Hanging On

Before I get to some tunes… A public service announcement from your old pal.

Birthdays are weird. Some years, you can’t wait for the big day to come; other years, you dread that awful feeling of getting older.  Birthdays are a time for reflection, whether you realize it or not.  They make you think about what you have accomplished in the past year, or where you were 5 years ago, or where you want to be in the next 5 years.  They make you ask yourself, “What the F am I doing with my life? Am I truly happy with where I am? Are my family and friends proud of me, or do they think I’m a delinquent who still doesn’t understand what all those symbols are on the stock market are?”

Last week, I turned 25.  All of the introspective questions floated around in my pea brain during this weird milestone-ish birthday.  Turning 24, as you may recall, I had the birthday blues – big time.  I was heartbroken, bed-bug ridden (thus living out of trash bags at my parents house), frustrated and unhappy at my job.  Things felt out of my control. I was only 24! And Miserable! Something was wrong with that picture. This year? I am so happy to say my reflections were infinitely positive on all fronts.  My heart is overfilled with love from everyone in my life, I live in an incredible place with two amazing ladies, and my job.. I love going to work everyday.  The staff are quickly becoming important people in my life, and the company is someplace I’d like to be apart of for a long, long time.

The point? Find your happiness.  It doesn’t just come to you.  You may have to work at it. You may fail. Then, you’ll try again. Or try a different approach. If something in your life is not working the way you want it to, you are the only one who cares, and the only one with the power to change it. Take risks. I left my family, best friends, a “safe” job, my brand new car, and a region I lived in my whole life, for a brand new everything.  To my surprise, it’s all worked out for the best, and not everyone may be so lucky, but you will never know unless you take those risks.  People will be there to help you if you fall.  Just find your happy. No one else will do it for you.

On that note, more happiness: music.  I haven’t been trolling the internet quite as much as I used to for new music, but I have been listening to a lot of #goodstuff lately, both spin-and-non-spin-worthy.  Also, I have learned in the spinning world that some people (including instructors!) STILL do not use sites like thissongissick.com and hypem.com.  This boggles my mind.  It’s remix city over there, and you should be utilizing that ish if you are teaching! Keep things fresh.

1. Phantogram, When I’m Small (RAC Remix) (4:01): Mixing together one of my favorite remix DJ’s, RAC, with one of my favorite groups out there today, Phantogram.  It’s a chilled out remix, and picks up a little bit towards the last minute or so.  Not to mention that the female singer in Phantogram is a TOTAL babe. 

2. Lettuce, Fly (5:20): New funk/jazz/soul/funk from Lettuce, one of my favorites on the Royal Family Records.  And I’ve got a gigantic crush on Adam Deitch, who is the drummer for Lettuce and Break Science.  

3. Gramatik v. Gossip, Dimestore Diamond Remix (5:34):  The hotness. Gramatik just announced his tour with Bassnectar, and you can for sure bet that I will be there all 3 nights in NYC.  Pretty typical Gramatik, except it’s less instrumental, with more lyrics from this Gossip group.  

4. Dirty Projectors, Stillness is the Move (5:20): Loving their sound, especially Amber Coffman’s voice, who is featured in Rusko’s “Hold On” which I am still obsessed with.    

5. Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, Dear Believer (4:47): Totally digging Ed Sharpe’s new album, “Here” that was put out recently. I love their back-country folk sound, and their lyrics just make me so happy. 

6. The Rapture, Sister Saviour (DFA Remix) (4:25): Been on a really big DFA Records/James Murphy kick lately after seeing the LCD Soundsystem documentary, “Shutup and Play the Hits.” [editors note: I may have fallen asleep a few times, but we saw a 10:15pm movie! Grams can’t handle that kind of wild evening].  This song is great to dance to and to lose track of time to.  Would totally do a heavy climb to this. 

7. Pretty Lights, You Get High (4:27): Banger hit from Derek that I can’t get enough of. Typical down-tempo’d glitch hop, with some heavy bass lines. LOVE. 

8. Ellie Goulding, Hanging On (Syvable and PRFFTT Bootleg) (5:37): I am obsessed with this song, per usual, since everything Ellie puts out is gold. I like this remix a lot, it’s slow, heavy, and feels a little dark and emotional.  Remember like, a year ago when I was obsessed with her? And when I was listening to Pretty Lights and Gramatik a really long time ago and saying Gramatik and Michal Menert would be on every festival bill this summer? I’m onto something over here, you guys, I swear. Stick with spinmuse. 

9. Poolside, Take Me Home (5:07): My friend Michael sent this to me on #spotify (wait, this isn’t twitter?) and I haven’t stopped dancing since.  

Well friends, that’s all I’ve got for you today.  Some wisdom from an old woman, and some fly tracks to listen to.  I still haven’t quite found the direction for spinmuse yet, but keep posted. Letting it flow as it comes. Have an amazing week, and thanks for reading.