Hey all! Wanted to post an update here since it’s been well a few years maybe? I’ve been absorbed in a number of things, unsurprising things we all deal with. And I’m doing well is maybe the main thing for those who don’t follow my socials (or even those who do, I’ve been deeply inactive on mostly all of them).
Regardless, I’m working up my next book, I expect to see it wrapped up this year in the Fall, launch early 2027. That’s the current goal, I don’t really want to say much else about it. I am very excited to share it with the world once it’s done, and easily is panning out to be my favorite, most challenging project.
In the meantime, I wanted to find a new way to be productive. Something light, inspirational in a way that isn’t too demanding. And then, Monday morning, I saw another bland Spotify Discovery Weekly. And I was subject to more bland music recommendations. And all my YouTube recommendations led me to the same tailor-made rabbit holes they think I want to drift down. The rabbit holes manufactured for me to drift down. Well I was tired of it. I like things that aren’t made for me, or rather I like knowing they exist. A digital world tailored for no one.
I unexpectedly spurred the idea after watching the Mario Movie. My thoughts reflect Toad’s sentiment in the movie: Oh great, Yoshi’s here. And while I am certain they sold a ton of Yoshi merch to the kids, and I am also a devoted Childish Gambino fan (Donald Glover’s musical pseudonym, and voice actor for limited acting range character Yoshi). Tangents aside, the movie to me was bad. But clearly it wasn’t targeted at me. It was at the families, the parents, the children. Not the single, mid-20’s gen-z audience looking for a more well-written, riveting emotional punch from their favorite childhood plumber. Not a lot to choose from, I’m realizing. Maybe the dad from Good Luck Charlie?
Look, point is, that movie was not for me, as many movies are. And instead of not watching it, I think it’s cool TO watch these things. To not just be spoon-fed algorithmically picked-out slop to keep your attention on apps for hours on end. It’s cool to consume media that is thoughtfully picked out by a person with a perspective, with meaning that isn’t to cater to your every whim.
No Algorithms. My new Spotify playlist that I’ll be updating every other week, tailor picked by my musical interest gathered over the last decade-plus of my continued interest in learning new artists, genres and songwriting. Feel free to follow if you want to start listening to music that isn’t made for you. That isn’t personalized by some omniscient algorithm that knows far too much about you. But 1 person, hand-selecting music and trying to make a cohesive setlist for a new experience in music, to discover new artists or to find those songs that aren’t made for you.
Thank you for reading as always. I don’t know if I’ll be active on this blog beyond announcements like this. I may make a few more about this playlist, maybe a throughline I find in making on of these playlist updates. But otherwise, I hope to reconnect later this year with a new book announcement, again really can’t wait to get this one under wraps. Many years of thought have gone into planning, many different iterations on some aspects, and some I’ve been so proud and patient with that I can’t wait to release with this new
Plate of Soup 