🗨 Don't Rock the Comments Section: A Few Bright Spots In Dark Times

What's bringing you joy and hope right now?

By Natalie

Ella Jenkins!

The darkness we’re collectively facing is so overwhelming. To try to list the catastrophes feels futile, though the violent state-sponsored detentions and kidnappings happening around the country and ongoing genocide in Gaza are (I think for most of us, at least) extra impossible to ignore — we run this newsletter because we love music and believe in its intrinsic importance, but that doesn’t mean it’s not hard to focus on in times like these.

So I figured I’d share a few things that are inspiring me in spire of it all at the moment (certainly not country-specific!), in hopes that maybe you will share in kind and we will all walk away with a little good news! Please chime in with anything that might be lightening your load :) In the meantime, check out our playlists Songs for Fighting Back and Songs for Keeping Going.

Dylan Goes Electric!: Newport, Seeger, Dylan, and the Night That Split the Sixties by Elijah Wald: Yes, I’m very belatedly reading the book that inspired A Complete Unknown (no, I have not seen the movie). I’m far from being a Dylan-head, but I’m going to see him for a second time as part of Willie’s Outlaw Festival in a couple weeks and picked up this book as part of my prep. It’s been a breezy delight so far, packed with new-to-me info that’s presented in a way that reads as pretty even-handed. 1950s New York is one of my favorite periods to learn about (see The 1959 Project) and there’s been plenty of great insight about life in the Village (and beyond) during those years in the book. If you are not a Dylan diehard (and…probably if you are?) there’s still plenty to enjoy in this one, I think. It’s definitely the kind of music writing that inspires me to dig deeper and think broader, to tell stories in less expected ways.

Musical protest: I was travelling and unable to attend a protest Saturday, but all the videos of people who were singing and playing music as part of their marching/protesting brought me so much joy (as did really any video of people protesting…). I am so inspired by people’s actions and resilience, and know that the only way forward, really, is if we all keep pushing and creating and celebrating in spite of everything.

Children’s music: My husband and I are having a baby this fall, which is inspiring enough on its own without all the possibilities of what music to play for the little one!! I’ve been making playlists/amending ones I’ve already made for other kids, but would love to know what music the kids in your life dig. I know I need to get better acquainted with the prolific Ella Jenkins (pictured above), and want to learn some good kids songs on guitar and piano! This song will definitely figure heavily:

Sound off in the comments! On good songs/things, kids music you love, or anything else!