Some music reminds me of people I know. Some people's personalities remind me of artists I listen to. I think we've all experienced this a little bit. Everybody has their jam that reminds them of their very selves (or at least how they perceive themselves, like this one guy I was in the MTC with who associated himself with "A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief," a song about Jesus). I too have personal anthems written by people who have never even met me. An odd habit I have when I hear music for the first time is that before I find personal connection with the song, I heavily critique it as an art. I feel like I have a bad habit of also doing this with actual people.
Here's a quote that kinda confirms this theory.
"How we interact with art is a microcosm of the way we interact with the world"
--Carl Wilson
So there you go, folks! I'm just a big jerk. Before I try to relate to you, I'm probably just incessantly judging you within. But continuing with this art/real world theory, I think I'm on to something. I listen to a lot of music, but have no one favorite band. I have a lot of friends, but no best friend. I'm always comfortable with this fact until I get reminded by (all) my favorite compatible couples:
"I married my best friend!"
I'm out, man.
Anyways, once in a while people will ask me what I'm looking for in a girl. And I still haven't actually answered that question. I don't really need to. Simply, if you were to ask me what I'm looking for in an album, my answer is always, basically,
personality.
Now, everybody has personalities. And although I don't have a specific favorite artist, there are some I like more than others; artists whom I, Scott E Hall, connect with. Despite my habit to judge, I have a sense of my own interpersonal
relationships. It would be stupidly impolite of me to go over the relationships I have with actual individual women I know. And it would be just stupid if I went over my critical relationships with women whose music I listen to. But that-- that second example-- is what I'm gonna do today! Here are five girls I've been interested in lately.
The women in my life.
COURTNEY BARNETT
Courtney is the girl I want to like, but I always find myself falling short of emotional interest. Courtney has a lovably dry sense of humor and has a similar socioeconomic background to mine. She sings about relate-able topics in stream-of-conscious rambling. But every time I think I'm interested, I start listening to her, and I can never add anything to this list. I have this great short list of reasons to like her, but those are the only reasons I have. I wish I could find more, but my ideal falls short by just a couple dynamics. Courtney is always my "almost-girlfriend."
And yes, for the record, she has beautiful blue eyes.
JULIA HOLTER
Julia is the girl who's out of my league. I am legitimately intimidated by her world. She has all these complex arrangements and ridiculously studied-out themes. Her voice is so elegant, but too wise to be considered fragile. Not only can she do everything she wants, she actually
does everything she wants. She's incredibly smart and I freaking love it. She's just so much obviously more mature than I am. I'd ask her out if I didn't think myself so incompetent in contrast to her.
I kinda feel the same way about Joanna Newsom.
ANGEL OLSEN
I have a crush on Angel Olsen. I freaking love her voice. Her songs remind me of 60s garage rock, but are also kinda pan-fried... I don't know. It's a cool. And it's weird, because I knew her 2 years ago and I wasn't interested at all! She is somebody totally different! And so am I! We're only human! I just need to know more about her. I know she used to sing with Will Oldham and made some creepy, minimalist country album. Then she got into some iffy lo-fi lounge rock stuff. But she kinda just exploded into my life this year like a missile of passion come down to earth, and I need more.
And yes, okay, she is absolutely gorgeous! How could you not be attracted to this woman? She's only 3 years older than I am, so I'd like to think there's hope for me.
SOLANGE KNOWLES
I still remember the first time I heard Solange. I watched her perform "Sandcastle Disco" on Letterman in 2008. It was funky, she had an afro, I loved it.
A Seat At The Table is an individualistic statement that proves her independence. She has this righteously outspoken political opinion, and yet as much as she demands to be heard, she can bring me to tears all the same. Solange is the girl who creeps back into my life every couple of years, but can disappear to a new country with a new hairstyle and a new guy any time she wants.
(sigh) She's the girl I fall for too easily.
VICTORIA LEGRAND
Victoria has a "guy." Unlike the artists listed above, Victoria isn't a solo artist. She's the lead singer of the two-piece dream pop band Beach House. They are one of my favorite bands, and of course the other band member is a dude. They're not dating and they've never dated, but they're always together and I'm jealous. He's practically the perfect guy, but he's an idiot for not making a move on her. I listen to Victoria all the time, and yet, it's like I don't know anything about her. Her life always sounds so mystical and intriguing to me, but her persona comes with a darkness and a distance (must be all the reverb). Some think she distances herself, but to me, Victoria is the mystery I long to solve.
You know, after writing this, I don't think I want to get married. But I'll keep listening to new artists and meeting new people anyway.
That was a really cheesy ending.
