Most of us are locked in, all of us have lost the chance to socialise, to meet and drink and talk and eat and see music and work out and enjoy things outside the house. But music doesn’t have to stop and The Great Confinement has opened up a chance to explore at home, to dig up old favourites and find new pleasures.
In this series we ask: what music is making you happy. Today, journalist and personal inspiration for Cara Delevigne, Roxy Lola.
WHAT ALBUMS OR ARTISTS HAVE YOU BEEN PLAYING SINCE BEING CONFINED TO HOME?
I’ve been doing this fun “isolation activity” with close friends where we pick our personal Top Ten songs from an artist we love. It’s been great to see which songs people connect with most and dive into discographies, being reminded of songs I’d forgotten about.
So, I’ve been listening to a lot of different albums every day… but my ultimate at home album is Frank Ocean’s Blonde. I find something new I love every time I listen to it. I’ve also been listening to Stevie Wonder’s Songs In The Key of Life - it makes me feel great every time. I listen to certain artists for different moments throughout the day. A good friend just showed me the Icelandic multi-instrumentalist Ólafur Arnalds, and his music is perfect to listen to while I’m working.
WHICH HAVE BEEN GETTING MULTIPLE SPINS?
Lana Del Rey’s Norman F**king Rockwell. She is my favourite artist and there is not a single skip on that album. I secretly love when an album doesn’t include any features and is solely the artist’s work.
WHAT ALBUM FROM YOUR PAST HAVE YOU REDISCOVERED? WHAT DO YOU STILL LOVE ABOUT IT?
Madonna’s Ray Of Light. It reminds me of my mum and she’s in the UK right now. It’s a good one to dance around the house to. I love the production on that album, it feels like you’re diving into a wonderland under the ocean. I recently received a book Nirvana - The Stories Behind Every Song so I’ve been listening to every Nirvana song as I read through it. I write a lot of songs so I do love to analyse lyrics.
HAVE YOU FOUND NEW MUSIC? WHAT’S EXCITED YOU ABOUT IT?
Luckily, some of my favourite artists have released new albums and mix-tapes in the last few weeks, like Fiona Apple, Drake, Kehlani, The Weeknd. So I’ve been well fed. A new release is exciting for me because nowadays you’re experiencing the new music in the palm of your hand at the same time as people around the world. I love reading the tweets of other fans as the music is released. This time has definitely shown me that music is my favourite way to connect with others.
I’ve also been loving the At Home With Apple Music segment on Beats 1 that Zane Lowe does with different artists, listening to the playlists they have curated and discovering the music that inspires them. I know I need to listen to more music from the past and expand my listening, so I’ve also been listening to playlists that feature the top hits from every decade. I also spend a significant amount of time on Soundcloud finding new and old music… there are a lot of leaks from some of my favourite artists lurking there. I’m always excited to discover anything that people don’t know about yet.
WHAT’S THE BEST MUSIC TO FLATTEN YOUR (ANXIETY) CURVE?
Definitely anything by Bon Iver. There is not a single song Justin Vernon has made that I don’t love. I rediscovered the Blood Bank EP and that’s also been on repeat a lot. I’ve also been listening to Kate Bush’s Hounds of Love when the anxiety is flattened and I need to feel a little dramatic… Which happens quite often.
Roxy Lola is Digital Editor at 10 Magazine.
Comments