Playlists as Portals

Sundays are meant for rest, reflection and rejuvenation - and our Sunday served us just that.

As part of Autograph ABP’s open call, they opened up space for kam + pita, friends whose pandemic survival work led them to cultivating an intentional playlisting practise. This practise became a collaborative way to express and receive digital love letters through a challenging time, and heightened a sense of connection and nostalgia. They brought this practise to us last night; although physically separate, we were all gifted with a shared moment in time and virtual space.

‘Playlists as Portals’ opened up with a wish - ‘What wish are you bringing into this space?’ As people opened up about their desires, friends from Philadelphia to London, Florida to Ireland, shared their intimate reasons for attendance. An anticipatory air of nervousness often visited, unravelling an evening of possibilities: ‘I feel like it’s gonna get deep.’

kam gently grounded our minds and bodies, as she encouraged us to synchronise our breaths.

Co-creating a playlist became an intentional practise of storytelling whilst we honoured identities rooted in ancestry and lived experiences. We were all encouraged to be mindful and present, as we bonded over a shared language: music. ‘Echos Beti’ by Manu Dibango, ‘Osondi Owendi’ by Chief Stephen Osita Osadebe and ‘Baltimore’ by Nina Simone were some of the musical fragments that grounded us in specific places of heritage.

Soulful reflections resonated, as the stunning soundscape ‘La Vita’ by Beverly Glenn Copeland was shared. Together, we tapped into the sea of undiscovered queer, non conforming voices that deserve to catch a wave of revival, and noted how current playlisting services rarely showcase or archive sounds that are often forgotten, erased and lost. 

I played an original, ‘Let Go’, which rippled a meditative sound that sparked impressions of bubble baths, introspection and a light that catches a waterfall. There is something so exposing about sharing one’s music choice in real-time, actively experiencing people experiencing it with you feels like you jump past niceties to immerse yourself into a deeper soul connection. Even through the screen, the acknowledgement of self and others felt healing, empowering and liberating. 

‘Playlists as Portals’ took us on a journey of honouring the people and places that came before us, in order to appreciate the gift of the pre-sent moment. Listen to the playlist below to keep riding these waves.