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.
You Go to My Head – Billie Holiday
27 August 2018
There is some irony in the fact that a track titled You Go to My Head comes from an album called Solitude. But Billie Holiday herself is a remarkable impersonation of ironies: a life as harsh and difficult as her’s was, gave birth to a wonderfully beautiful singer whose music is still remembered as the finest jazz ever produced…
Mystery of Love – Sufjan Stevens
31 July 2018
I have not seen the movie that Mystery of Love features in, but this song makes me want to watch it.
I know I am not the only person who listens to a song–that they have recently fallen in love with–on repeat, endlessly. To me, this is that track right now: my go-to. Since it was written for the movie, the track chronicles its film’s story all through its length.
Thin Line of Blue – Karsh Kale (feat. Benny Dayal and Ankur Tewari)
24 July 2018
I think of this track as the end of a story–perhaps the end of a certain chapter in my playlist. The sheer sense of tranquillity I experience every time I listen to the track is unparalleled. The sound is fresh and nostalgic, just like the Indian Monsoons…
Salt Peanuts – Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Bud Powell, Max Roach & Charles Mingus
17 July 2018
Is any jazz playlist complete without the genius of Charlie Parker gracing it? This track, however, is a deliberate choice. It showcases the improvisational attributes of jazz featuring five of the greatest jazz musicians of the age. Their brilliance, at display in a rare concert, has given us a record of a lifetime.
Electric Indigo – The Paper Kites
9 July 2018
This playlist has been a weird mix of music from across genres, cultures, languages and regions. There is one thing that ties it all though–something that I was always aware of, in some abstract academic sense, but for which I now have actual evidence…
Traces of You – Anoushka Shankar (feat. Norah Jones)
26 June 2018
Have you ever heard a track whose first few seconds make you stop and realize just how beautiful its composition is and that you’re going to treasure it forever? Anoushka Shankar’s Traces of You was that track for me…
Lying Under Oak – Band of Horses
20 June 2018
Most bands change their sound over time either due to change in their line-up or by adapting to emerging technology which they use to make new music. Band of Horses, however, stays true to its Alternative roots, never disappointing the millions of fans that tune into their music for the sentiments and imagery that only alternative rock can offer.
Autumn Leaves (live) – Jim Hall and Ron Carter
12 June 2018
Jazz is not for the large stages: I have only ever truly enjoyed it in cosy and intimate settings. Autumn Leaves transports you to one of those warm jazz clubs where all that matters is the music–nothing else. This record completes the feeling of closeness with the background conversations seeping in under the strumming.
Koop Island Blues – Koop
29 May 2018
Summer is in full bloom and there is no better way to celebrate the season than with this distinctive track.
Koop Island Blues is a song I have been waiting to share for weeks. My encounter with this song was serendipitous…
White Winter Hymnal – Fleet Foxes
23 May 2018
White Winter Hymnal starts so unassuming and innocent. Fleet Foxes’s signature harmonies pick up, making way for the percussions that are almost overwhelming–but of course in a good way.
Gul Gulshan – Parvaaz
14 May 2018
When I first heard this band, and this song specifically, I could not get enough of them. Kashmiri lyrics set to a guitar riff was ingenious and novel to me. Parvaaz became the new sound of India’s indie space and I haven’t gotten enough of their music since.
The Sound of Silence – Simon and Garfunkel
8 May 2018
This week’s track is a bit of a throwback. After all, how can one leave Simon and Garfunkel out of their playlist? I’m not American, but you know you a classic when you hear one…
