The Sounds She Collected is a newsletter about mixtapes and mixed emotions. Thanks for being part of this hive mind for empathetic, hopeful people.
Hey there, remember me!?
I’ve been a bit MIA, you know, just doing a lot of the ubiquitous work we talk about in therapy, taking care of a lot of inner growth, progress, yada yada. I might be coming to you more sporadically these days, but putting just as much time and care into each edition as I always do. I encourage you to show yourself grace in all your creative pursuits, too. Take time off! Come back when you want! It’s all okay!
On with the show!
Last month, I attended my first post-COVID concert. I went to see my favorite band, Wilco, at a theater that holds 3,800 people. And it was packed. I navigated the usual concert paths with heightened awareness and curiosity: heading into the venue and bumping shoulders with fellow attendees, feeling awkward as I attempted to make small talk with my neighbor, ignoring the drunk man behind me who kept yelling emphatically after every. Single. Song.
It all felt so weird. But when the music started, I couldn’t stop my big, goofy grin. Wilco assembled three sold-out crowds in Chicago for a performance of their seminal album Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, released 20 years ago. It was so beautiful to see swarms of fans remember all the words to their favorite songs, like “I am an American aquarium drinker / I assassin down the avenue.”
Connection is the most important thing we’ll find in our lives. And we’ll discover it over and over again, in millions of ways. I love thinking of this when I’m not feeling particularly joyful.
The connection continued this month at an old-school roller rink. After having a prophetic dream that I’d don a glittery outfit and roller skate, I headed to a disco wonderland. This place has it all: a 1950s-era sign sharing the different types of skates (pick one: Foxtrot or Waltz), plenty of cosmic lighting, and a DJ who loved ‘90s R&B.
It was absolutely magical, and as I watched the aux-cord DJ select songs, I began to think about how I’d soundtrack a gathering, be it a dinner party, pre-concert waiting period, or roller disco.
This turned into quite the substantial playlist that might just be my favorite one of all. These 160 songs are what I’d play if the roller disco DJ handed me the aux cord. (If I manifest this right, it could just happen someday.)
Shuffle it up, and enjoy.
Disco forever,
Sarah
Share this with the friend who always takes control of the aux.
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Together, we support: To Write Love on Her Arms, a nonprofit movement dedicated to presenting hope and finding help for people struggling with depression and addiction.
Bookmark a good read: “As A Female Artist You Spend A Lot Of Time Screaming Into The Void”: Florence Welch Talks New Music, Sobriety And The Lure Of Motherhood
Something to remember: “With so many ways to communicate at our disposal, we must not forget the transformative power of a live music experience and genuine human exchange.” —Jon Batiste