Valerie June

Spotify Station: Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats

What kind of music do I like? I hate that question.

It’s normal to you, right? It’s normal to 99.9% of people. Music can be a jumble to me. I’m constitutionally unable to recall half of what I like, especially when I’m put on the spot. I haven’t put much effort into it. I don’t have playlists.

I know: GASP.

Specific titles and artists blend in my mind. When well-intentioned people genuinely want to know what I like, just to strike up a universal topic of conversation, my mind clamps shut.

MY MIND: [SIREN SOUNDS]

EMERGENCY! EVERYBODY TO GET FROM STREET!

When I can’t answer with a flow of songs and artists, like everyone else does so effortlessly, I get nervous; I blurt out the first band that mercifully pops into my head. This summer, apparently the only band I liked was Mumford & Sons, because it’s the only answer that came to my rescue every time I was asked.

Over and over.

BLURT:

MUMFORD & SONS!

[Note: I do like them. An awful lot, actually. But sitting here with Spotify playing, I so obviously like a whole lot more than that.

I just can’t remember it.]

This is why I love sites like Spotify and Pandora. I tell it the names of a few bands I know I love, and they do the heavy lifting. I click buttons to indicate like or dislike, and *POOF*! New to me music magically flows my way.

I could never do this much detective work on my own. And why should I, when I can pay a service to do it for me and compile it all, like magic?

Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats – unlike Mumford & Sons! Mumford & Sons! Mumford & Sons! – falls into the genres of folk, Americana and vintage rhythm & blues. I have a huge affinity for these styles. Maybe being native southern plays a part in that. It’s bass-y, it’s relaxing, some of it’s smartass and snarky and catchy.

I like all those things. And more, but right now I need to focus.

What do I like?

MUMFORD & SONS!

Thanks to Spotify, I can name a whole lot more than that: