The Ongoing “Now” Playlist
December 4, 2024
Writer: Talya Appelbaum
Editor: Liv Bennis
Every so often, I create a playlist that I simply title "Now." It’s a collection of my current favorite songs all in one place; a playlist I use until I tire of it. If you look at my spotify profile you will find at least four “Now” playlists from completely different eras of my life. But that’s exactly what the “Now” playlist has become: an ongoing musical snapshot of my mood, my experiences, and even the changing seasons of my life.
Looking at my current “Now” playlist, I can begin to trace my personal evolution over the past few months. While listening, I not only hear the songs I love right now, but I hear how I’ve grown, how the weather has changed, and how my world has felt at different points in time.
I listened to one of the first songs on the playlist,“Homesick” by Noah Kahan, one I added a few months ago and kept replaying. I remember it was September and it had just dropped from 80 degree weather to low 70s; The leaves were becoming colorful. I played it on repeat as I walked to my first few classes or as I went for long walks around the neighborhood.
But then I listened to a more recent add: “You Can’t Hurry Love” by Olivia Dean. Now, it’s November, and I blast this in my airpods as I face the 40 degree weather. I can’t seem to get enough of this song; I listen to it getting ready for class, during a workout, or even while I’m doing homework. It’s that upbeat burst of optimism I find myself reaching for as finals approach.
This is the beauty of the “Now” playlist: though it’s meant to reflect the present moment, it often ends up reflecting growth and change. It is a collection that exists in flux -revealing that life isn’t static, but fluid. The “Now” playlist is really a celebration of how the present moment is always in motion. We are constantly adapting and evolving, and that is a beautiful thing music can capture.
What started as an impulsive creation is now an ongoing register of my life. It’s an audio diary of random songs you love or ones that your best friend showed you. It’s the soundtrack to who you are becoming. Each song marks a point in time, a feeling, or a phase, and that fluidity is what makes it truly personal.
Image: Chloe Sinel
