š
not a rec for depeche mode, but a rallying call for the beauty of silent mode.
i am a headphones in, world out girl.
rise and shine, i dial into a little classical or jazz. hop in the shower, and i'm crooning to 80s ballads. the kitchen beckons me for dinner, and blood orange sets the scene. time for bed? i dial it down with studio ghibli film soundtracks or some brown noise.
Yet today, i decided to go on a run without headphones (!)
As daunting as that felt, once i was in the swing of my run, i was having the best time! i was paying more attention to my surroundings, present in my body, oogling at all the blossoms in bloom and partaking in some much needed thoughts and feelings admin!
listening to music is an intentional act, yet with widened access to music via streaming services, and music discovery assigned to algorithm rather than humans (ai dj, "curated mixes"), it is so easy to consume what's fed to us, or put something on for "background noise", rather than taking in the artistry of so many musicians!
but yeah, tl;dr the next time you connect that bluetooth speaker, or plug in that aux, know that your soundtrack can also be your own existance ! how enthralling !
Apr 17, 2025
Related Recs
š¶
Resisting the pull of capitalist-driven consumerism in your Spotify habits can feel surprisingly liberating - rather than endlessly chasing the thrill of crafting new playlists to capture fleeting moods, take a moment to genuinely connect with one by listening to it on repeat.
Sticking to a single playlist this week has reeeeaaally deepened my appreciation for it.
There is something beautifully minimalistic about it. Itās like winning a small, yet satisfying battle over the relentless āgrass is always greenerā mentality.
Nov 12, 2024
šæ
While I love lots of music and have created way too many playlists, I always get fixated on the same five songs during a period of time, before inevitably finding new ones to be attached to (and āretiringā the previous ones into the void of my Spotify liked list).
I used to think it was a strange way to listen to music, especially since I can be so obsessed with a select # of songs and then just forget they exist, or only revisit years later. But when I do go back, or hear the songs play out in the wild, itās so cathartic and bittersweet. I can remember the exact chapter of my life, how I was feeling at the time/what I was going through, and it reminds me how much time has passed and all the experiences Iāve had/the various people Iāve met (temporary or not). I can remember and feel the feelings, and then just allow it to fade back into the background.
I doubt Iām the only one listening to music this way, but if thatās not you, itās a sentimental outlook to lean into!
Sep 17, 2024
šµ
Imagine living in the 19th century and you don't ever hear music except when your daughter plays the pianoforte or someone hums a tune. And then you decide to have a night out and go to Beethoven. You sit down in the theater, anticipation building. Then the curtain opens and the first three notes of Beethoven's Fifth ring out. It's some kind of euphoria.
I feel like we miss that when we listen to so much music all the time. It cheapens the effect it has. So I'm starting to only listen to music when I can sit down and appreciate it and only it, not just have it in the background. Highly recommend.
Jan 30, 2025
Top Recs from @caffy
a myth dating from the victorian period, these tiny, decorative glass bottles were wept into by those mourning their loved ones. once the tears collected eventually evaporated, this marked the end of their mourning period.
this myth has been debunked by scientists, with others saying that these bottles were in fact used to store perfumes, but i'm very obsessed with this romantic notion and will be sticking to it!
Feb 18, 2025
š¦
i see solitude as metamorphosis. you need that time in the cocoon to really check in with yourself and the joy of that comes from how you'll gain a deeper understanding of yourself.
sometimes i spend SO much time with myself that i get SO BORED that I HAVE to venture outside of myself. when i say venture, i mean challenging myself in how i self- express which will in turn, nourish my interactions with others when i choose to seek company.
proceeding to create art, but trying new methods. going down youtube rabbit holes of things i am interested in so i can discover new references. cooking a meal without following a recipe and surprising myself. making the space i am in super cosy (candles, snacks on deck, music, blankets) going on long walks and picking up conversations with strangers through shared observations of life around us. watching music festivals/boiler rooms and dancing around my room like a mad man.
once you feel comfortable in being by yourself, you'll be more aware of what you need from your company and when you seek it, you'll be a lot more intentional about it and cherish it even more.
Oct 7, 2024
š
*shines bright light in your face*
But WHY do you like what you like?!
Echoing a sentiment from Tyler, the Creator, where he tweeted for people to expand on what they liked about his songs and delve into the WHY (i.e the bridge, chords, riffs)
Truly believe itās so so important to be able to articulate why things bring us enjoyment, pleasure and giddiness, because that just makes way for one to obsess/ research and learn more about said thing!
This is basically a gratitude post for PI, I just love blagging about what makes this Little Life of Mine more bearable !!!
Sep 27, 2024