Lyrics as life's reminders

in

Hey there. Happy January almost February. Any revelations or new beginnings since 2017 kicked off?

I’m working on a couple of writing projects and continuing to practice things that I had mentioned in my last letter when it comes to self-care. 

As always, music provides solace especially throughout this time of transition I've been writing a lot about. In today's letter, I'd like to share some of my favorite songs as of late based on lyrics I've gravitated towards: 

Theo Martins - Bad Tendencies


“Don’t focus on the wrong energies, dishonest energies, meaningless energies...”

This line stood out to me because I’ve been thinking and reading a lot about emotional energy. Energy is real. When you let negative energy overtake you, your energy flow becomes blocked. Keep your energy channels open to let in light and positivity. Keep your heart open. As Theo raps, don’t get caught up focusing on the wrong energies that don’t serve you.

The Theo Show is brilliant and funny, and he has an awesome clothing line called Good Posture. Theo’s also the first person to notice and remark that I text from my phone with both hands–I use my left thumb and my right index finger to text lol. I appreciate fellow observant people. 

 

Little Simz - Doorways + Trust Issues

 

"I don’t trust anyone apart from who I came with
Is that bad of me?
Don’t be mad at me
Know my imperfections make me who I plan to be
Though what's slowing me down is trust issues"

I’ve been thinking a lot about the importance of personal boundaries lately. It can be overwhelming meeting a lot of new people, and the line gets blurred sometimes in terms of what's okay to share and agree to and what level of trust there is. Being vulnerable with people is the foundation towards building a connection and embodying empathy, but you can't show all your cards with everybody. Choose what you share with whom wisely. 

I’ve mentioned Little Simz before and "Doorways + Trust Issues" in particular in a previous letter; the whole album Stillness in Wonderland is great, but this song is one of my favorites. Little Simz is also one of my favorite rappers because her pen game is so damn strong. Her Stillness in Wonderland tour has kicked off and she just announced dates for her US and Canada run. Go catch her show because she's an amazing live performer.
 

Syd - All About Me

 


"Take care of the family that you came with
We made it this far and it’s amazing
People drowning all around me
So I keep my squad around me"

"All About Me" is the first release from Syd's forthcoming solo album Fin and the lyrics are an ode to her gratitude for her day ones (from the groups she's been a part of, from Odd Future to The Internet). It's a confidence-boosting song for me. It also makes me think of the importance of fulfilling your individual journey but also supporting and elevating those around you who've supported you from the start. 

Syd also released a second track from her album today called "Body." Looking forward to hearing the full album once it's out.
 

Digital Nas - One Year

 

"Working so hard just to make sure that when I’m on top I will not fall
How are you trying to walk before you even learn how to crawl?
All this new money I'm making I should just throw up in the air
Crazy how much can happen and so much can change in a year"

This song by producer and rapper Digital Nas serves as a personal reminder for me that a lot has changed within a year and to not rush the process towards moving forward and upward. Don't skip steps, work hard and establish your foundation as solidly as possible first.

Digital Nas is a talented producer and rapper who has worked with Lil Yachty since his early days and has produced for Playboi Carti, PnB Rock, Keith Ape and more. He's poised to have a great year ahead so stay tuned for more from him.
 

Sylvan LaCue - Best Me


"I sip slow, think slower. Cause people love to judge, when they barely even know ya
...
All I want to do is be the best me"

This entire song is A+, but my favorite lines are the intro and the chorus ("all I want to do is be the best me").  This song serves as a reminder that ultimately, I gotta do what’s best for me to be the best me. 

Rapper Sylvan LaCue has been in a variety of situations in the music industry throughout the course of his career, but he continues to keep it moving as an independent artist today. 

He has his own label and academy called WiseUp: "WiseUp is an idea & state of mind that promotes awareness & the sharing of information between people in order to better our individual lives." I'm all about that. Sylvan is also joining Chicago rapper Saba in March on his Bucket List Tour so make sure you catch both of them live. Some of the most positive energy and presence from a live show I've experienced has come from these two artists.
 

meltycanon - Thankful

"But I've got faith in myself, and all of the things I do.
I don't need no one else, to tell me what I can do.
If you don't realize, all of the things your life can do.
You will be left behind, swept up by the storm of those you knew."

meltycanon’s music is lovely and dreamy. He recently put out an EP called soft & wet and produced rapper Father's track, "Heartthrob." "Thankful" is a year old, but I hadn't heard it until a few weeks ago when I stumbled upon it through fashion model Irene Kim's Instagram Story. It's perfect rainy day weather music. It's hopeful, inspiring and bittersweet at the same time.

You can listen to all of them through at the playlist I created here. I'll continue to add more tracks that spark inspiration through lyrics. 

What songs are on rotation for you? Any lyrics that you’ve been picking up and using as your anthems or personal reminders?

Talk soon,
Jane

p.s. You can also find me on Twitter, SoundCloud and Instagram.

Self-care for 2017

in

Happy New Year! In the spirit of new beginnings and positivity, I wanted to share some resources that have been helpful for my mental, emotional and spiritual health this past year and will continue to be in the new year:

  • The Seven Chakras: I’ve learned about the seven chakras before, but in these past few months, I’ve delved further to understand them in relation to my current state. The seven chakras are energy centers in our bodies in which energy flows through. Sometimes blocked energy results from anxiety, stress and other things which not only affects our physical well-being, but also our emotional and mental well-being. You can take a test here to find out which of your seven chakras are underactive, overactive or well-balanced. Overall, understanding them has helped me to check in with myself more often and take the necessary steps to continue to nurture my energy.
     
  • Brené Brown: Her book Daring Greatly has been greatly influential in my life, and I’ve learned to define, understand and process guilt, shame and vulnerability in ways that I had never done before. Feeling feelings are important. I'm currently reading Rising Strong. She writes, "If we are brave enough, often enough, we will fall." The book is focused on how to get back up stronger by recognizing the power of emotions to allow us to redefine our stories through courage moving forward.
     
  • Oprah Winfrey’s Super Soul Sundays: These videos are meant to “nourish your mind, body and spirit every Sunday.” A lot of great nuggets of inspiration and motivation here, and I've been introduced to some spiritual leaders worth following as well. 
     
  • Calm: I’ve developed a consistent practice of meditating every morning and night through this app. I’ve learned to use breathing techniques to calm me down during stressful situations. They have all sorts of guided meditations and sounds you can meditate to. I've lately been enjoying meditating to the sound of a crackling fire.
     
  • Still Mind: My friend and artist Jarell Perry runs Still Mind which is a platform for creatives to gain inspiration through practice of thoughtfulness and stillness. Still Mind’s core values are “dialogue as inspiration, self-development as artist development, mindfulness as a creative source, community through shared vision.” 
     
  • TED Talks: A lot of solid ones in the self category, but you can peruse a variety of other topics here too. 

I hope you find some of these helpful, and I'll continue to share more in 2017.

If you have any resources that have benefited you that you'd like to share, I'd love to hear about them, so shoot me a reply back.

May your 2017 be bright and courageous and full of good health and wisdom.

Onward and upward,
Jane

p.s. You can also find me on Twitter, SoundCloud and Instagram.

tinyletter

Wrapping up 2016

in ,

2016. What a year.

The Worst Year Ever, Until Next Year is an interesting read from The New Yorker:

“There is no limit to the amount of misfortune a person can take in via the Internet, and there’s no easy way to properly calibrate it—no guidebook for how to expand your heart to accommodate these simultaneous scales of human experience; no way to train your heart to separate the banal from the profound. Our ability to change things is not increasing at the same rate as our ability to know about them.”
— Jia Tolentino, The New Yorker

Despite the heartache and tragic events that happened in 2016, it was a great year for music. It provided me solace during moments of transitions this year and as always, gives me hope for the future. Thank you to all the artists, producers, engineers and writers working on their craft day in and day out.
 

16 of ’16

I selected 16 of my favorite songs of 2016. It’s a bummer Frank Ocean’s Blonde isn’t on SoundCloud, otherwise “Nights” would have been in there too. Anyway, peep the playlist.

Stillness in Wonderland

I've also been listening to Little Simz’s Stillness In Wonderland on repeat. In addition to the album, she has released a short film, a comic book series written by Eddie Smith and illustrated by McKay Felt and will be running her own mini music festival in February in London. I’ve had the honor to work with this hard-working, intelligent and talented artist. To see her grow over the years as an independent artist with an equally hard-working, passionate team is inspiring to say the least. Stillness in Wonderland is a testament to that growth and the journey of progressing forward. In every song, there are words that resonate with me immediately. It's an empowering album that's been comforting me and guiding me through my own journey. Cheers to artists who speak their truth. This Fader review "Little Simz's Stillness in Wonderland is the Year's Last Great Album" is a great read too.

Women’s Circle Panel

Ascension of the Female Artist: Mental, Physical, Spiritual + Emotional Health of the Woman

I attended a wonderful event on Sunday afternoon called Women’s Circle panel, organized by writer Denita Soleil that featured a panel of amazing women across various creative fields:
 

Tiffany Gouché, producer and singer-songwriter; Dana Washington, a photographer, director and writer; Kilo Kish, a designer, conceptual artist and vocalist; and Natasha James, a vegan pastry chef and owner of Rawcells, a vegan treats business.

Words from Denita in the program:

“The Women’s Circle was originally created to empower women through a foundation of sisterhood, encouragement, positivity and love. The goal is to always welcome my sisters into a safe space where we can be ourselves, express how we feel, share our work and encourage each other on a path to become the best version of ourselves. We live in a time where we need each other more than ever and this is why we have all gravitated to each other today. It is our time to speak up, it is vital for our voices to be heard. I spent so much time suppressing my voice because I didn’t know there were people out there willing to listen, it’s something I still do to this day, but I want you all to know that I am here for you. I hear you, I see you, and your voice matters to me. I thank you for taking time out of your schedule to be present with me and I hope it was worth your while.”
— Denita

It was awesome to share space with women of all walks of life and come together to build and share words and feelings openly, to promote the importance of community and self-care. It was also an energizing event that promoted reflection and positivity as the new year is on the horizon.

Here are some other takeaways:

  • "There’s space for what you want to do." This was some of Tiffany Gouché's encouraging words in response to a question about accepting herself as queer that catalyzed her to write music for women and promote love through her music. It's a great reminder for those who are starting anew or consistently working at their craft, that there is space for you in any field or arena, wholeheartedly as you are. Even when you feel unsure of where you're going and your current path feels confusing or frustrating, don't give up and let fear of belonging get in the way. Create space, own your space and promote your space.
     
  • Never compromise your integrity. Striving for success is great, but don't cut corners to get there. Be honest, do the right thing and stand by what's right and against what's wrong. Stay aligned with your moral compass. 
     
  • Boundaries are important. Opening up yourself to people is great to build connections, but there are some things you should keep and protect for yourself. Little Simz sings in "Doorways + Trust Issues," "Everybody’s got some sort of faith inside them, gotta find where it lives.” This line stood out to me. I understood it two-fold: it’s about finding your light and faith that keeps you going and moving forward. It’s also the place inside your heart that you must keep sacred and golden so as never to compromise yourself. Maya Angelou has shared the same nugget of wisdom too as the best advice she's ever given: "There's a place in you that you must keep inviolate, pristine so no one has the right to treat you badly..."
     
  • Calm the voices in your head when you find yourself overthinking and letting fear and doubt cloud you.  You are not your mind. The mind is so powerful that it can distort reality and narrate your experience in a way that you think you should be living. When you find yourself overwhelmed, step back, pause, take a deep breath and proceed.

With all this said, I hope your 2016 is wrapping up well. Thank you for supporting me and subscribing to these letters. As always, feel free to hit the reply button to say hello and share how you've been.  

Have a joyous holiday. I hope it's filled with lots of love, gratitude and rest. 

Much love,
Jane

Three Months in LA

in

It’s been three months since I left the Bay and have returned to LA. As 2016 nears its end, I've been doing a lot of reflecting. I'm grateful to keep things moving amid all the lows and highs experienced this year. How is 2016 drawing to a close for you? 

A few things and learnings since I've returned to LA:

  • After all these years growing up relying on my family and friends for rides and relying on public transportation in the Bay, I purchased my first car. It’s an investment in my return to LA as I replant myself here. I also love any opportunity to drive for the sake of bumping music.
     
  • Through this time of massive transition, I'm grateful to be surrounded by family and friends. Don't forget to tell your loved ones how much you love them. People ask me how it's like to temporarily live back home, often with a tinge of sorrow in their voice. Don't feel sorry for me, I say. It's certainly an adjustment after having lived independently and apart from my family for the past 10 years, but I’m saving money and there's nothing like my mom's cooking. Living back home doesn't deserve the stigma it receives especially given other cultural reasons as to why an individual might live back home. Anyway, as Busdriver sings in "Worlds to Run:" "I can run the world from my mama’s house."
     
  • My dog Kiwi has been a blessing to be around every day. She has taught me to always show love, be present, take the time to pause and soak in the sunlight. These things are easy to take for granted. I want to start organizing some hikes and walks. Dog therapy is real.
     
  • I’m reconnecting even more deeply with some great people I’ve met over the years but mostly knew through a professional lens when I was working at SoundCloud. Being independent has allowed more room for connection in other ways. Opening up to people can feel scary sometimes, but it also builds bonds of trust. In doing so, I’ve allowed myself to be even more comfortable with who I am and be proud of all my accomplishments up to this point. I've received different signals that have encouraged me to know that the leap I’m making now is the right one for me. Author Bob Goff's tweet is a solid reminder: "Everyone's leap looks different; make yours, not some else's. Comparison is a punk."
     
  • Good vibes only: If you find those whose company you enjoy, stick with them. I’m grateful for new people I'm continuing to meet too. I've learned something new or interesting that's resonated with me from each new person I've met so far. I'm also meeting more people from the Bay Area than I thought I would, which is exciting because my time up there has shaped me into the person I am today. I do miss my peeps in the Bay (you all know who you are) and look forward to visiting again soon.
     
  • Daily meditation practice has been transformative. I'm learning a lot about myself and teaching myself the importance of patience and self-love. It’s okay for me to take the time I need in my own pace. It's okay for you to take the time you need in your own pace too because your journey is yours, and my journey is mine. We're all experiencing different things.
     
  • Writing has been rewarding, challenging, frustrating and therapeutic all at the same time. Ultimately, it feels good to devote my time and energy into my craft. I haven't felt this creative in a while. Being back home has also opened up the memory floodgates. I’ve come across all my old journals, creative stories, newspaper clips and more that serve as reminders that I’ve always been and will be a writer.
     
  • I’ve been digging into my interviews I’ve conducted over the past few months and published two stories so far on producers D. Sanders and Free P (published this week, see below). It's also fun learning the ropes on audio editing and compiling interview clips. It's a lot of effort to do all this on my own, but it's fulfilling. I have more interviews to sort through, including some from my time in Atlanta, so stay tuned. If you have read or shared my post, or listened to the interview clips, thank you for your support.

Produced By: Free P
Channeling compassion and empathy into beats

I interviewed Free P on his journey so far as a creator. Check out the tracks he’s produced for artists like The Game, Wiz Khalifa, Lorine Chia, Isaiah Rashad, Michael da Vinci, Tut, Two-9 and more. 

From my writer's note I'll be including in my stories moving forward:

I was first introduced to Free P through rapper Rikki Blu whom I first met at SXSW in 2014. Free and I instantly connected about our shared sense of self-awareness and the journey of trusting the process, a major theme that’s come up especially this year and is the inspiration behind my pursuit of stories in music.

Free is also a good friend of D. Sanders whom I first profiled in this series, and they’re part of the same creative community that’s been bubbling up out of Tennessee, home to one of my favorite artists Isaiah Rashad.

In fact, Isaiah was a key motivator for me to write about producers since I’ve been as much a fan of his writing and rapping as his production; the story of his come-up with his producers has been inspiring to learn so you’ll hear from more of them.

I’ll be continuing to profile more artists with roots in the South and beyond from interviews I’ve collected in the past few months so stay tuned.

Thanks for being a subscriber to my letters and reading this. Reach out if you want to say hey.

More soon,
Jane