When you hear the name Emily Cavanah, what do you think of? In fact, don't answer that. Perhaps it'd be preferable if you left your snipes to yourself, but one thing I think my mates would all collectively agree on is...
that I have a banging taste in music.
To some extent, yes, my music taste is "performative", contrived, and somewhat people-pleasing. You see, I genuinely like so many genres, which means I consider my superpower to be the ability to read the room and read it well. I know how to expertly gear my music towards any circumstance, and I think people honestly respect and enjoy my slightly eclectic, sometimes obscure, yet always banging tunes. I take muchos pride in being the designated aux chord friend. I'd say curating playlists is one of my biggest hobbies; I'm constantly adding and shuffling and revising my playlists in the name of musical and emotional precision. So I thought I would share some of my favourites with you.
Wakey Wakey Eggs n Get Up
The playlist that takes no prisoners. Listen to this to navigate your mornings with energy, empowerment, and excitement. We begin with New Order's Blue Monday, weave our way into ACDC's Back in Black, quick pit-stop at The Libertines, moving swiftly onward to Public Image Ltd, followed by nothing other than Blur's Parklife. Be warned, this is not a playlist for the light hearted. This is full blown expulsion from your bed. No tweeting birds to be found within this one. Just hardcore sounds for even the most unwakeable sleepy heads.
The Coffee's Hot
This playlist is an alternative to the harsh and brassy 'wakey wakey eggs n get up'. Overflowing with indie, folk and jazz, this playlist provides the perfect underscore to your daily toast buttering, coffee brewing, and sleepy eye rubbing. Notable tracks include: Girl From Mars by Ash, America's A Horse With No Name, numerous songs from The Beatles, The Cure, The The - and, naturally, a sprinkling of Belle & Sebastian and Cat Stevens. My favourite way to start the day in an easy-going, yet productive manner.
The Sad Movie Montage
This playlist is more than your usual playlist of generic 'sad songs'. The requirements for this playlist pertain to more than just a minor key. 'The Sad Movie Montage' embodies the cinematic bittersweetness so commonly found in my favourite films - those being the great Hollywood classics or any rom com circa 2004. This playlist masters the concept of stillness and isolation (when the world seems oblivious to your sorrow, or as Frank Sinatra would say: the time When No One Cares). Highlights include Milburn's What You Could've Won, Billie Holliday's I'll Be Seeing You, Blue of Joni Mitchell fame, and conclusively Ben Fold's entire discography. This also includes my favourite song of all time (subject to change) which is LCD Soundsystem's New York I Love You, But You're Bringing Me Down - 5 minutes and 35 seconds that express your inner disillusionment and bitter disappointment at reality.
Smoking Kills
Imagine: you are in Paris. The year? Indiscernible. But definitively the distant, smoggy past. A black coffee (thanks to Sarah Vaughan) on the cafe table in front of you. A gin on the rocks in one hand. A poetry manuscript of some depressive artist in the other. Smoking a cigarette with Nina Simone herself. This playlist has the capacity to transport me to that very place with the musical stylings of Etta James, Hugh Laurie, Portishead, Otis Redding, and Eartha Kitt. The dark sensuousness of jazz, blues, and French swing creates an antithesis of romance and cynicism. You will leave this playlist whole-heartedly believing no one will ever understand you quite like Nina Simone. I would argue you were right.
FunksnRoundabouts
Turns out, I like funk music. Like, a lot. This playlist was initially titled "swingsnroundabouts" as it initially contained a lot of swing before funk usurped the playlist, but I've recently been told (rather forcefully might I add) that "FunksnRoundabouts" was a far superior title. Make up your own mind. I don't really have much more to say than this is a great playlist if you're feeling suave - the sun shining on your face and unlimited pep in your step. Funk music makes you feel utterly unstoppable, thus, do not stop and continue to bop!
Walking Through Johns
This certainly is not my main "indie" playlist (see: Dad Music); however, I think this playlist perfectly encapsulates the morning rush of running around campus always five minutes late to my next supervision with the energetic sounds of The Clash, The Cribs, and David Bowie. Think I Am The Resurrection meets Men's Needs meets Here Comes Your Man meets A Certain Romance (or From Ritz to Rubble - I can never decide my preference) meets Oasis' (What's the Story) Morning Glory in its entirety. If you have ever witnessed me dancing through Second Court clearly exceedingly late to a seminar, now you know why.
DIY Wednesday Cindies
My most followed playlist and for good reason. I must confess that The Smiths is slightly more my style than AJ Tracey and Dave. This said, this playlist covers all ground of John's bar at Cindies with Drake, Aitch, Jme, Kanye, Skepta, and so on. If you are craving your Wednesday Cindies fix, revisit the nostalgia of Arizona Zervas' ROXANNE being played eight times an hour. Feel free to give this one a listen - unless you don't go to John's, of course. Then you're not allowed in.
The Triad of Crush/Defy/Biotch
My playlists for unapologetic pop, hype trap, and glamorous throwback tunes ranging from the 60s to y2K. The ultimate soundtrack for getting ready and feeling fierce. Each with their own spin on the iconic feminine protagonist. Do I love boys? Do I hate boys? You'll never know. This is what we call range, ladies and gentleman. Muchos recommend for those looking for iconic girly girl tracks to sing into your hairbrush. XOXO
Vacation/Summer
We all know someone who thinks liking 80s music is a personality trait. That's me. I'm someone. Nice to meet you. These two playlists encapsulate the authentic British holiday experience. The soundtrack of "hi mum, can you put suncream on my back?". The playlist 'Summer''s energy is so immersive, it could practically barbecue your burgers with its 80s synth beats, sunny Reggae jams, and the nostalgic, saccharine pop of the 2000s, whereas 'Vacation' is the ultimate sunbathing playlist. Your life feels all-inclusive just to listening to it.
Wakey Wakey Eggs n Get Up
The playlist that takes no prisoners. Listen to this to navigate your mornings with energy, empowerment, and excitement. We begin with New Order's Blue Monday, weave our way into ACDC's Back in Black, quick pit-stop at The Libertines, moving swiftly onward to Public Image Ltd, followed by nothing other than Blur's Parklife. Be warned, this is not a playlist for the light hearted. This is full blown expulsion from your bed. No tweeting birds to be found within this one. Just hardcore sounds for even the most unwakeable sleepy heads.
The Coffee's Hot
This playlist is an alternative to the harsh and brassy 'wakey wakey eggs n get up'. Overflowing with indie, folk and jazz, this playlist provides the perfect underscore to your daily toast buttering, coffee brewing, and sleepy eye rubbing. Notable tracks include: Girl From Mars by Ash, America's A Horse With No Name, numerous songs from The Beatles, The Cure, The The - and, naturally, a sprinkling of Belle & Sebastian and Cat Stevens. My favourite way to start the day in an easy-going, yet productive manner.
The Sad Movie Montage
This playlist is more than your usual playlist of generic 'sad songs'. The requirements for this playlist pertain to more than just a minor key. 'The Sad Movie Montage' embodies the cinematic bittersweetness so commonly found in my favourite films - those being the great Hollywood classics or any rom com circa 2004. This playlist masters the concept of stillness and isolation (when the world seems oblivious to your sorrow, or as Frank Sinatra would say: the time When No One Cares). Highlights include Milburn's What You Could've Won, Billie Holliday's I'll Be Seeing You, Blue of Joni Mitchell fame, and conclusively Ben Fold's entire discography. This also includes my favourite song of all time (subject to change) which is LCD Soundsystem's New York I Love You, But You're Bringing Me Down - 5 minutes and 35 seconds that express your inner disillusionment and bitter disappointment at reality.
Smoking Kills
Imagine: you are in Paris. The year? Indiscernible. But definitively the distant, smoggy past. A black coffee (thanks to Sarah Vaughan) on the cafe table in front of you. A gin on the rocks in one hand. A poetry manuscript of some depressive artist in the other. Smoking a cigarette with Nina Simone herself. This playlist has the capacity to transport me to that very place with the musical stylings of Etta James, Hugh Laurie, Portishead, Otis Redding, and Eartha Kitt. The dark sensuousness of jazz, blues, and French swing creates an antithesis of romance and cynicism. You will leave this playlist whole-heartedly believing no one will ever understand you quite like Nina Simone. I would argue you were right.
FunksnRoundabouts
Turns out, I like funk music. Like, a lot. This playlist was initially titled "swingsnroundabouts" as it initially contained a lot of swing before funk usurped the playlist, but I've recently been told (rather forcefully might I add) that "FunksnRoundabouts" was a far superior title. Make up your own mind. I don't really have much more to say than this is a great playlist if you're feeling suave - the sun shining on your face and unlimited pep in your step. Funk music makes you feel utterly unstoppable, thus, do not stop and continue to bop!
This certainly is not my main "indie" playlist (see: Dad Music); however, I think this playlist perfectly encapsulates the morning rush of running around campus always five minutes late to my next supervision with the energetic sounds of The Clash, The Cribs, and David Bowie. Think I Am The Resurrection meets Men's Needs meets Here Comes Your Man meets A Certain Romance (or From Ritz to Rubble - I can never decide my preference) meets Oasis' (What's the Story) Morning Glory in its entirety. If you have ever witnessed me dancing through Second Court clearly exceedingly late to a seminar, now you know why.
DIY Wednesday Cindies
My most followed playlist and for good reason. I must confess that The Smiths is slightly more my style than AJ Tracey and Dave. This said, this playlist covers all ground of John's bar at Cindies with Drake, Aitch, Jme, Kanye, Skepta, and so on. If you are craving your Wednesday Cindies fix, revisit the nostalgia of Arizona Zervas' ROXANNE being played eight times an hour. Feel free to give this one a listen - unless you don't go to John's, of course. Then you're not allowed in.
The Triad of Crush/Defy/Biotch
My playlists for unapologetic pop, hype trap, and glamorous throwback tunes ranging from the 60s to y2K. The ultimate soundtrack for getting ready and feeling fierce. Each with their own spin on the iconic feminine protagonist. Do I love boys? Do I hate boys? You'll never know. This is what we call range, ladies and gentleman. Muchos recommend for those looking for iconic girly girl tracks to sing into your hairbrush. XOXO
Vacation/Summer
We all know someone who thinks liking 80s music is a personality trait. That's me. I'm someone. Nice to meet you. These two playlists encapsulate the authentic British holiday experience. The soundtrack of "hi mum, can you put suncream on my back?". The playlist 'Summer''s energy is so immersive, it could practically barbecue your burgers with its 80s synth beats, sunny Reggae jams, and the nostalgic, saccharine pop of the 2000s, whereas 'Vacation' is the ultimate sunbathing playlist. Your life feels all-inclusive just to listening to it.
Thank you for allowing me to revel in my own uppity musical superiority - whether it be baseless or otherwise. Give them a listen whilst you can, as I'm revising these playlists daily and you may miss the chance to hear your new favourite song. Please leave your Spotify usernames in the comments below, I'd love to see your music tastes (and meticulously compare your top songs with mine in a judgmental, but affectionate fashion).
Yours truly,
Em Cav
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