Music to Be Alive To
make sure that every moment of life is valued with aarushi aggarwal
featuring artists like
Shubh Saran, Alfa Mist, Noori, Ritviz, Tame Impala, Mumford & Sons, Band of Horses, The Paper Kites, Charlie Parker
I like to believe that the wheel of emotions was built because humans are intended to experience the entire range of emotions. This does not mean that we do not chase happiness; of course, human life is wont to do that. But that does not mean that we do not savour the other moments of pain, anguish, failure and heartbreak that inevitably puncture our daily life. Moments like these which challenge our existence and incentivise us to do better and to be better.
Experiencing these emotions is an integral part of every human life and as such, we should take pride in our ability to really feel the way we do and celebrate it. Every celebration needs music so one ought to think of this playlist as a celebration of life. If your life were a movie then this playlist would be your soundtrack: ranging from the victory dance to the gut-wrenching pain.
The diversity is not limited to emotions alone. The playlist is widespread in the genres it represents too. It features as much jazz as it does indie peppered with blues induced country and Indian music. Language is no barrier because love and life are experienced universally. The combination of these tracks does not make a coherent story, rather a muddle that reflects the confusion and non-linearity of life. Love, joy, loss, anger, frustration; all find a place here to make sure that every moment of life is valued; to make sure that at every moment, we are alive.
Départ – Samuel Felix
24 September 2020
At this weird moment in time, as pain and anguish abound, let hope shine through. Give Départ a listen.
Fazon – Sopwith Camel
16 June 2020
Recently, the Music To community came together to put together a playlist with an uplifting and inspiring message…
California – Lana Del Ray
12 May 2020
Have you read Normal People, or watched it? If you haven’t done either, I’d strongly urge you to do both. Start with the book, please. (And prepare yourselves for why it finds a mention here)…
Summertime – Louis Armstrong & Ella Fitzgerald
5 May 2020
There are countless renderings of Summertime; it’s one of those classics that has stood the test of time and multiple genres. And nearly every time another artist attempts this, it has been a treat worth your time…
Chaap Tilak – Abida Parveen & Rahat Fateh Ali Khan
28 April 2020
As most of humanity remains indoors to combat the lethality that has sprung itself upon us, I bring to you, this week, one of the truest flavours of the subcontinent; two voices that transcend borders and the divisiveness they engender…
Don’t Panic – Coldplay
24 March 2020
These are testing times that none is better prepared than the next to tackle. All that anybody can really do is play their small part in this moment of crisis so that we can see each other anew on the other side of it…
Chalein Kahin – Bawari Basanti (feat. Ejaz and Sean)
25 February 2020
You are going to be sick of all the music whose string instruments I rave on about. Well, I like string instruments–and take my word for it, after listening to this track you shall too…
La Luna – Hindi Zahra
20 November 2019
Have you ever just wanted to shut out everything around you and be transported to another part of the world where everything is different and new and exciting…
Mockingbird – Tajdar Junaid
12 November 2019
Junaid’s website describes him as a multi-instrumentalist producer who is “in love with all good honest forms of Art.” That love reflects in his music too…
Tandanu – Indian Ocean feat. Shankar Mahadevan
11 September 2019
I cannot believe that it has taken this long for an Indian Ocean track to feature on playlist. Their music is really the very essence of what my playlist represents – music unbound to a genre, language or culture; music for the love of music…
Ghir Ghir – Advaita
6 August 2019
Monsoon has officially hit the subcontinent and happiness is abound. The scorched earth and parched throats have heaved a sigh of relief and in welcoming this season, Advaita’s Ghir Ghir beats a lot of other monsoon songs…
Portrait of a Time – Peter Cat Recording Co.
25 June 2019
Do you ever like picture chaos? And no I do not mean the lawless driving on streets. But more like happy chaos, the kind brought on by a joyous occasion. This feeling could in part be attributed to Peter Cat Recording Co.’s very peculiar use of imagery but the sense is well delivered in their music, certainly in A Portrait of a Time, both the album and track…