Morocco Part 1: The Playlist
I start and grow a playlist in real time for every trip. It usually starts on the plane as just “vibes” but as the trip (and my mood) progress, I love to add, shazam and collect the tunes I hear along the way. And I must say, the fire on my MRKSH playlist might end up being the soundtrack to the inevitable “story of my life” movie.
Morocco would be my first solo trip since College, and I was indeed a bit nervous about being “the new girl” joining a co-living house where they had already bonded without me. I had just left Brazil a month before which ended in a friend-fallout I should have seen coming. The level of readiness I had in my body was way overdue, but I was fragile in my emotions. I was on FIRE to finally be able to do ME and experience the trip of my dreams on my OWN terms. But the courage to do everything I wanted to do, would only be found out once I arrived. So when I arrived, it was just me and my sacred tunes. I caught myself singing love songs in the mirror to myself and breaking down. I listened to the lyrics of my favorite artists like concrete Bible advice that would shake me out of fear of navigating the medinas of Marrakesh alone. Just me, google maps and Yukimi of Little Dragon.
Named him Timothy because he’s a Dusty Diamond (c) Little Dragon
I’ll do you-one -better in this post, and instead of writing my feeeelings on why every song meant so much to me, I invite you to listen. Listen on shuffle, in order or maybe one that hits you on repeat. That’s what I did/do. For me, music has always been a deeply personal and I feel like every song that hits me, was supposed to. Some songs I pretend were made for me, especially during times of my life when I need someone to “get me”.
I don’t think this is a particularly unique way to feel. I mean, that music’s job - to HIT! All music is made with intention to do so, and the takeaway is completely up to you, but it does require some level of understanding of the intention.
But as that friend that “needs you to understand and feel me on this” I’ll share my some of feeeelings, for a few choice favorites and I encourage you to listen to the whole thing, if so inclined.
Just remember while you enjoy, that on this trip I needed a renewed pep in my step. I needed positive-vibes-only, but I had a lot to let go of. Morocco was the place to leave it - and I’m so grateful for that gift - an opportunity to get it out, leave it there, and the only thing I had to do was let music do its job.
Love is Not Enough (Cabu Remix) - Miami Horror, Forrest Mortifee, Cabu - My theme song. A song I sang to myself countless times in the mirror - to the old me and the new me, in different breaths. When you have to be your hype-woman, it helps to have a Miami Horror Remix say exactly what it IS.
Oblivious - Mild Minds: A solid fire tune for anyone looking to get someone else’s voice out of their head. Great for the treadmill too - I be GONE!
Rush - Little Dragon: I listened to this song waking up in a tent after successfully spending the night in the Sahara Desert. It would be my first time sleeping “outside” in 30 degrees. But when I woke up WARM, boy was I in a MOOD! “…take me when I’m withered!”
What You Need (feat. Charlotte Day Wilson) - KAYTRANADA, Charlotte Day Wilson - You’ll be hard pressed to find any playlist of mine that doesn’t include KAYTRANADA. This was a 2019 song being played like it was brand new in 2022, but it reminded me of how fun I was/am and ALSO just how truly important a well-mixed and poppin remix is for your day.
Deuces - Chris Brown, Tyga, Kevin McCall - I KNOW, a TWIST! But for whatever reason, I sang this song to “the old me” real gangsta-like and meant it - I’m never going back. Look at me now, in Morocco. Deuces old me!
Where You Belong - Little Dragon: Another mirror song - “Don’t it feel like a rollercoaster ride? Big waves; bigger waves..”
Forgiveless (feat. Ol’ Dirty Bastard): Thank you SZA for dropping this whole album at the exact time I needed it. Playing this song out loud with volume, on a bluetooth speaker, had me air-nuck-if-you-buck rapping to the memory of my freshly fizzled friend. And real talk, I feel like I could do this at karaoke at this point. I felt like I wrote this song. I don’t necessarily have this “pull up” energy anymore, but BOY was this healing. RIP ODB!
I Do - Vandelux Remix - DRAMA, Vandelux: DRAMA became my favorite band after this song stayed on repeat for days of this trip. I still don’t know how she got into my dreams and said “let me write Bunny a song”. To this day, if I listen too hard, I could probably still make myself cry. The whole “finding love” thing has shaken off me, as I’ve given the Lord the full wheel on that task, but for God to work, Love would require an open heart - I know, I know.
Laws of the Universe - Toro y Moi: SUCH A SOLID MOOD BOOST! Chaz hits every-time-time-after-time!
Timothy - Little Dragon: Timothy is a dusty diamond waiting to be found and appreciated - just like me. This song is honestly a little sad, but it’s also a best friend’s encouragement to her boy. And it’s so jammy, you don’t need to cry (unless you’re me!). I ended up naming my camel Timothy. I was singing and whistling this song to him, because he was “outshining” ‘em all as we crossed deeper into the Sahara - strutting his stuff on the “big stage”. “Everybody said Oo Oo WOW!”
Manila - Maribou State: No lyrics needed, just feels. Such a tune <3
Sway Daisy - Little Dragon: Can you tell I’m a Little Dragon super fan? I heard Sway Daisy for the first time on this trip - in headphones, on a plane, by myself on my way to my dream destination. A recipe of emotions I anticipated resulting in a flight attendant tapping my shoulder to ask if I was okay. I would have blurted NOO! but thank goodness for a window seat.
This is a song I still listen to by myself but I’ll share. Enjoy my deep feels, this song is gorgeous.
Formations - Mild Minds: After Sway Daisy this is the PICK ME UP! “Put me back to togethaaa” - This is from the album MOOD, and a shift of mood is certainly achieved. A HIT, if i dare say so myself.
I hope you enjoy the tunes! I’ve come a long way and have the music to thank for being such a huge part of the guiding force of my trip. And just wait for the Kenya Playlist, that soundtrack is mostly for dancing.
Check in Wednesday 5/8 for Morocco Pt: 2 “The Desert Will Call You Back”