AvidBards
Music

Music to Quarantine To Pt. 2

Throughout the pandemic, especially, creating playlists and discovering new music has been hugely helpful and cathartic for me. So in light of this, I’ve created Part 2 of my quarantine playlist (you can find Part 1 here). My hope is that maybe this playlist will help any of you who may be going through stress and anxiety right now, or who even just want to discover some new songs. So you can get in the zone, immerse yourself in your feelings, dance along, sing along, or decompress — whatever you need. Above all else, be sure to be kind to yourself.

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Reflections

Summer Playlist

Though many of my favourite artists have typically been creators coming from diverse backgrounds, lately I have been trying to make more of a conscious effort to discover more BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ voices, and discover more art created by marginalized groups in general. It’s imperative that the momentum from the #BlackLivesMatter protests and presence on social media is continued and does not die down, because we are nowhere close to being finished fighting the fight. In the continual aim of amplifying melanated voices, I’ve created a “Summer Jams” playlist on Spotify that predominantly includes songs from some incredible BIPOC and queer musical artists!

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Music

Music to Quarantine To

We can’t believe it’s already May! These last few months have been odd, to say the least, for everyone around the world. Whether you are living in a place that is currently on lockdown or have been practicing social distancing, the “new norm” that many of us are dealing with hasn’t been any easy one. I admit that even for me, though I spend all my time at home currently, some days I’m less motivated than I’ve ever felt before. Self-isolation can be incredibly anxiety-inducing, which in itself can be mentally and physically exhausting. That said, I’m feeling much more…

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Music

‘Summer Again’ Playlist

Happy Summer, everyone! We know it’s been a little while since we’ve last posted on AvidBards, and S & I sincerely apologize for that. We have had family events, road trips, and travels galore this summer, and it’s been harder than we thought it would be to keep up! Today’s post is short and sweet as we get back into the groove of our regular posting schedule. As summer’s end begins to creep up on us bittersweetly, I have created a playlist of 30 songs that I’ve been listening to on repeat during these warm months. (We did one last…

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Music

Release Radar Playlist

One of the many reasons why I’m a die hard Spotify fan is because it puts together new music for you based on your specific tastes. Using some magical algorithms that are beyond my personal understanding, there’s a playlist you can access on your account called “Release Radar“. This personalized list is based on the artists and genres you already follow, often including new or newish songs that adhere to your taste, and changes every few weeks. The amazing thing is that “Release Radar” often also includes artists that I don’t know, exposing me to different talents every time. Essentially,…

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Music

A Heavy Heart Playlist

There is something very simple, yet profoundly huge, about the power of music: it can help us heal. Even amidst the most devastating of heartbreaks, music can be an enigmatically visceral form of therapy. Listening to “break-up” songs (though of course, heartbreak can be the result of so many more things other than break ups) can be incredibly cathartic. As someone who tends to keep their emotions inside too often, listening to music is one of emotional outlets. Whatever you’re going through – romantic plights, issues with family, your job, your life, your friends, your own mental health, anything –…

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