drop no.4 ~ july 2023
A short drop to round off a busy month, featuring 2/4 short poems written for my little cousin, who turns 4 next month.
I’ve been trying to carve out moments to rest and create whenever I can this past month. Unfortunately, it often descends into hours of just scrolling through Instagram Reels watching and retaining nothing in particular. All that wasted time is something I need to work on and something I should reflect on, but not today. In 2 weeks, the production of the theatre company I’m working at now will be over, and until then, I’m going to do what I can to make sure it’s a success.
My little cousin turns 4 next month. Since her first birthday, I’ve been writing a short poem for her every year. I plan to keep writing one every year, and eventually present her with a compilation (maybe for her 10th birthday). Here are the first and most recent poems I wrote for her (find more here):
little girl just over one when did you learn to get what you want all you'd have to do is smile? smile and you'd want for none little girl now you're four I still remember when you could barely walk but now you run so fast unafraid to fall
In the comment section of my last drop, Mo gave me an idea to name my monthly column of 3 music recommendations. Presenting 3 albums I listened to recently and loved, henceforth to be known as…
{ 3 drops of golden sound }
Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) by Taylor Swift
(favourite track: Never Grow Up)
Speak Now and Red hold a special place in my heart because I had both albums on CD and always made my dad have them on rotation in the car ride to school every day. Taylor Swift inspired me to start writing my own songs and to this day, she continues to enchant me with her lyrics. I think it’s sad that some people still associate her with breakup songs when some of her most emotional songs are the ones she writes about her family or from the perspective of a parent. “Never Grow Up” is one of those songs: have a listen, get transported to the time you first moved away from home, shed some overdue cathartic tears about it, and then listen to the rest of the album.
Update: I’ve covered this song on YouTube. 🎻
Woman on the Internet by Orla Gartland
(favourite track: More Like You)
My first exposure to Orla Gartland was probably through the Netflix series Heartstopper. She has since become one of the artistes I constantly have on repeat. The lyrics in this song relate back to my sentiments at the beginning of this drop about spending too much time scrolling on social media - “Oh, I know that I’ve been flirting with the enemy, but please don’t be so perfect right in front of me. Oh, I think of all the things that I will never be. Tell me how, tell me how to be more like you.”
NonaRia by NonaRia
(favourite track: Hari Bahagia)
Something about the way this album is mixed makes it sound like it was recorded in the 20’s, even though in reality it was released almost a century later in 2018. This track (“Happy Day” in Indonesian) has ensemble moments reminiscent of Duke Ellington’s orchestra and quotes “Mister Sandman”. I don’t know much about this old-timey Indonesian jazz band except that the violinist is sadly no longer a part of their lineup. Regardless, I love their sound and I hope they don’t stop making music.
If you’ve made it this far, thank you for reading and see you again at the end of next month! Here’s a picture of my little cousin giving off main character energy.
LoL,
rae
I’m so with you on Taylor!!! People assume she’s not the incredible artist she is. She inspires me as a writer too!!!!