aqua season
new season, new playlist + an ode to ALT
as we transition from the sun in capricorn to aquarius, i’m excited to introduce you all to the second phase of my astro playlist series. if you’ve been on this journey with me since last year, you may recall that we kicked off the series with an aquarius playlist, followed by a specially curated Black aquarians mix.
this year, it’s a similar yet different vibe and it’s not really defined at the present moment besides this: i’m mentally translating how i feel about the associated style and aesthetics of each sign into this next set of monthly playlists.
here’s the latest aqua season playlist for your listening pleasure <3
(apple music)
also, i *finally* feel somewhat settled after moving last fall, so look forward to me diving back into my record collection with more anniversary posts. i’m adding music anniversaries to the calendar as we speak. yet, i’m constantly reminding myself that it doesn’t always have to be *that* curated, so the revisits may just be based on my mood. perhaps as simple as revisiting something my inner child/teen needed to hear.
last but not least, today’s post wouldn’t be right without an ode to André Leon Talley — the world lost a major fashion giant this week. if you grew up Black and into fashion, then you knew ALT was like a fabulous godfather to us all — a Southern Black gay icon if there ever was one. he was our access to that world and documented fashion in such a poignant way. he walked a long, arduous (often thankless) road, so Black fashion & culture commentators could run today.
ALT inevitably paid the hefty price that comes with asking others to view one and one’s culture/perspective as something worthy of being in the likes of Vogue. though we didn’t need the validation (as we are inherently worthy), his efforts are not in vain.
i watched his documentary, The Gospel According to André, within the last couple of years and i was intrigued by the story of this complex, genius human being — i witnessed the vulnerability, the courage, the strength, the personal sacrifice. i left the documentary feeling that he deserved better — and perhaps he knew it — but also, he was just so grateful to be invited to the ~party~ that he continued to show up and dazzle, despite how difficult it might have been.
i highly recommend giving the film a watch to understand ALT’s legacy from his own perspective. rest well, Mr. Talley.