07.29 ~ here in my car
In which Colleen admits to half-living in her car and, is yet again, listening to songs about yearning
Hi petals - it’s been a minute! This is Colleen, Slumber Mag’s Content & Social Editor. In the height of summer, at any age, I see the car as the haven, the vessel to freedom and fun. For many summers, I sat in the backseat of the family mini-van with my CD players and headphones that wrapped around behind the head, watching landscapes pass by, and letting CD mixes my friends made me during the school year lull me to sleep.
Living in Los Angeles, your car is pretty much an extension of you. It’s your safety bubble, even amidst the cost of gas prices and built-up traffic. Though it feels like summer every day here, this year after being spending the past two summer tentatively leaving my shell, I made it a point to allow myself some grace and an actual taste of summer. I have kept a spare set of clothes and sneakers in my car, along with a picnic blanket in case I want to post up somewhere on a whim. I look forward to 30-minute drives to visit my family, the 10-minute commute to the office to say hi to co-workers, an hour to bring myself to a more private isolated beach, or a few hours with buds to the mountains. I look forward to quick escapes more and more, not to avoid anything, but to remind myself to feel joy in myself, quiet, and rest. I love my car.
But last week, in the sharpest twist of irony: after fifteen years of driving the same car, I got in a fender bender driving on a route I travel frequently, and the car is now totaled. I found myself a little distraught as I cleaned out the items that I kept on-hand to accommodate my mini-vacations and relics that accrued in there for half of my life.
I know not everyone has access to a vehicle of their own, but as we’re getting into the second half of the season – the season of sun and discovery – let’s set an intention of taking a mental and/or physical vacation. And on your quiet physic beach of meditation or sip on that Aperol spritz you deserve so much…let these tracks shape and guide your mood.
❀ On Repeat ❀
Note: These are only a few selections so be sure to check out our entire Right Now playlist which is curated every other week by our team.
“Born 2 Love” - Fime
I’ve said it before and will say it again, Fime is my favorite band. The LA-based quartet is comprised some of the sweetest folks in the area and just released their album, Sweeter Memory, earlier this month.
For driving: with the windows down on the 110 Freeway, screaming along to grandiose lines of sweet affection.
“Ghost On” - Angel Olsen
With every album that Angel Olsen releases, I’m in a new era of my life.
For driving: with some tears in your eyes and with a tight grip on the steering wheel.
“Bad Habit” - Stevy Lacy
“I wish I knew you wanted me...”
For driving: when you’re down bad and overthinking .
❀ icymi ❀
Take in the scenes and sounds of a day in the studio with BC’s Babe Corner. The warmth and kinship radiates through the images and scenes of the band working through music, playing around, and rocking friends’ jewelry designs.
In a time when I was in fact stuck at home and convalescing from my first bout of COVID, watching and looking through these images felt like the times I hang out with my best buds, makings things, giggling at our very specific jokes, and feeding off energies.
thanks so much for reading. leave a comment or hit us up on twitter your favorite songs of the summer thus far.
stay safe, friends
xx -c