A Bit Squishy
Navigating Change: Electronica & Dance for New Beginnings
As a DJ, I always take requests. What songs help you make sense of things when they’re a little upside down? How does your journey sound?
Drop your favorite track and maybe you’ll inspire my next playlist!
Musical Theme: Life Transitions
In my most recent post “Break the Chains of Habit,” I shared how things have felt a bit unsettled since moving abroad and how I traced the root of those challenges to the cognitive load of making new habits. It’s hard to make changes, we often shy away from them in our lives; however, moving to a new country means everything is at least a little bit different and the process of finding stability is quite a journey.
When it came to putting together this mix, I found myself vibing with more electronica and dance than usual, perhaps suggesting the roughness of shattering personal illusions and finding joy in a bit of healthy upset? No matter where life has taken you, we’ve all gone through the rough parts of adapting to something new and that’s what this playlist is all about!
Behind the Music
When I arrange songs into a playlist, I’m exploring a specific theme—in this case, echoing the balance between the chaos of change and the calm of personal growth—but I also use a narrative structure. Mirroring the highs and lows of transformation, I use tracks 1, 13, and 25 as the respective overture, entr’acte, and curtain call to steal a bit of musical theatre lingo.
Track List & Artist Highlights
Saint Motel – Fine Wine: the perfect overture, “Our bodies will age, but we’ll never grow old”
Ace of Base – The Sign: look, no one is too good for early nineties pop; dance like no one is watching.
Fatboy Slim – Rockafeller Skank: didn’t he release this as “Funk Soul Brother” or is that the Mandela effect?
The Knocks + Dragonette – Dreams: a perfect example of why I love a good collab—these two sound great together!
Christian French – Send It My Way: “Give me a dose of some good vibrations / Pour me a double shot of A-okay”
Daði Freyr – I Don’t Wanna Talk: I’ve been sharing a lot of his songs lately since I’m newly obsessed, but listen and I suspect you’ll understand…
Kesha – DELUSIONAL: in her efforts to tear down the systematically manipulative music industry, she is anything but.
Ruby Mae – Hindsight: this is my first entree into her music…and it will not be my last!
Maggie Rogers + Sylvan Esso – Anthems For A Seventeen Year-Old Girl: late to her party, this new release is the perfect blend of folk and electronic beats.
– Trying to Feel: if this track is any indication of his forthcoming album, we’re in for gosh-darn delight!
Hector Morlet – We’re So Tight It Hurts: the fact that this is classified as jazz only goes to show that genre is a construct.
The Chemical Brothers – Galvanize: it wouldn’t be electronica without them or the alchemy of motivation.
Panic! At the Disco – High Hopes: the right note for an intermission and for anyone embracing change…
Betty Who – Run! comes post-metamorphosis from record label darling to underground sensation.
Passion Pit – Sleepyhead: I know they were everywhere for a while , but dang if Manners isn’t a great record…
WILDES – Far and Wide: “Trying to make sense of life in the middle” says it all, right?
Foster the People – Best Friend: an ode to the songwriter’s own experience with overcoming creative blockages.
Texas – When We Are Together: despite being Scottish, this rivals the best of the Lone Star State…besides
, of course!Goodnight Sunrise – I Don’t Mind: a positive attitude is key, even if you have to fake it sometimes.
Mimi Webb – Little Bit Louder: an anthem for the moments when your inner voice needs a little amplification!
contradash – BOUNCEBACK2ME: this little ear worm delivers a powerful comeback vibe, echoing the artist’s own journey.
Junior J – Back In Your Heart: does anyone else remember Verve Remixed? This takes me right back there with a reimagined classic.
Black Box – Ride On Time: more quintessential 90’s but make it raw and heavy on the sampling…
Sunday Sun – I Call You Honey: discovered at the end of Meester Kikker, a Dutch film about a teacher who turns into a frog.
Lack of Afro (featuring Greg Blackman) – Make It Shine: a killer finale for this particular journey—if you’ve never heard, you’re welcome!
While crafted to play from beginning to end, I also, naturally, respect the wisdom of the shuffle. Happy listening!
Thanks for vibing with this curated playlist 🎧—your presence fuels my creative journey! If you enjoy a mix of witty memoirs set against Dutch backdrops, gripping serialized mysteries, and rebellious dystopian sci-fi, you’ve come to the right place.
This is dope. Love the extra thought process behind it.