Greetings from Seoul. I write to you as I look across to Bongeunsa (봉은사) Temple, a Buddhist temple founded in 793 where the Mireuk Daebul stands at 23 meters high–I read it’s the tallest stone-made statue in Korea. Mireuk Daebul is the Great Statue of the Maitreya Buddha. I learned Maitreya is known as the “Buddha of the future, born to teach enlightenment in the next age.”
It’s a grounding sight and experience to be reminded of where I am and to choose peace and find gratitude in the present moment.
I’ve always traveled to Korea with family and for family, but this round, I’m back here for work reasons for the first time. I’ve deemed this a gift for my birthday (June 3) and for AAPI month. I’m grateful for this opportunity to travel solo and steep myself back into my culture and still have the chance to reunite with family again.
I’m going to keep this one short, so here’s my round-up of May gems. As I share these playlists monthly, it’s cool to reflect on the music that’s carrying the tone of my month. May was a tender one, so the songs here reflect that. June is a celebratory month, so it feels like I’m about to enter some sweetness soon.
Listen to the playlist here.
Crumb - Genie
The intro to “Genie” immediately pulls me in. It’s my favorite off of Crumb’s new album Amama. The lyrics remind me of moving through the discomfort of changes, growth and uprooting from past people and places with lyrics like “The places that I've been before / There’s nothing left for me there anymore / Does this tree belong to me / Does my skin belong to mе / Cause even if I'vе grown it by myself / My body is it part of something else.”
Chappell Roan - Good Luck, Babe!
Hailing from a small town in Missouri, Chappell Roan is creating powerful pop anthems set to ‘80s-inspired synth sounds like “Good Luck, Babe!” about her experiences as a queer woman. She explained in her interview with Rolling Stone that it’s about “wishing good luck to someone who is denying fate.” I had the great fortune to work with Chappell on an editorial video about her breaking through, finding belonging in the queer community that moved her to create music and more that you can view here.
Ravyn Lenae - Love Me Not
Ravyn Lenae created such a heartbreaking yet catchy song with “Love Me Not” about the limbo of letting someone go and wanting them back all at once. Dahi’s production ties it all together; I love the bass line in this song. Ravyn’s Bird’s Eye out in August which I’m excited about.
Raveena - Lucky
Raveena’s voice is heavenly. “Lucky” is a song from her forthcoming album Where the Butterflies Go in the Rain out in June. The video is so sweet and profound that matches the sound of the song, and it features a cool worm. You’ll have to see what I mean here. Shoutout to my friend and incredible bassist and producer Aaron Liao, notable producer for Raveena’s discography, including this one.
RM - Heaven
Love me some RM so much. I’ve been enjoying his latest album Right Place, Wrong Person. “Heaven” is one of my favorites, and I enjoyed this write-up on Teen Vogue about not contorting to others’ expectations and his evolution and growth in music both as a leader of BTS, a solo artist and as a person.
Until then, May (no pun intended) you have a beautiful June ahead,
Jane Shin