Right Now, With You: A Playlist By Mary Coscolluela

Hi guys, back with another playlist for you.  This playlist was created by one of my best friends, Mary (@iammissmaryc). Her music taste is impeccable and in all honesty I know I can always count on her for good music. She's also an incredible writer. So to express the thoughts and feelings behind this playlist, she wrote a poem.

“for long nights, even longer drives with you by my side.
for making out, 5 seconds feeling like infinity against your lips.
for baby making even though we’re not ready but in this single moment it feels like we are.
for silence, basking in how much i think i might love you.
for those 3 words finally slipping out your mouth and i say, i love you too.
for all these moments and more, with you.”

— Mary Coscolluela

I could relate both to this poem, and playlist on such a deep level. Mary said this playlist would make you feel like you're falling in love. & it's true. It's a compilation of songs & instrumentals that in some way mimic that feeling you get when you fall completely and wholeheartedly for a person. This is the playlist you wish would play in the background of your love story. These are the songs you picture playing in the car, as you stare at the person you're head over heels for while they drive. The songs that blast when the two inevitable lovers finally kiss passionately in a movie. Call me a dramatic romantic but like I said, music puts me in a special place. While this playlist incited feelings of falling in love, I think it can also have you longing for a lost love. However you interpret it, I hope you enjoy it.

Flower Boy: First Impressions

"Foreword" ft. Can & Rex Orange County : We start off with a song that initially sounds raw and aggressive in tone. However it quickly shifts to something cool and smooth once the guitar is introduced. Rex Orange County's execution of the bridge immediately captivated me and had me feeling really calm. Midway, the beat lowers and drags to create almost a sense of urgency as Tyler speeds up. Then goes back to an upbeat click type beat, accompanied by Rex Orange County's smooth outro. I mess with Rex heavy and I'm so glad he's on this because he deserves his talent showcased.

"Where This Flower Blooms" ft. Frank Ocean : Okay so this song from the start feels like it's building up to something great. Franks impeccable voice on the chorus speaking of rolling through California helps tie in PERFECTLY to the bridge followed by Tyler. I ROCK! I ROLL! I BLOOM! I GLOW!!! I could chant this for days man. It creates an almost effortless vibe to the song quite instantly, quickly incorporating the flower theme of the album. Tyler's flow on the second verse, to me, is reminiscent of his flow on Frank Oceans song "Biking". Verse 3 goes full force by introducing Flower Boy T, creating an analogy of his growth as a tree in relation to his growth as an artist and as a person. Theres this bit towards the end where Tyler says "run it run it run it run it" and his voice switches from ear to ear each time (at least when listening with earphones). That effect is one of the dopest things in songs to me for some reason. It really creates depth in a song. The song fades out with a beautiful piano bit which flows perfectly into the next track.

"Sometimes..." : this interlude/ intro to "See You Again" helps keep the story of this album in tact. Shane Powers is taking requests on GOLF radio & we are presented with a hesitant boy, wanting to hear "the song about me"

"See You Again" ft. Kali Uchis : This track is a masterpiece. It starts with Tyler singing in a higher pitch, further deepening the lyrics he sings about a perfect, unattainable person who only exists in his "dream state". You could feel his longing for this person who he can't seem to get. The chorus comes in with Tyler's voice in the forefront of Kali Uchis' melodic voice. You hear hers slowly bleeding through Tyler's deeper tone. Until... only her voice clears it's way through and WOOOOO MY GOOOOODD, THE BEAUTY!!! I really felt butterflies in my stomach and my head went a little light when she began singing "Can I get a kiss...." I don't know what it is about this song and how it was executed, but it truly works beautifully. The lyrics are so relatable and convey the yearning for love so flawlessly. Tyler switches flows up completely after the chorus, explaining frantically how he craves this love for this person he's never even met, as Kali lends melodic "oooo's" in the background. The outro, although simple, I felt it captured the giddy feeling of love Tyler's trying to express. 

"Who Dat Boy" ft. ASAP Rocky : The tone of "Who Day Boy" completely changes from the previous song. This song instantly feels ominous and hostile. The whole time I felt as though there was a bomb ticking away, ready to explode, as Tyler became more and more distressed by something beyond his control. The beats slap really hard on this song and the bass is also really heavy. Asap Rocky comes in the second verse, more cool and collected than Tyler in the previous verse. Tyler and Rocky have a very conversational feel in this song, even though majority of the time it feels as though Tyler is sure enough of himself. I personally like how raw this song is in comparison to the others because it's a change in pace that isn't overwhelming. Tyler & Rocky are two of my favorites and their collaboration on this song masterfully joins their two styles of rap. 

"Pothole" ft. Jaden Smith : This song is still playing on the opposite end of this album (the not so lovey dovey side), much like Who Dat Boy. Tyler uses driving as a metaphor for moving forward and dealing with whatever difficulties are thrown at you, such as a pot hole. Eh, get it? He's at a crossroads and can't decide which way is best to go. I think this songs pretty powerful in terms of being relatable. A song promoting growth, in a less beautiful, but rather realistic way. (and of course Jaden Smith being on this track makes it a billion times better)   

"Garden Shed" ft. Estelle : Garden shed honestly just puts me in such a serene state. The first minute or so is all instrumental. When listening to it I honestly thought it was just some type of interlude because of how simplistic it was. I was able to comfortably zone out and just feel the song. About 2/3s into it, Tyler's second verse crawls in, although he was rapping, it still felt natural and uncomplicated.

"Boredom" ft. Anna of the North, Corinne Bailey Rae, & Rex Orange County : This wasn't my first time hearing this song, since it had been released prior to the full album release. So I'll try to communicate my first initial impression. I actually heard this song during a really tough time. It brought tears to my eyes, no joke. The hook is so steady and tranquil that it incites a "let me just close my eyes and lightly bop my head" type feeling. I'm not entirely sure what the songs meaning is, but I interpreted it as simply neglecting the simple things in life. We get surrounded by the hustle and bustle of life that the "boring" things are often unwanted. When they're the ones that are most precious. We don't make time for the simple pleasures we all need. 

"I Ain't Got Time!" : This song immediately reminds me of "DEATHCAMP". It's a complete 180 from "Boredom". I Aint Got Time is super belligerent and upbeat. This song is pretty much just Tyler making clear how he literally has no time for bullshit. Putting in work is his priority. I'd love to blast this song in a car and just wild out. It's a perfect "leave me alone I'm on my vibe" anthem.

"911/ Mr. Lonely" ft. Anna of the North, Steve Lacy, & Frank Ocean : Ahhh this two part track is probably something you're already familiar with. I don't have much to say about it other than it's just really damn good. "911" is so relatable. I just wanted to send this to my crush a billion times when it first came out. The lyrics in this part are quite sad and moody, however it's expressed in an upbeat, fun track, that oddly gets you wanting to dance. Ironically, the second part "Mr. Lonely" is also filled with depressing lyrics, but is much heavier and darker in terms of execution. Quickly snapping you out of the mood the first part puts you in.

"Droppin' Seeds" ft. Lil Wayne : I was so excited to hear Wayne and Tyler on this track together. It has such a jazzy feel to it. I love it. Makes me quite upset it's only a minute long, so I don't have much else to say about it except I WISH IT WERE LONGER

"November" : I remember Tyler tweeting "Take me back to November" at the beginning of the month. I quoted it with something like "no thank you I hated November". It's funny cause after listening to this song my perspective of my November changed. It was a rough month because a lot shifted in my life but now I'm thankful for it cause I wouldn't be where I am right now if it wasn't for that November. The part of the song where everyone's saying "My November was.." gave me chills. Because I quickly realized they weren't speaking about the actual month but rather a period in time that they missed or wished they could relive again. 

"Glitter" : Glitter is super smooth and taps into Tyler's emotions. He speaks about wanting to be more than just friends with a certain person and how fireworks feel like glitter, and how being around them feels like glitter, meaning he feels fireworks whenever around this person. It's quite an accurate metaphor to being in love or having deep feelings for a person. It's explosive and passionate and volatile. 

"Enjoy Right Now, Today" : I listened for maybe 2 minutes straight until realizing this song was a full instrumental. I think it's genius. Simple. A track you can just play in the background and "Enjoy Right Now, Today" with. No lyrics, no extra distractions, just music. Simplicity to allow you to enjoy the moment. Any given moment in life. Truly genius & a beautiful way to close the album.

What's your "November"? Share in the comments below

 

https://itun.es/us/ui0Xkb

Sunflowers (Playlist)

Let's begin with my profound admiration for sunflowers. I love them. Not very many things capture me like the radiance of a sunflower. 

I don't just praise them for their beauty. I now extend extreme gratitude towards them. 

A few months ago I fell into a really bad place. To say the very very least, I became numb. I no longer cared about anything at all. No energy, no will, nothing. I laid in my room for days on end. Refusing to do anything except... nothing. My family tried everything to pull me out. A plethora of boba, my favorite foods, even the gift of company, anything you could think of. Despite the efforts, nothing changed for me. But sunflowers... became something dear to my heart.

My bedroom is simple. My walls are painted grey, and anything in it is either white or black. No color. Simple greyscale. I loved the simplicity. I just never realized quite how dull it was until one particular day. I was laying in bed, listening to music. My mom had urged me to go to the store with her. She wanted me to get up and out of the house. Anything it took. I refused. Wanted to stay in bed. Soon after, she walks into my room holding a bouquet of sunflowers & says to me

 "I know it's not much... but I know how much you love sunflowers so I went to the store and got you some. I hope they cheer you up even a tiny bit." 

Now... let me tell you... beautiful isn't anywhere near descriptive enough. I really wish it were. It sounds cliche but it was, hands down, one of the most beautiful things to me. I smiled. My heart lit up. She got a vase and set them in my room for me. It served as some type of analogy to me and my life. I was dull. Surrounded by grey. Surrounded by such... lack of color in my life, so to speak. All the color had been wrung out and faded. And it wasn't until the beautiful cluster of yellow sunflowers were introduced into the setting that I realized how dull everything was, and had been. So I started making changes.

I wouldn't say I owe the shift in states in my life entirely to sunflowers. It was definitely a combination of things, people, places. However, sunflowers now serve as a symbol for me. A symbol of all the beauty I neglected to let myself see, accept, and feel.

I wish I could engulf myself in a field of sunflowers to feel that love I felt the moment my mom walked into my room that day, just once more. 

Ive compiled a playlist entitled "Helianthus". Helianthus, being, the common sunflower. I couldn't find a title more fitting. This playlist is comprised of songs that relay to all of the emotions I felt after that day. It was a mix of beauty and pain and love. I found no better way to portray those emotions than through music. Given, im not a creator of music, playlists are my equivalent to a musician writing a song or an artist painting a picture or a dancer choreographing a routine to express what they feel. You'll be able to find and make your own connections to this playlist. The flood of emotions alongside the journey of love is something everyone experiences. Sometimes we take for granted the pain that has to come with love. It builds us up. And allows for growth. Initially, I was making this playlist for a person. But as time went on and new experiences came at me, I realized I might've just been projecting my emotions. I was honestly just searching for love. & within the past few months I found all different kinds of it. 

Below are links to the playlist (both on Apple Music & Soundcloud) In the description of the playlists will be a more in depth description of the playlists themselves. I truly hope you enjoy, and I thank you for reading. I know this post was on the personal side (don't worry not all content will be this personal) but the reasons behind this blog in the first place are because of how strongly I feel connected to music and life experiences. I want to be able to get people to see they aren't alone and have healthy outlets for their emotions.

https://itunes.apple.com/us/playlist/helianthus/idpl.u-DdvoFyyaz8y