Where I'm At

Hello, 

It has been a long few months but I have finally completed a new playlist. My attention has been drawn away for a few reasons. I am training for the New York City Marathon this November and raising money for the American Cancer Society to do so. I held a few very successful fundraisers, first for the NCAA tournament and then for the World Cup. In happy news, I was able to meet my fundraising goal of $5,000 for a wonderful cause. In not-so-great news, I was diagnosed with cancer myself a couple months ago. I had a very successful surgery about ten days ago. I am on the mend and the prognosis is excellent. It has been a whirlwind. 

So many of my favorites have released new music and I have really missed making these!

I was lucky enough to see Phoebe Bridgers perform music from her upcoming album live in early June at Madison Square Garden and the new songs are stellar. Lost Weekend comes out on Friday but I couldn’t wait and had to add the only single released so far, “Lost Boys,” to this playlist.

“Season 2 Weight Loss” from Harry Styles has had a spot on my current running playlist since Kiss All The Time. Disco, Occasionally was released earlier this year. He is such an incredible performer. Speaking of Madison Square Garden, I have tickets to see him there next month during his residency. Do we think I might be sharing the marathon course with Mr. Styles the day after his residency ends? That is my theory. 

Last weekend over cocktails one of the bartenders put on George Benson’s “Give Me The Night” and it transported me right to the skating rink. The song was produced by Quincy Jones and has Herbie Hancock on piano. So good. 

Speaking of my youth, the moment that I saw the movie Desperately Seeking Susan in high school, I made it my mission to move to New York City. “Danceteria” is an homage to the people and places that made NYC so special during that era. This is definitely my song of the summer. 

“Danceteria” made me think of other downtown NYC spots like The Mudd Club and the artists that DJs loved and Yello’s “Bostich” came to mind. 

If you have not listened to Charli XCX’s new album Music, Fashion, Film I strongly urge you to do so. I couldn’t decide which song to include because honestly, there are so many great ones. I caught her Lollapalooza performance while I was recuperating from surgery and “Card Declined” absolutely crushed it. I cannot wait to see her live myself in a few months. 

I love everything about Olivia Rodrigo: her music, her activism and her love of The Cure. I had to include her duet with Robert Smith from her new album you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love.  Beth Orton’s brilliant 1999 track “Central Reservation" is a lovely bridge to Remi Wolf’s brand new single “Twiggy.” Closing out the playlist is Bob Welch’s classic “Sentimental Lady” featuring Christine McVie and Lindsay Buckingham (who happened to replace Welch in Fleetwood Mac).

This is where I’m at these days. I have started running again as of yesterday and the marathon is still in the cards. I will have more treatment in the coming weeks as well. I hope to be back with more playlists but I am taking things one day at a time. 

Phoebe Bridgers - Lost Boys 

Harry Styles - Season 2 Weight Loss 

George Benson - Give Me the Night 

Madonna - Danceteria 

Yello - Bostich (N’Est-Ce Pas) 

Charli XCX - Card Declined 

Olivia Rodrigo, Robert Smith - what’s wrong with me 

Beth Orton - Central Reservation - The Then Again Version 

Remi Wolf - Twiggy 

Bob Welch - Sentimental Lady 

xo, 

Julie