Mitski – Nobody
Mitski’s new album came out just a month ago, but i’ve been listening to it so much already. She has the ability to connect to the audience while being transparent, which is something that i really admire. Even though the song is about being or feeling alone, it makes me feel less lonely.
John Coltrane – Resolution
The theme played by coltrane melts my heart every time i hear it. I think it’s really moving, but also full of hope. If i close my eyes while listening to this piece, i can physically feel it. I feel like the connection it creates can’t be explained by words, It’s emotional and spiritual.
Frank Ocean – White Ferrari
I think i’ve listened to “blonde” hundreds of times. I specifically love this one because it’s a concoction of different moments, different scenarios, and they’re just so well balanced. There’s a line in the final part which goes like “you’re tired of moving, your body’s aching” which really resonated with me some time ago, when i was touring like crazy and i was feeling disconnected from me and my everyday life.
St. Vincent – Year of the Tiger
I love listening to women speaking (or singing, in this case) about depression and mental health, because it makes you feel less alone. It’s an opportunity to feel represented and recognize yourself through someone else, without having to adjust your experiences on men’s ones – which can’t be the same as yours, when you’re not a man. Also, st. vincent is the queen guitarist, so yeah.
Brian Eno – Discreet Music
I love ambient music, and i love this piece. It really helps me calm myself down when i don’t feel good or i’m stressed. Sometimes i just play this and do nothing, just listening to my breath and be present in the moment, with no rush or expectations.
Björk – Cocoon
It’s a love song. Björk goes like “who would have known that a boy like him…” and she lists things he did that made her feel good, but she wasn’t expecting from him, because he didn’t seem like a sensitive person or something. Which is the nicest feeling to me: to realize that your first impression can be wrong, and that people can connect with you no matter how they seem like. And that you deserve that connection, because we all do. love is amazing.
Elizabeth Cotten – Freight Train
I just love her. Her fingerpicking style was unique – she was a left-handed guitarist but she played a guitar for left-handed people upside down, so the outcome is really specific. She played the melodies with her thumb and the bass with her fingers, and it was amazing. Plus, her voice is so sweet. Great guitarist, great innovator.
Maria Antonietta – Animali
Letizia aka maria antonietta is an italian songwriter. I think she’s one of the best artist we have in italy. She has a really classic but punk-influenced style of writing, and when she performs live, oh my god… She’s really stunning, direct and communicating in a way that gives me shivers. This song is about love and how it can help when you got the feeling of not belonging to this world. She’s amazing.
Sequoyah Tiger – Slimer Smile
Leila Gharib is another italian great artist, and she’s also from my hometown. This song is from her first ep, but i think it’s still amazing, good 60s pop and electonic vibes, but also very rhythmic and beat-y.
Don Cherry – Malkauns
Oh my god, i think this is one of my favorite songs ever. don cherry’s trumpet enters the song in a magical way. It’s really moving and i’ve been listening to this one a lot while touring in the last months as a session musician for an italian band. It helped me stay in touch with myself and who i am, which is really important when you’re often far from home. It’s very special and helpful, i hope it can help you feeling good too.