My year of living musically
In late February of 2021 I joined an online music community called JQBX which allows people from anywhere in the world to connect in music-themed rooms and ‘spin’ songs, or just hang and listen. The site is free and uses Spotify APIs which allow users to add songs to a queue and when your turn comes up, your track plays. You can re-order and add tracks at any time, reacting to the vibe in the room. Admins and moderators in the room keep these moving and ensure the space is friendly. Visitors who are hurtful to others or self-serving are booted. It’s a safe place, generally.
There are many genre-based rooms, and one such room is Chill Vibes. It’s a huge global community who come together to share a wide variety of music, mostly downtempo genres.
Since joining JQBX I have discovered so much new music, not only in the deep crate classics and wormhole rarities but in so many artists creating music today. Hanging in a room and just listening to what’s playing can lead one to ‘favorite’ dozens of songs and discover hundreds of new artists and sub-genres. In Spotify, following an artist, group, or label brings fresh music to one’s weekly personalized Discover Weekly and Release Radar playlists.
I have made some new friends from all over the world. It’s really an endearing and supportive lot, and connecting through music is a great antidote to the isolation and uncertainty of the world today. I am so grateful for my new community.
Favorite rooms and communities:
🍍𝔅ǟk𝔢𝖉👽₲σø𝖉ʂ🔥
⭐ Lounge Sessions 🛋
🍄 MF 🍄
🌀~Sanctuary~🌀
☁️ Chill Vibes ☁️
Your New Favorite Band
🕰️ SESSIONS 🕰️
INDIE etc.™
Starting in April I began participating in Chill Vibes Top 10, a monthly recap of people’s favorite tracks of the previous month. People sign up for 45 minute slots the first week of each month, and spin their top 10 tracks to a room of engaged and appreciative folks.
I spend hours each month cultivating and creating these playlists, and spend a lot of time sequencing them just right — keeping in mind how the sounds flow together from track to track, and how that sets the mood in the room.
Here are my Chill Vibes playlists from April through December, 2021. I gravitate towards global sounds and funky instrumentals, and usually each month there are a few tracks from singles or albums I have found and purchased vinyl copies of.
Hope you enjoy these songs (and photos) as much as I do.
April
Highlights
Discovering Green-House and Black Market Brass; playing local band Terror/Cactus for people.
A Palm Springs getaway with dear friends and scoring a SHAG illustrated 5.6.7.8’s LP at the SHAG shop.
Chill Vibes Top 10 playlist for April
May
Highlights
Hearing ‘Back Of My Hand’ (Bachelor, Jay Som, Palehound) and discovering Miss Grit on KEXP; Little Simz’s single ‘Woman’; discovering Blood Cultures; new Limiñanas.
Starting a roller skate gang; hiking in the Olympic Peninsula with friends; hosting a backyard ‘Scratches & Scotches’ meetup and listening to records around the fire; kayaking in Manzanita Bay; one last game of horseshoes with Mark after they sold their amazing home; finally seeing my Mom in person again!; quality Astro time.
Chill Vibes Top 10 playlist for May
June
Highlights
Discovering Sudan Archives, Monster Rally, and Gia Margaret.
Flying Dad in from Florida for Father’s Day; a backyard birthday dance party for Diane; Aloha time in Hawaii seeing dear family.
Chill Vibes Top 10 playlist for June
July
Highlights
Dropping Yo Yo Ma and Bobby McFerrin’s Vivaldi collaboration as the intro track; SAULT; El Michels Affair’s ‘Yeti Season’ album.
Grilled pizzas and Mezcal Negronis; hosting a weekend pop up shop with the amazing Lacy Leaf Greenhouse and Second Half Pottery; picnics in the park with friends; and visiting Jonathan Evision’s cabin for records and shuffleboard and laughs.
Chill Vibes Top 10 playlist for July
August
Highlights
Everything in this Top10.
Beers, forest walks, and backyard parties with friends; DJing an afternoon set at Eleven Winery; the neighborhood flower stand; outdoor dance parties.
Chill Vibes Top 10 playlist for August
September
Highlights
Discovering a ton of new music; DJ’ing an outdoor music festival after party; visiting Asher in Chicago!
Chill Vibes Top 10 playlist for September
October
Highlights
Visiting Asher in Chicago and riding bikes along the Bloomingdale trail, walks in the forest, visiting Brad in Oregon and visiting a few ghost towns. Also, being asked to create a playlist to accompany our local museum’s annual Jazz festival ‘Within/Earshot’. I spent hours creating a diverse mix of new sounds and old classics celebrating the many aspects of Jazz. A few of the tracks made their way into my end of year Chill Vibes playlists.
Chill Vibes Top 10 playlist for October
November
Highlights
This playlist! So many great tracks.
More Mezcal Negronis, DJ’ing the Friday Art Walk at my friend’s retail store; launching this very ‘zine, Great Love Sound, seeing a LIVE MUSIC SHOW (McTuff) at Rolling Bay Hall, getting to collaborate with creative friends and curate features for the ‘zine.
December
Highlights
DJ’ing a surprise birthday party; having the boys home for Christmas; a holiday-themed Scratches & Scotches; SNOW! An outdoor New Year’s Eve party around the fire.
