A song from the last gig you went to.

So I had a hard time initially thinking of the last gig I went to, probably some jazz performance of my sister's. But I'd actually consider this experience a gig! One of my first weeks of college, I was walking back to my dorm and I saw a sign on one of our 'neighbors' door (we're all in suites on the basement floor, so we're pretty far apart) advertising a jazz concert in their dorm that night. Of course I ended up going, and it was actually pretty fucking cool. It was a bunch of guys with their instruments, crammed into the living room, who didn't really know each other, just playing as a jazz combo. They played many jazz standards, but specifically one of my favorites that Stella's combo back home likes to play. I would pick that song if I knew the name....so I'm gonna pick the one that was new to me but I really remember (because I know the name but also because it was really REALLY outstanding)! Shoutout to the guy on the saxophone and the guy on the guitar for their really awesome riffs and solos in their rendition of this song! I love live jazz so much, nothing beats it.

A song that you discovered on a film soundtrack.

In honor of the Hunger Games themed party I went to this weekend! This entire soundtrack was something that was soooooo good in theaters, especially being my first exposure to the Hunger Games universe. "The Hunger Games: Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes" is one of few soundtracks I have gone back to and listened to often, I think it's partially because of the folkiness and Rachel Zegler's fantastic voice (especially considering she's a musical theatre kid). Of course I love to the "Back to the Future" soundtrack, but my song I would've picked I didn't find from the film first, but rather the musical adaptation. I also love the "Into the Spiderverse" soundtrack but I already wrote about that! I'm sure there are some one off songs that just so happened to be in films, but I can't remember for the life of me. I don't know if this is cheating because it feels a little like a musical theatre choice out of all the songs since they are performed in the film, but it's part of the soundtrack! I love so many of these songs but my pick is "The Ballad of Lucy Gray Baird" since it's been in my head. Some runner ups: "Nothing You Can Take From Me (Boot Stomping Version)" and "Can't Catch Me Now"!

A song you'd do at karaoke?

Oh boy. Every karaoke session I've been to is always theatre kid karaoke. My go-to typically is something from Little Shop of Horrors! It depends if I'm doing a solo or duet, it's either "Grow for Me" or "Suddenly Seymour"! I'm gonna go with the duet because karaoke is always fun with friends! Maybe someday I'll do normal karaoke LOL!

A song you've seen performed live, or would really like to see performed live?

Gosh, I've been to so many memorable concerts; Beach Bunny, Los Campesinos!, Noah Kahan, Hozier, ect ect. The two that honestly came to mind first, but for entirely different reasons are The Crane Wives and Good Kid. I'm gonna have to pick Good Kid in hopes that I can post about how much I love The Crane Wives sometime soon. My song of choice is "No Time To Explain". This concert and song was insane to see performed live because I've actually seen it twice! And the energy and presence this band brings to the stage is unlike any other I've seen. My history with Good Kid is a long winding road; from being recommended them, then seeing them as a surprise opener, and then finally going to see them in concert officially! This song was one of the first that really stuck with me, because I saw it live when they opened for another band. This concert overall was so special for me because I got to share it with three of my close friends! They live in Canada, and I honestly haven't been able to see them recently or have gotten to talk to them too much now, but I do really cherish our time together and know we will always be friends no matter the circumstances. So getting to travel to see them and see one of all our favorite bands was a great combo! There are plenty of songs though that I feel were so incredible to see live, and others I hope to see! I miss going to concerts so often and I am so thankful for live music!

A song that reminds you of a particular friend.

Of course I love all my friends, but today I'm gonna go with my friendship I've had the longest- 12 years now I think! This song is a little romantic technically, but I like to associate it with my friends. I'm very grateful to have friends from a very early point into my life who I'd consider truly to be my people, and she is definitely one of them. I don't know what I'd do without her, she makes me who I am, and I don't think I'd have anyone else as my best friend! Really missing her right now, we got to call yesterday though! Even if it was because of rough circumstances, it was nice to talk to someone who TRULY knows me, and has been there and seen it all. So shout out to her!

A song that reminds you of your last vacation or holiday.

The last one was a summer family trip to Cape Cod! I've honestly grown to love the beach and summer because of our trips there, and of course I always joke about us having an "Outer Banks" moment like in the TV show. I am very behind though, I need to catch up. So my song is the song from the title sequence in the first episode! (Or at least I think thats where it's specifically from...). The last trip was very good and rings fondly in my memories! Less Outer Banks-like than the first time though, lots more theatre, Pizza Shark, kayaking and Back to the Future!

A song in a language that you don't know.

Obviously I had to go with a French song, because I'm not near fluent but it's a language I know decently and do think is truly a beautiful language. I also would do a March Madness every year in French class with popular and niche French music by French artists! My pride and joy is my plastic trophy from the one year I won, where I believe I predicted every winning song correctly. I've been able to find some really good French artists and songs though through those brackets! A song that is an honorable mention is one year's winner; "+ La vie" by Ichon! But my choice is gonna have to be by an artist who I've found I really love a lot of his music, Julien Granel!

What’s a remix or cover you like more than the original?

I've recently gotten back into Bo Burnham's music and how clever his song writing is. He is an artist that I truly believe is an artist beyond just being a musician. That being said, a cover I really really love and believe I might like more than the original is Phoebe Bridger's cover "That Funny Feeling". I inherently associate Phoebe Bridger's musical style with a sense of despair and all of the complex sad emotions folded up within humans, mostly due to her very angsty yet relatable music of her own. But I love the softness of her voice and the intruding instrumentals upon the acoustic as the song develops and continues on. So combine with Bo's lyrics and Phoebe's style of performance, this song is so perfectly tragic.

What’s a hidden gem or underrated song you love?

Calling this a hidden gem because it came out only a few days ago! It's quickly rising to being one of my current favorite songs! I love the lyrics and rhythm the chorus breaks into! I love instrumentals combined with Dan Berry's almost folky voice. I also really love how this song breaks into an Elton John feel around the bridge with the piano!

What’s your favorite deep cut from an album?

There are two songs that I thought of first as some of my favorite deep cuts! One, though, is a more general artist deep cut; "Young Blood" from Noah Kahan's "Busyhead". This is an older album of his (2019...so not THAT old) in comparison to his new and developing album that is a continuous hit, so for me personally "Busyhead" feels like a deep cut. Two of my favorite songs are "Young Blood" and "False Confidence", and arguably I'd say they are a few of the more popular songs on that album. But specifically my favorite deep cut within an album is from Hozier's title album, "Hozier". I initally was gonna say "Angel of Small Death and the Codeine Scene" but now I realize that song is maybe more popular than I thought it was. Though this album is full of bangers. My deep cut song is one of the lesser played songs, "Foreigner's God". I freaken love this song. I love all his music on this album and in general, but something about this I can connect to so well as someone who is not religious but has found themselves surrounded by religion ever since I was young, and seems to become increasingly relevant in my life as I grow older and become more aware. And yet, I still find myself praying from time to time in hopes that it somehow may help me.