1/ So First Off - Tell Us your Name, City and Country and what you currently do for a living?
Maria Lehua Fish - Music to Playlist Curator
Hi there world! I am Maria Lehua Fish, originally from Kaua’i, Hawai’i but hanging in Petaluma, CA at the moment - a little north of San Francisco.
I currently live my life by walking doggos, farming vegetables/flowers, a smidge of digital marketing and putting on secret live music shows around San Francisco - all whilst cruzing around in an old Subaru outback with the windows down and the music always a little too loud. All in an effort to spend more time with plants, music, and allowing time to create all the art I possibly can.
2/ Is This Something You Always Wanted To Do? What Do You Enjoy About It?
I always knew that I was drawn to music and sharing it with others. It was a natural migration into the playlist universe I guess.
Music is connection. It is my deepest form of connecting. I could go on for eternity talking about the pure magic of music so we will just leave it at this.
3/ Tell Us About Your First Musical Memory - Why Do You Think You Remember It?
It was this compilation of classical music that played in the background of this old nature documentary. I vividly remember dancing to it with my twin sister for hours.
4/ Who Did You Make Your First Mixtape / Playlist For - What Was The Result - Did They Dig It?
Originally I would write all my songs down for people on ripped corners of notebook paper and give it out like love notes to loved ones. It's still my favorite way to share music. I still make playlists for the same people so I think they dig them ;)
5/ What Made You Go Online And Search About Music Curation?
A pal named Pine. After a weekend road tripping and grooving to my playlists around Santa Cruz and Big Sur - he mentioned that I would probably find music curating interesting. Literally had no idea what that was but he was right I was into it and here we are today!
6/ Tell us about the name of your Playlist - where did that come from?
Explore Everything. I wanted it to be an eclectically driven arrangement of creations so the name sort of allowed for the list to remain open to... well everything.
When I really reflect on the original idea behind this concept - I don't think I really realized how intertwined it was going to be with my whole being. It has grown and evolved into more than just a shelf for eclecticism. It’s a place that can provide infinite layers of perspectives and experiences of our existence. It’s a place to hold space for others and be open and receptive to all creations and all walks of life.
As kind of a random side note - this is the most normal playlist name I have ever created. For reference - I like to name them things like “Trippin’ On The Wild Roads Of The Universe” or “Chill Out Party People It’s High Time”. They are ridiculous and I love them dearly.
7/ What does a track have to have to make it onto your list, is there something special that you look for?
All of the tunes are chosen almost purely off of the way it makes me feel and when these feelings manifest. It may seem a little wacky but that's the way it has always worked for me. Our emotional responses to experiences are infinite and in that sense I find music to be the catalyst for amplifying the way I experience everything. The music finds me. Always. Perhaps a slightly unconventional process but it’s never led me astray in my discoveries.
8/ What can an artist do in their track submission to your list to ensure that you'll listen to their track?
Tell me why you create music and why you want to share it with the world. The profound interconnectedness of the artist and their creations means that in order to understand their sound, I need to understand them as a being on a deeper level. That’s honestly it for me. I actually listen to everything that is sent my way. I probably shouldn’t tell people that since it's kind of a big commitment but fuck it - at least artists know that their tunes are being listened to with kind ears.
Also I’m very fond of nature sounds in tunes. They just get me every time.
9/ We know - these change all the time - but as of this week - what are your all time top 5 favorite tracks.
10/ And finally - which Music to Curator should we interview next?
My pal from Music to Embrace The Feminine Future :)