist?
Basically what I did was, I went to songs I constantly play in different area’s of my life. So when I’m doing my artwork, what song am I playing when I doing that. When I getting up for work, what song will get me motivated to get up in the morning. That’s pretty much how I narrowed down my ten.
Could you go into that a little more and tell us what songs go with each scenario you just described?
Yeah so my nighttime, just came back from chillin with my friends song is Chance the Rapper, “Summer Friends.” It’s so smooth and makes me think about how my night went. I’m a recap type of person, so I’m always thinking about what I just did, and having that song in the background is just the perfect ending to that kind of night. Getting up in the morning, I like songs like Travis Scott’s “lose.” It’s telling me about the grind. Get up, get motivated. Me and my team will never lose when we work together and work hard. With my artwork I like being real smooth and subtle with it, so Kendrick Lamar’s “LOVE.” really puts me in the mood so I can just keep going. I don’t have to stop, I don’t’ have to change the song. I can just play honestly his entire tape through, but “LOVE.” is just so smooth.
How would you describe your taste in music?
Mostly Hip-Hop and Rap. I feel like when I was younger it evolved from music that I heard on radio and saw on BET. When you get older you have the freedom to dig and dive into what you really want to listen to. I always found myself listening to songs that have a mix of R&B and Rap. So if it has a cool hook with a smooth melody, I’m all for it. I’m the type of person that when I hear a song, I know that’s what I like. I’m not going back and forth. I know what I like. I think about Chance the Rapper and how he pushes the boundaries. His music’s not just Hip-Hop. He mixes so many other things into its crazy. When I first heard it I’m like, “Yeah I really can bump to him.” I’m also into a lot of old school type of artists, like the Bee Gees and Earth, Wind, and Fire. They just stuck to me from an early age because I listened to them so young, you kind of just grow into it.
You actually touched on the next question I wanted to ask you. At what point in your life did you develop your own taste in music?
I would say the first artist that I really dug into on my own was J. Cole. This was probably back in 10th grade. I heard a song from him, I think it was “Higher,” and it just stuck to me. It literarily made me go on my computer, type in J. Cole, look at his mixtapes, listen to his mixtapes, and I’m listening to it like, “Yeah I like that. I like that. I can relate to that. Real.” He was the first artist that I didn’t hear about through mainstream radio. I just happened to stumble across the song. With artists like Kanye West and Jay-Z, I dug into them, but I heard them first through the radio. So Cole was an artist I really went to, by myself, and just looked him up. And I’m so lucky I did.
What about that song stuck with you?
It was more the beat I think. The beat really stuck to me and just the way he rapped on it. It just…it just. I don’t know how to explain it. When I hear something it just connects. Whether it’s the lyrics, whether it’s the beat. Or if it all just comes together. It’s hard to explain but, it just clicked. As soon as I heard it I was like, “Yeah I need to check more into who J. Cole is.”
Was that something you found on the Internet randomly? Or did a friend show it to you?
I think I was on Twitter, and it must’ve been a clip that somebody shared. I really can’t remember. But I know it definitely wasn’t radio, it definitely wasn’t on TV. I don’t even think J. Cole was signed. It was so early in his career; I know that I didn’t hear it through the mainstream.
What role, if any, would you say music plays in the art you create?
I would say music plays a gigantic role in my art, especially because a lot of the themes I focus on put you in a particular moment and place. When I listen to songs like Chance the Rapper “Summer Friends,” it makes me think about chillin with my friends, going out on the town, things like that. I’m the type of person to illustrate a scene for someone to look at and feel like they’ve been put in that place. A couple pieces that I’ve done have been based of off songs I’ve heard. There’s this Fab song where he says, “D’Usse and Lemonade I call it Jay and B,” and it just made me think of a piece where there’s a D’Usse bottle, some lemonade, and some mixed drinks. There’s roses on the table. There’s albums on the wall. It just sets the mood and sets a certain scene. So definitely, music and lyrics play a big role. I’m not as in depth with music as I am with my art, but I still have to be connected to that world for it to fuel me so I can do what I do best.
Can you pick one song off of your playlist and tell us the story behind it?
I’m gonna go with Big Sean “Living Single.” I heard that song through my girlfriend when we were riding one day. I liked the beat and I like Chance, so it just went hand it hand. It’s kind of cool because she just became my girlfriend this year. For the last two years I’ve been single, and you know when you’re single you’re doing whatever you want. You’re spending money here, you’re talking to this girl, talking to that girl, go on trips. You don’t have to answer to anybody. Listening to that song helps me realize that I’m in a good place now. It’s not like I was really down in the dumps before then, but having her by my side, it’s like we can conquer anything. She’s a stylist, I’m an artist, we’re both in creative fields. I can do something that compliments her, she can do something that compliments me. In the chorus Jeremih says, “With this crazy world, thank God I’m with my girl.” It really spoke to me, I’m not even gonna lie. We really do compliment each other, and I love her for that.
Listen to Jordan’s playlist on Spotify and Apple Music.
“Moments In Song” asks people one simple question, “What are you listening to?” We believe that you can learn a lot about an individual and their experiences based off of the music they love. For every installment we ask someone to make a playlist of 10 songs they’re listening to, whether it be something new they stumbled upon, or a song they’ve always loved, and explain the story behind their choices. The person’s playlist is then uploaded, giving them the chance to share it with others. Each post aims to profile someone from a different walk of life, whether they be an artist, a student, the mailman, a school teacher, an athlete, a nurse, your next-door neighbor, anyone with a love for music; showing that no matter where we come from, what we do, or what we look like, music has the ability to bring us together.
Alejandro shares a playlist full of songs both old and new, that speak to his current mood. He tells us about the role Limewire played in his search for music, and what song reminds him of the obstacles his grandfather overcame as an immigrant.
Can you tell me the thought process that went behind making your playlist?
“You told me to give 10 songs, so I gave you 10 songs.”
[Sighs in frustration] What made you pick those 10 songs?
[Laughs] I honestly had a bigger list, and then narrowed it down. It was more like stuff that I listen to regularly. Power songs, stuff from the past with a bunch of nostalgia, and a sprinkle of new stuff.
What helped you narrow it down from the bigger list you had, to the 10 you have now? What were the deciding factors?
Data [Laughs.] I looked at the songs and was like, ‘Which ones do I listen to most?’ and kind of learned a little bit about myself. So I picked the songs I listened to the most in the past 30 days.
Is there a theme to your playlist?
There’s not a theme. It’s just the songs that speak to me. And I can tell by just looking at the order they came in, it matches the mood I’m feeling with what’s going on around me, along with stuff I’ve always loved. For example, ‘Through With You’ by Maroon 5. I loved the Songs About Jane since it came out. And I could honestly put the entire album on here.
Do you listen to that a lot? Is that a go to album?
Oh yeah. I bought the vinyl when I was in high school.
Wait what? Did you even have a record player?
I didn’t. I just wanted to have it.
Dedication. That’s love. Could you describe your taste in music? I see you got a lot of different kinds of music on here. You got the poppy Maroon 5, Hip-Hop with Mac Miller and Kanye, and then some Spanish songs on there as well.
I mean with anything in Spanish, I ‘ve always liked the old stuff better. Just because in my opinion, that was the golden age of music in Spanish.
[Laughs] You sound like an old person.
I am yo. 23 is getting hard. But I just like a lot of the stuff I grew up with, like a lot of the salsa and meringue that people listened to. Like when “Suavemente” comes on and everyone is like ‘Ahhhh!’ But when some of this new shit that’s coming out drops I’m just like, ‘Noooo.’
You don’t bump “Despacito?”
No I don’t bump “Despacito!”
Even the original without Justin Bieber?
Fuck “Despacito.”
Ok we have that on record.
I just don’t like Luis Fonsi. I fuck with Daddy Yankee, but I just don’t like Luis Fonsi’s music. Plus I think it sucks, but that’s just me. But yeah I think a lot of old stuff sounds better to me than the new stuff. The new stuff is very electronicy, and it’s trying to ride this new electronic wave, and I just don’t like it.
Yeah that’s a lot of music now.
Yeah there’s a lot of autotune. That’s for someone, but it ain’t for me.
When did you start really start searching for music on your own, instead of listening to what was on the radio, and whatever people played around you? At what point were you like, “Hey I like this song, and I’m going to look up some more like it.” Or “I like this artist, I want to follow up on them and listen to all there stuff.”
When I got Limewire [Laughs.] The Limewire days.
The good days.
Hey man you would download something, and it wasn’t what you thought [Laughs]. Yeah I think that was it. I think it was late middle school, early high school when I finally got one those mp3 players that had the digital dash. When I got one of those I think that was the time I was able to get into music. Because before then, what the hell was I going to do, carry a CD player around?
That’s what I did.
That’s what you did?
Yeah I had a CD player and all I played was T.I.’s, King, and Late Registration by Kanye.
Yeah those were definitely late middle school days. It was actually my cousin who showed me how to download music.
He showed you Limewire?
Of course. Because I was like, “I don’t know how I’m going to afford all this music.” He hit me and was like, “Why you paying for it stupid?” He put me on, and then I kind of developed my own taste once I had something to play with and I got something to download with. Before then I wasn’t as committed. It was just stuff that sounded good, or stuff that you’d catch on the radio. It didn’t matter back then. I was mostly into video games and snacks.
You mentioned it briefly earlier how the songs you selected represent what’s going on around you in life. What do your choices on this playlist say about your relationship with music?
I think my relationship with music now is that I don’t want to be confined. Because now you have people that are either a rap head, just into Hip-Hop, or you’re into Alternative and that’s all you listen to. I don’t want to be put in a box. That’s never been me. I’ve always listened to whatever I thought sounded good. Growing up, and still now, there are a lot of people that are like, “Oh if you don’t fuck with this kind of music what are you doing with your life?” I like what I like.
Can you pick one song on your playlist and give us the story behind it?
So “Latinoamerica” by Calle 13 is a very political, very Latino song. It’s been out for a while; I think it came out in 2011. As soon as I heard it I loved it. The story behind it is that it reminds me a lot of my granddad. Full disclosure the song is in Spanish, and it’s a pretty slow beat in the beginning. But growing up in Ecuador, when the chorus hits it reminds me a lot of those sounds. It’s a really empowering song because it reminds you of the struggle of being an immigrant and moving through those challenges, and it makes me appreciate the chance I got. Like bro, I grew up in a little town in Ecuador, thousands of miles away, walking to school in a little village, and I’m in Baltimore now. It’s a big transition. So I give thanks to my granddad. That song always reminds me of my granddad, because a lot of the song talks about how immigrants overcame these obstacles and I think the person that overcame the biggest one was him. He worked for years, him and my grandmother, and I will be forever grateful to both of them for giving me this chance. So it reminds me a lot of them. So when I’m having a bad day and when I’m being stupid, saying I’m going to give up easily, I just listen to the song and I’m like, “Damn.”
It hits. Right in the feels.
Right in the feels man.
Listen to Alejandro’s playlist on Spotify and Apple Music.
“Moments in Song” asks people one simple question, “What are you listening to?” We believe that you can learn a lot about someone and their experiences based off of the music they love. For every installment we ask a someone to make a playlist of 5 to 10 songs they’re listening to, whether it be something new they stumbled upon, or a song they’ve always loved, and explain the story behind their choices. The person’s playlist is then uploaded to our Spotify account, giving them the chance to share it with others. Each post aims to profile someone from a different walk of life, whether they be an artist, a student, the mailman, a school teacher, an athlete, a nurse, your next-door neighbor, anyone with a love for music; showing that no matter where we come from, what we do, or what we look like, music has the ability to bring us together.
Our first post covers our very own Justjutwit, a DJ based out of Baltimore. He started DJing parties while attending the University of Maryland, and has since moved on to DJing throughout the DMV as well as uploading and sharing his mixes online. He started Roundabout with his friends in an effort to create a community for everyone to come and share their thoughts and feelings on music. Aside from music, Wit also works as an educator at a non-profit organization in Baltimore, working with elementary school students.
Tell us the thought process behind your playlist.
“My playlist is mix of old favorites like N.E.R.D. and Tyler, the Creator, to new artists I’m feeling, like DAISY, Hayleau, and Gabriel Garzon-Montano. I first really got into music around the middle of middle school/beginning of high school, and made the transition from just listening to what was on the radio, to developing my own personal taste. In the beginning, 90% of the music I listened to was Hip-Hop, which explains the Kanye, Blu, and Kid Cudi on the playlist. As I got older, the internet started playing a bigger part in the release of music, and it introduced me to all kinds genres. I started listening to Alternative, Electronic, R&B, Dance, Pop, from both big name and lesser known artists. To me, music has always been a way to help put my emotions and thoughts into words. I’m not the best at articulating what I’m feeling/thinking, so music helps give me a sense of clarity to all that. With any emotion I’ve felt, whether it be joy, depression, excitement, anxiety, or frustration, I’ve had a song that helps express it. A lot of the songs on this playlist have an emotion attached to it, whether it be from the lyrics or production.”
Can you pick one song on your playlist and tell us the story behind it?
“Alright so lets rewind to the year 2011. I had just graduated high school and was balancing my first semester at community college, working part-time, transferring to UMD, and on top of all that, figuring out who I was as a person in that awkward transition phase between the end of high school and the beginning of college. Needless to say, it was a stressful time. ‘Below the Heavens’ by Blu and Exile came out in 2007, but it wasn’t until then that I actually sat down and listened to the album. It’s themes of enduring, learning, and growing from hardships, struggling with self-doubt, and discovering what truly matters in life were all things I could relate to during that time. Even today I find myself going back to that album whenever I need a reminder of the lessons it taught me. The track ‘Below the Heavens Pt. 1′ is a nice summary of all that.”
Listen to Justjuwit’s playlist on Spotify and Apple Music.
