THIS MIXTAPE IS A SONIC SNAPSHOT OF WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO BE LOOKING FOR LOVE, REMEMBERING LOVE, OR FIGURING OUT IF IT WAS LOVE AT ALL. S/O TO THE RE-LIVING SINGLE PODCAST — NOT JUST A REWATCH BUT A WHOLE REFLECTION SPACE. IT’S BEEN GIVING BOTH LAUGHS AND LIFE LESSONS, AND THIS MIXTAPE CAME TOGETHER WHILE I WAS LIVING (AND RE-LIVING) SOME OF MY OWN CYCLES.
IT STARTS WHEN YOU FIND YOURSELF STARING AT THE CEILING WONDERING HOW THEY COULD SLEEP SO EASILY WHILE YOU’RE STILL THINKING ABOUT IT. THAT'S THE ENERGY OF CARAMEL SLEEP — WHERE SAM SMITH’S “HOW DO YOU SLEEP” BLENDS INTO THE SMOULDER OF CITY HIGH’S “CARAMEL,” FOR THOSE SUGAR-SWEET MEMORIES THAT STILL STING.
TALKTALK, THAT PLACE WHERE THE CONVERSATION ENDED BUT THE QUESTIONS DIDN’T. ARIANA GRANDE'S UNRELEASED “COMMUNICATE” SLIDES INTO BIG SEAN’S “RESEARCH,” WHERE CLOSURE ISN’T ALWAYS A CONVERSATION — SOMETIMES IT’S A LOOP YOU CAN’T BREAK. WHEN LOVE IS REALLY JUST A GHOST IN A SHELL, THAT’S SOFT LOVE — SABRINA CARPENTER’S “ALMOST LOVE” MELTING INTO JMSN’S “SOFT SPOT.” IT’S THE SOUND OF GIVING YOUR ALL, EVEN WHEN YOU’RE NOT SURE WHAT YOU’RE GETTING BACK.
ROMEO, STAY - LIVES IN THAT WHISPERED “PLEASE DON’T LEAVE” — DOVE CAMERON’S LONGING MEETS THE UNSTEADY GRAVITY OF ZEDD AND ALESSIA CARA’S “STAY.” IT’S DESPERATE, BEAUTIFUL, AND A LITTLE BIT LATE. BAD BREAKUP IS THE SNAP WHEN THE FAIRYTALE CRACKS. SAM HUNT’S “BREAK UP IN A SMALL TOWN” COLLIDES WITH ARIANA’S “BAD IDEA,” FOR THOSE POST-LOVE MOMENTS WHERE YOU PRETEND YOU'RE OKAY… LOUDLY.
BUT JUST WHEN YOU THINK YOU’VE MOVED ON, YOU’RE BACK WITH CARE BOUT MY SLEEP — A REFLIP OF “CARAMEL” AND “HOW DO YOU SLEEP,” BECAUSE IT TURNS OUT YOU STILL CARE. JUST NOT ENOUGH TO TEXT FIRST. MAYBE.
THE NIGHT TURNS UP WITH BANDS A [MAKE ME] DANCE, BRITNEY AND JUICY J MAKE IT CLEAR: SOMETIMES THE ONLY WAY THROUGH A BROKEN HEART IS A DANCE FLOOR, A DRINK, AND A LITTLE DENIAL IN HIGH DEFINITION. WANANEDME CARRIES THAT SWITCH-UP ENERGY — DUA LIPA WANTS TO, RIHANNA NEEDS TO, AND YOU’RE CAUGHT IN THE CROSSHAIRS OF WANTING TO BE WANTED AND NEEDING TO BE NEEDED.
AND FINALLY, THERE’S MAKE MY LIFE, WHERE ARIANA’S “PAST LIFE” MEETS BRITNEY’S “MAKE ME.” IT’S A LOVE LETTER TO THE VERSION OF YOU THAT THOUGHT YOU HAD IT ALL FIGURED OUT — AND A HUG TO THE YOU THAT’S STILL WORKING THROUGH IT.
IF ANY TRACK DISAPPEARS OFF SOUNDCLOUD, YOU CAN PROBABLY CATCH IT ON MY TIKTOK OR YOUTUBE — AND HONESTLY, I MIGHT JUST DROP THE WHOLE MIXTAPE THERE LIKE I DID WITH BRITNEY AND USHER. THESE SONGS WORK TOO WELL TO STAY HIDDEN. WE’RE STILL UPLOADING. STILL HEALING. STILL LOOKING FOR LOVE. STILL RE-LIVING THE SINGLE CYCLE.
