Braving 24 to Songs in the Key of Me.
Issue 024: A treat for Toni's solar return
Last month, I attended an art therapy event for Pride Month, and the themes were resilience and growth. I’ve been exploring these two abilities and how much of a privilege it is to see how they manifest in our lives through experiences, whether savory or not. I’m constantly shedding, and while a sense of visceral distaste may follow as the dead skin I once embodied dissolves, it’s also beautiful.
Resilience isn’t only the capacity to bounce back; for me, I believe it speaks to something bigger, a resolute faith that I possess.
Now that my stride around this planet as a 23-year-old has ended, I can confirm that the battles that come with that age are not easily won. This faith has carried me through all obstacles, screaming, kicking, snot bubble crying—you name it. But I feel more equipped for the unknown. Everything has its own funny way of working out.
I’m *actually* learning how to trust the process.
By the ripe age of 23, I’ve lived many lives, which has made adulthood quite awkward. There’s no real measure for how mature a human should be at that time, and while I love how conscientious I am, I definitely feel like I should be taking more risks. Not risks that put myself in danger for the sake of thrill seeking (been there), but risks that allow me to embrace childlike wonder as well as the wonder of maturity, to feel genuine joy. Lasting joy and joy that feels naturally present and deserving.
24 is all about spontaneity, relaxation, love, speaking my mind, and caring for myself healthily and without restraint. And documenting this odyssey. May the tenderness of being known and acknowledged consume me through my eyes and mine only.
Music continues to fuel me in a way most things cannot, and while these days I’m steadily lethargic and full of dread, there are a handful of songs that can bring me back to a space where I can recognize my faith has never left. For my birthday, here’s a selection of songs from my summer soundtrack that continue to change my days for the better:
The sonic equivalent of being cradled, right here in this tune. “Neon Valley Street” is about sending happiness during a time of strife and oppression; its purpose echoes our realities and achieves the desired effect: a moment of reprieve.
Forever knowing the catastrophic violence that has plagued my bloodline, this is a sweet dedication to a new birth, another soul descended from the Motherland. Incredibly moving and harmonious. Cherish ancestors and invoke divine protection on generations to come.
This twist of Lou Rawls’ classic reminds me of reggae-filled days as a child between America and Antigua: rhythmically tapping my feet on the floor, my fingers on the sides of my thighs. The feeling of the sun on your face with closed eyes. The breeze from riding in the back of a pickup, sandy feet in flip-flops in the car after a beach day. The heat of a Dairy Queen’s parking lot while waiting for an ice cream order to be ready. It all carries the warmth of my youth.
Super on the nose, I know, but this song makes me feel airy and at one with the wind. It reminds me of how a love that’s right for you feels. Totally up to the cosmos, it remains confident and reliable in your body because it cannot miss you.
I love songs that build. It’s fun to hear artists play around and find what works. This is a jam session that’s very satisfying to me as a creative being, and it scratches an itch in my brain.
“Summer Soft” invites patience. You know that bittersweet feeling when you’ve waited so long for something and then once it arrives, it’s over in the blink of an eye? Yeah, Stevie’s gonna press into that wound, but a lesson is learned: be present and enjoy the moment, even if it’s fleeting.
“There ain't no competition. When you trust intuition, you win.”
Simple! C’mon mantra! And more guided by gorgeous vocals and production.
‘Tis the season of soft rock vibes. Clever lyricism and smooth execution in this hidden gem. It reflects our collective confusion in such trying times with a firm stance, but simultaneously delivers it with a remarkable gentleness.
You can really see how much power a song holds when there are no lyrics. I find this instrumental to be hypnotic; it could play on a loop forever, and I wouldn’t feel the need to do anything, but just be.
During my childhood, I was a Ray Charles fanatic due to the famed 2004 biopic of his life. I was a cultured baby! This resulted in me knowing a good chunk of his discography by heart, followed by unruled shimmying and impromptu performances. I absolutely adore the bridge of this song and everything after; it gets you on your feet, and what good is a summer without the pleasure of dancing?
Breathtaking. I could gush about this song all day, but nothing delivers the message better than the source itself. Treat yourself and turn this one up.
Every millisecond of aging isn’t blissful, but it’s all a blessing, no doubt. Wishing the happiest birthday to myself and a new birth year bursting at the seams with vibrancy. While I celebrate, all of you please, savour this Sunday!