Dear Rocka readers,
Hello from the light of my “happy lamp,” the saddest purchase a person in the midwest can — and must — make. This month, I published a feature called “The Insect Experience: JOBIE’s ‘Earworm Lullaby’” which is just a weird treat and a half. She spoke to me about what it was like to write a song from the perspective of a bug. There’s context here, but like a true journalist, I’ll leave that out so you’re more compelled to click! this! hyperlink!
Mid-October, I finally got to meet my team at Universal Music Group in NYC. It was a dream of a weekend. Height reveals, label chit chats, free merch— the works. It was crazy to see my job come to life, despite the fact that in many ways it has run my life for nearly a year now.
I won the press team’s “Rookie of the Year” award alongside my coworker Sophie’s “High Fidelity” award. I’m still so honored that my bosses thought I was deserving of that. I literally have a plaque on my wall now with a photoshopped image of me as a Lana Del Rey album cover. That is the funniest thing that has ever happened to me.
I don’t have many other thoughts this month. I am burnt out like everyone else this time of year.
This month’s playlist is titled after a Mary Gaitskill novella: “This Is Pleasure.” I just like the phrase… it’s not really indicative of what her story is about. This mix is a collection of songs that feel like what my body feels like when it’s not in pain. Atmospheric pop, a few sweet love songs, a handful of nostalgia threads.
I found this incredible cover of “Thirteen”, “I Hope to be Around (Live) by Men I Trust shown to me by my awesome radio cohost Bella, and some familiar favorites like Djo’s “End of Beginning.”
If you listen to nothing else, please listen to “My Lover is Sleeping” by Wasia Project. It’s the closest you’ll come to heaven on earth.
The spotlight track is “I Don’t Really” by Andy Shauf. I think if I found this song in high school, I’d be even more of a train wreck than I was. It still kind of makes me want to cry, but there’s a peace in this song that really draws me to it. “Oh, I don’t really know you anymore” the chorus coos. There’s a release of the past and an acknowledgment of the freedom that you’re afforded by time. Faces become blurry, memories distant. Phew!
If you’d like to keep up with me outside of Rocka, here is my Instagram and my portfolio.
Rocka out,
Ally