I read this book called "Love Is a Mix Tape: Life and Loss, One Song at a Time" by Rob Sheffield. It inspired this article. My favorite quote from Sheffield's book says:
"The times you lived through, the people you shared those times with — nothing brings it all to life like an old mix tape. It does a better job of storing up memories than actual brain tissue can do. Every mixtape tells a story. Put them together, and they can add up to the story of a life."
My life is a playlist in this way.
I have a playlist for almost everything that I do and for every emotion that I feel. For me, there is always a reason to make a new playlist. Every day I experience new things, feel different feelings and meet new people- all of which inspire me to make new playlists.
I am a memory hoarder. Some people hold on to their memories with photographs, videos or pens and paper. I believe that music, songs, and playlists connect me to the people and events that I never want to forget about.
I wholeheartedly stand by what Sheffield said. Nearly every song I listen to is somehow a reminder of my past, and when I put them all together it is hard to forget what I have experienced- the good times and the bad- when I begin to listen. It comforts me that I can always be able to recover my memories: whether it be in 10 minutes, 10 days or even 10 years.
My favorite playlist of all time is called "a good playlist. <3". This is my master playlist of sorts: containing all of the songs that mean something or can make me feel something. I will never stop adding to it. So far, it is 26 hours and 17 minutes long. There are 430 songs that each have different and specific memories connected to them.
My "good music." playlist is extremely special to me because it reminds me of the time three of my best friends and I took a spontaneous, nonstop 16-hour road trip to Colorado. When I listen to this playlist I can vividly remember the beauty of the mountains and trees as we drove past. I can see the happy faces of my friends. I can practically smell Colorado Springs.
The playlist I made called "run away ☀️" (emphasis on the sun emoji) is a playlist full of EDM music that reminds me of the music festivals and concerts that I have been to with my best friends. Listening to this playlist will always bring memories of carelessly dancing around with the people I love like nothing else in the world mattered.
I can not forget to mention the "we don't know her?" playlist. This playlist keeps my best friend Jenna and I humble as it reminds us of those we have loved and lost. Not to mention our failing romantic lives and impending eternal loneliness.
When I find myself not knowing what to say, do or think, my music speaks its own language for me. All I have to do is sit back and listen. Whatever I want to feel, whatever I want to remember, all I have to do is press play on one of my beloved playlists.
