This playlist is one of our best, in my obviously unbiased opinion, and it hasn’t gotten enough love, so I’m going to write a bit as to why you should lend me your ears and give it a listen.
We are now at that point of the year, on the East Coast, where dew begins to appear on grass shards and flower petals in the early mornings, the sun finally finds the courage to breaks through the clouds, and strolls around the city are no longer characterized by icy and grey ring two tones, but instead by those of the fourth ring. Bright, bold, and blooming, but only if you look hard enough, as we haven’t reached the full throes of spring just yet. In anticipation for this wonderful season of life and color, I look to the music, per usual, to enhance the beautiful changes happening all around us.
This time of year is deeply inspiring and invigorating - one day I wake up and notice a few new leaves on the tree branch across the street, the next day a rose, the next a tulip, so on and so forth. I like the concept of seasons, they keep you on your toes throughout the year, they put you through ups and downs depending on your preference - they are in a way the essence of life. A seasonal transition is one of the greatest indications that we are alive, that time is moving forward. For me, in the depths of winter, it can begin to feel as though I am stuck, stagnant and sedentary in the dread of the cold, but as March falls upon us, I am again reminded of the constant progression that is time. I can start to run on the west side highway again without getting pummeled by wind sent in from the Hudson, what was a four layer outfit turns into just two, and with that the music in my ears follows suit. The past few months of Tibi Track IDs, whether by means of lyricism or instrumentals, have been mostly slower and darker - this March playlist indicates a shift to accommodate and align with that which is occurring in our environment, mentally and physically.
I think I first started listening to Beach House freshman year of high school. Their album, “Depression Cherry”, had just released and I have vivid memories walking throughout my day listening to “Space Song” over and over again. It has fallen to the back of my Spotify as the playlists on which it resides are from a different time, but every now and then I find myself in a moment where my mind tells me to find it and press play. There are a handful of songs that evoke a rush of emotion like “Space Song”, a rush that feels fitting for the month of March. A blend of synthesizers, strings, and organs work in tandem to create an uplifting, ethereal melody that at the onset, the first minute of the song, will explain everything I am trying to convey. The instrumental harmonies are just one piece of the puzzle, though, as the lyrics act to quite literally, and figuratively, allow everything to “fall back into place”. I like winter because it forces me to be conscious of and grateful for the blessing that is warmer weather, warmth that for me feels as though things are falling back into place - this is March, the beginning of new beginnings.
Another song I would like to highlight is “6 Degrees” - Tale of Us Remix, by Audiofly. I struggle to remember where I stumbled upon this track, but from the moment I did life seems to have gotten better. I was digging for music for an upcoming show, looking for a closing song in particular, and knew from the first 30 seconds that I had found exactly what I was seeking. I like to close out my sets on a happy note, one that is maybe a bit more sentimental than some of the other songs played throughout the night, achieved through a slower BPM and an isolated and graceful vocal that echoes, reverberates, and lingers in the air. “6 Degrees” is the kind of song that would work on a playlist at any time of the year, it is flexible and maleable, but I chose it to represent March because, similar to its functionality as a closing track to a dj set, I see it as a beautiful opportunity to close out the winter, and usher in the affectionate and tender emotions of a charming spring season.
I heard from a friend that they have been using our Tibi playlists for their dinner parties and intimate gatherings amongst loved ones, and it’s anecdotes like these that are why we create a playlist each month. These tracks are a look into Tibi, its people, what we are listening to and how we are feeling, and the privilege to create some sort of resonance with our followers through the medium of sound is one that is not lost on us. I’d love to hear more about how you use these playlists throughout your everyday life… and I hope you enjoy this March curation, it’s a deep and passionate one.