It’s about time I put this journalism degree to work. This post is a quick update on how life is going, and as a bonus for enduring my navel-gazing, I’m sharing a playlist of songs I’m listening to currently.
Let’s get formalities out of the way for any potential readers of this post. Hello dear reader, my name is Sean, and thank you for a moment of your time parsing my words. I originally created this blog for a magazine writing class my senior year of college, and I am leaving those blogs up for the time being. A lot has changed in the years since I last wrote here, so apologies in advance if anything from my past musings strikes a nerve.
I have a plethora of drafts I never published over the years, and the most common reason I never shared any of them was due to personal critique, or a lack of belief in the things I wrote being engaging enough. It’s a shame, really.
I have felt compelled as of late to channel my passion for writing again. This time, though, it is because I enjoy it and have grown out of seeking approval from any kind of audience. I don’t think I am some savant of wordsmithing, or foresee any kind of popular reception to what I publish here.
Everything I write here moving forward is going to come straight from my heart and desire to put myself out into the world, and share things I think are noteworthy.
This past March, I turned twenty-nine, and I suppose it’s cemented a part of realization towards how temporary we all are in this world. The best experiences in life can feel so fleeting and slip from our grasp the tighter we hold them. What is peculiar to me about fond memories or chapters in our lives is that we are so often unaware we are in them until life changes radically.
Someone very special to me told me recently, “We’re all experiencing life for the first time.” Since hearing that, it’s been a mantra I remind myself day to day. So, I implore you, dear reader, please stop and smell the roses.
My hope in returning to writing is to share some universal feelings of humanity that every person can relate to, and maybe, along the way, a person or two won’t feel alone. The second “goal” of mine in writing these blogs again is to share the music I listen to and share thoughts on how it resonates personally.
For those who might be interested in hearing more from me, a radio show is on the way as well. I will provide updates on when it launches, and each episode will be edited into a podcast format. There will be music, and playlists will be curated by actual people. If you believe good music is found by people instead of an algorithm or an artificial model promoting new music to you, you’ll enjoy the show.
So to anyone reading this: whether that be friends, family, former/current colleagues, or a random eye that accidentally scrolls upon this, thank you for even taking a few seconds to get this far. Now then, let’s go over some songs!
Enough yapping and navel-gazing, here’s some music to enjoy:
Recently I was in Philadelphia, and I heard this song in the Philly AIDS thrift store in Queen Village. This is THE version to listen to of this song.
Paul McCartney- No More Lonely Nights (Play Out Version)
This next track has been stuck in my head as my latest audio-stim. I love pretty much anything from Kurt Vile. His sound is so unique, and he reminds me of the greatest singer-songwriters in history. If you haven’t listened to anything from him, check out his discography.
Kurt Vile- One Trick Ponies
This next song is so funky, and I heard it while my darling and I were browsing records at Repo Records in Philadelphia. The music video is worth a watch, and I am now a fan of Pete Shelley.
Pete Shelley- Homosapien
Up next we have a string quartet I absolutely adore in Trampled by Turtles. If you are a sucker for acoustic music you are going to love this.
Trampled by Turtles- Don’t Take Your Light
Here’s an oldie, but a goodie. I know Neil Young is kind of a meme, but this song has been hitting a sweet spot for me lately when the windows are down.
Neil Young- Old Man
This next track is in a totally different vibe than the last, but I really adore it. This artist uses a massive stack of old analog equipment to synthesize his music, and he’s worth diving into.
Look Mum No Computer- Desperado Vespa
Okay, I know this is SO corny. Hear me out though– every so often, we all need an Oasis song to be in our daily rotation. It’s good for the soul. This song is a true 90’s ballad.
Oasis- Champagne Supernova
For the penultimate selection here I am sharing a track that a lot of people heard on SNL. I have to admit though, Olivia Dean really made a vibe on this one. I am someone who is drawn to pianos and keyboards leading an image for songs, and this one is a hit.
Olivia Dean- Man I Need
Rounding out this playlist is a song my partner showed me when we were driving to go on a hike. Honestly, it’s a struggle to fully describe and give an amalgam of how awesome Noah Kahan is as a songwriter, and how incredibly composed this is. When I listened to this song with her for the first time, I had chills run down my spine and goosebumps to the end of it. When I had time to listen to more of his music, this track was doubly special to understand the evolution of his work to this point. He is going to go down as a legendary musician of this era. Take that to the bank.
There are several videos reviewing the lyrics by therapists discussing their assessments of it, and I think that’s indicative of how universally this song connects to a part of the human experience. When you are at peace and accept yourself, you don’t wish ill upon the people who went a different way in life. I think this song will make you well up if you are a human being capable of feeling emotions from music. This song is wonderful, and I cannot wait to see what the rest of this album sounds like.
Noah Kahan- The Great Divide
Thanks for making it this far!
If you made it to this point, you are appreciated. I have many stories to share from recent travels, and I will also share some concert experiences if that is something anyone has an interest in. I am a professional sound mixer these days, so I believe I have a unique POV to share. I don’t want to drag anyone or talk badly about things I don’t like when it comes to artists on here, so there’s not going to be any ragebait or Yelp reviews. Thank you to anyone who cared to read this, and I’ll post again soon.
Using My Imagination 