Transitions: March 2021
Graphic by Christian Ortmann
By Emily Herbein & Christian Ortmann
Yo — it’s spring! Before we get into this playlist, I need to shout out this bar sign Christian made of Winnie (!!!). If Philly Live finds some way to get a whiskey sponsorship… it’s over. My personal listening habits this month haven’t necessarily done any outward growth. If anything, I sort of retreated back into my comfort albums. Lots of Can’t Love, Can’t Hurt by Augustana. The new XIXIX single on repeat. Some disco, some Dua Lipa, some Hiatus Kaiyote. Sophie Coran and Will Brown’s music that I’ve been deeply invested in pushing, as y’all definitely know by now. The music that makes me feel safe is absolutely not linear, but I totally agree with what Christian says below about this month being a warm and welcome change despite the fact that I didn’t necessarily listen to anything new. He did, however. I love this playlist. I did dive into the new Silk Sonic project and I’m scouring the Internet for Paak’s heart-shaped glasses. This transitional period, the quiet explorative moments where you sit back in the music that you’ve always loved, and then the busy moments where you do try to throw on some new project — that’s what this month seems to have been about.
Keep reading for Christian’s thoughts on the music he loved during March, and make sure you follow Philly Live on Spotify while you listen.
x, Em
March has been quite a welcome treat if I do say so myself. A string of warm and breezy days brings me back to the first seasonal mix I made two years ago. It was hip-hop heavy, with emphasis on free-flowing lyricism over ‘lax beats perfect for afternoon commute home. This year though, I seemed to lean more into an adjacent space that straight bars for a more soulful endearing approach. Beside those rose-tinted memories lives my undying love for a night drive with the windows down. Graveyard Girl and Nightcall are two necessities for those meditative rides that work in the city or countryside. The rest of the playlist is unconsciously femme, exploring trip-hop, baroque pop, and the magic that is Kero Kero Bonito. Hope you’re still wearing a mask and trying to get that vaccination appointment. Until next month...