Why?

Fo those that open this email, it might surprise you that I’m doing this. A newsletter? Really? Yes, really. I’ve been doing research into things I can make for people during the months of writing, recording, editing, re-recording, performing, art design, mixing & mastering, and THEN the 6-8 week runway Spotify & Apple recommend giving your releases to make sure everything is cleared for release by the target date.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not complaining about that process. I love it. That’s why I’m living with my parents trying to make it work. However, I realize that you all have busy lives & are constantly inundated with great content from every angle. Whether it’s Taylor’s Eras Tour, the new season of The Witcher, or whatever just blew up on TikTok while you were reading this, waiting around for me to figure out my next release isn’t how we connect with each other. This is me connecting with you all much more regularly through the medium I understand best: music.

This will be a space where I share the music that has been on my mind for the past week, and maybe introduce something new to some of you who read this. I will post every week. Every Tuesday evening.

So, with the prologue out of the way, let’s get into it!

1. “I Don’t Trust Myself” by John Mayer

The first ever song I’m talking about here, surprising almost no one, is a John Mayer song. However, this is a song I just discovered a couple days ago. I had never listened to Continuum in it’s entirety before then, which is blasphemous for a self proclaimed Mayer fanatic. It sets up a perfect vibe, arguably better than “Vultures,” with the different filters put on different guitar parts. Bonus: there’s no vocal harmony in the choruses. That’s his guitar that was manipulated to sound, somehow, exactly like John’s voice.

2. “Traveller” by Chris Stapleton

This isn’t my favorite Chris song. It might not even be in my top 10. But every time I’ve gotten in my car this week, this is the song I’ve been turning on. The first line of the chorus is “I’m just a traveller on this Earth,” and that’s how I’ve been feeling lately. I’m just trying to figure out best way to pass my time on the trip.

3. “The Way” by Meshell Ndegéocello

I was first introduced to this song by the YouTube channel Scott’s Bass Lessons. Unsurprisingly, he was singing the praises of this understated & undeniable groove. Meshell doesn’t get the love she deserves as a songwriter, bassist, or genre defining artist. “Neo-soul” didn’t really exist before she started releasing records that ignored the genre boundaries that existed in the ‘90s. It’s style of music I can’t write, and it fascinates me to listen to a genius and try to figure out how they did it.

4. “Everywhere” by Fleetwood Mac

This song plays multiple times a day during my bartending shifts, and I don’t get tired of it. Maybe it will eventually, but it’s been 5 days a week for the last 2 months, so I think it’s unlikely. A lot of the sounds they decided to go with haven’t stood the test of time all that well (those chimey keys in the intro, for example), but the choruses just hit in the chillest, vibey-est way I’ve heard. The reverb on the harmony stacks are absolutely beautiful, and are contrasted with the short percussiveness of the band.

5. “Running Out Of Time” by Paramore

Speaking of Meshell Ndegeocello not getting the credit she deserves, I don’t think this absolute banger song exists without her innovation almost 30 years ago. The strange bass part accentuating the slightly untethered feel of the verses is a new-wave version of a neo-soul bass line. Saying that, the brilliance of one the greatest bands of this century shouldn’t go overlooked. Paramore has never sounded more like they share the same brain than on this record. And Hayley is still a vocal phenom.

Well, that’s that! The first Music On My Mind Newsletter, all wrapped up. Thank you for reading this far, and I’ll see you next week!

Yours truly,

Nolan

Link to Spotify playlist of featured music: