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A TASTE OF TASTE WITH...

Julia Cumming

Julia Cumming on Aimless Walks around New York with Headphones On, Undersharing, Snails, Frogs, and more.

December 29, 2022

Julia Cumming
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Julia Cumming is a New York City-based musician, model, and political activist. Her band, Sunflower Bean, came out with a great album this year that’s titled Headful of Sugar and recently headlined a show at the iconic Webster Hall. They’ve toured with legendary bands such as the Pixies, Beck, Sleigh Bells and Interpol, and recently put on a special show at Baby’s All Right to raise funds for abortion services and protection in the city. She’s also DJ’d some cool events such as “Frequencies” and “1975ionized”, and she’s co-hosting a NYE party with us that’ll have a DJ set from The Dare and live performances from George Clanton, Frost Children, and Alice Longyu Gao. Lucky for us, Julia Cumming here to tell us what she’s been into.

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Speaking of Dancing….
I love chaotic evenings full of loud music, ill fitting shoes, and drinks that are too strong. Need I say more? The time of over intellectualizing and prophesying is over. The time of partying, loving, experiencing, and forgetting is upon us. No more thoughts.
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Snails and Frogs
In the past year I have developed an extreme love for amphibious and mollusk-esque creatures. I don’t know where this comes from, but I have seriously considered purchasing a tank for either a pet frog or a giant snail. If it wasn’t for my touring schedule and the fact that my amphibious tank would inherently become someone else’s problem, I would already be a frog mom by now.
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Undersharing
Inspired by Billy Jones' use of oversharing in his list of what he’s into, I’m gonna put forward undersharing. I’m tired of showing my heart to people in conversation and expecting them to understand what I mean or who I really am. I’m ready to be seen and not heard, conversationally. Or maybe, not seen and not heard? Or to start speaking exclusively in riddles. Or to disappear into the ether and come back someday, in some undisclosed era, more frightening than before. After all I have indulged in this piece, I can firmly say that indulging is out, and mystery is in.
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“Song Radio” on Spotify
I know the Spotify algorithm is a mind-reading serpent, but I also know that it knows me better than most of my family members. Every time I explore the “song radio” of a song I love on Spotify, I learn so much. This is also a great way to explore genres as a DJ, while the rabid hunger of New Yorkers ready to dance gets more fervent by the day.
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Aimless walks around New York with headphones on
This is my #1 absolute all time favorite activity. If you have approximately 2 hours (ideally in early fall or early spring) with nothing in particular to do, take a walk around the city with no destination in mind and see what happens. Maybe you’ll make eye contact for a moment with an attractive person in the crosswalk on 17th and 3rd and see your entire lifetime together flash before your eyes. Or you could catch a glimpse of yourself in the reflection of a Chase bank and remember that you are indeed a person who is alive and on planet earth. Maybe you get an overpriced coffee for some human interaction, drink 2 sips and throw it out while feeling bad about yourself. However you choose to spend that time, it’s yours to waste, and a way to experience the city without the errands and dramas one usually faces in New York. And it’s a great way to hyperfixate on a guilty pleasure song. Recommended tracks for this activity: “Bittersweet Symphony” by the Verve or “I Had a Dream That You Were Mine” by Hamilton Leithauser and Rostam.
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