At my grandma's birthday, my aunt had speakers playing a CD from a player in the corner. Reclining on the sofa, I fondled the Enya's 1988 Watermark jewel case and remarked abruptly:
'Oh, this one has 'Exile' on it, that's a great song!'
She turned to me whilst placing the roast on the table;
'What? I don't know the song names. Back in my day, we didn't just play one song, we knew it for the whole album!'
I looked up a bit embarrassed. I knew
Exile and maybe two others on that album very well, but I didn't know the less bombastic songs, because I knew I usually avoided clicking on them if I perused
Enya's profile on Spotify. But in that moment, some gears in my head started turning.
I realised then and there, that wanted to respect the great musicians effort to make entire albums in order to be listened to as a whole artistic piece.
Real musicians wouldn't make music thinking it needed to exist like some one one hit track on repeat, but unfortunately this is the idea which Spotify perpetuates with showing the stats for most played songs as the first thing on every artist's profile. This is what the state of music in 2025 is like.
I believe sometimes actually, the popular songs at the top may distract you from clicking (in Spotify) on lesser known - but often equally golden - tracks. In short, I don't always agree with what the mainstream listeners choose to click on in Spotify.
I am putting two and two together now to recognise my desire for something somewhat related to the 'slow movement'. I don't care enough to Google what 'slow' culture exactly means, but its easy to see what it is! It means that playing a whole album (yes even those weird or 'slow' songs).
It wires your brain to be more at peace, less hoppity-boppity-over-the-toppity. This means enjoying the less grandiose 'banger' sorta songs which don't top charts. I admit, sometimes the modest songs are the ones you may get a bit restless or irritated by and they may be sometimes 'boring'.
But woah, wait a second! Do what psychologists charge heaps of money to do, and take a step back from that feeling and recognise it...
Just how much of that 'boredom' is because I've been trained by society (social media) to bop on instant gratification? To never just be content with the present moment?
I have no doubt the rise in ADHD diagnoses is totally associated with how modern society emphasises instant gratification. I heard a study that children who don't learn to sit with 'boredom' develop that. I'm not pulling it outta' my ass.
Just type any artist and you are told what their supposed 'best' song is on Spotify, and can have it playing in a few second.
Yet because of the ease and accessibility of Spotify, I've noticed more and more trash artists popping up in that one area for suggested songs. Despite my best efforts every day to curate a class algorithm on that app, the sponsored content which infiltrates that space nearly always abrasive party music or tactless and slutty. (I'm the opposite of a slut so I don't wanna see it, thanks~) My daily listening to Susumu Hirasawa and Florence + The Machine somehow isn't enough to fight the constant trash...
Lets take for example 'phonk' genre singles posted to Spotify. These emphasise a big issue. Phonk is a somewhat recent electronic music style that is very aggressive and bouncy music made for going to the gym. Every song is barely a spurt one minute, but is thrilling and explosive. They often tell me an artist I liked (back when I listened to obnoxious EDM, a long time ago now) has released a new 'single.'
But the 'phonk' genre single dropping is kinda gross. They are not willing to work hard enough to craft something magical through working towards a real album. They make up shamelessly AI generated album art (disgusting) and often cryptically advertise their socials in their bio, all adding to the tactless and lame vibe these people exude.
But lets not focus on stupid music anymore, I unfollowed most of those nobodies. Instead, I want to mention how not so weirdly my recent interest in retro media from my childhood, such as CDs and DVDs, directly overlaps how took the plunge to completely quit social media.
I don't really know how to assess it, but I just felt an unreal satisfaction from using something bought decade(s) ago. We own countless DVDs like Fantasia 2000 and Mulan. I loved being able to plop on a Disney DVD's to watch with my daughter. Haha, Instead of squeezing the life/money outta' me paying for with streaming, I can just enjoy a classic movie my parents purchased back around 2003 or something.
When I asked for them, my dad offered to 'lend' me all his music CDs, codename for: just giving them to me. He has way more than what is photographed below. It's not even fully nostalgia driving me, its just music and it's lifestyle driven.
Its pretty evident the more I can get away screens, deconstructing the everyday addictions to mindlessly 'bop' on whatever Spotify tells me to do, that I'll be happier and have better mental clarity.
I impulse bought two Susumu Hirasawa CD's off of Amazon Australia just over an hour ago!
But is it really 'impulse buying' if I have been such a massive fan for eons?
He is legendary and totally the money I spent.
Which leads me to say, I can't wait to play these two Hirasawa albums - from start to finish - from speakers in my new home when I've moved in in November.
Yep, I'm moving into a new home of my own with my baby daughter! It's a task for the month of November, not exactly right now.
The moment I quit social media, my head suddenly felt so clear. I felt empowered to take control of my own life. Choosing how I spend my time and how I enjoy music.
I suddenly realised all this seemingly outdated tech in family's garage will serve a super economical purpose in my daughter and my new home. Is it slow culture? Or is just fighting a consumerist hellscape, with meaningful intent?
I don't even know how to rationalise my growing interest in collecting CDs and DVDs...
It's just fun!
