By Maya Menashe, Senior Science & Technology Editor
I have 1,255 liked songs and 92 curated playlists on Spotify. Each playlist has its own corresponding cover image that captures a moment in my life when I felt most connected to it. Over time, I have realized that these playlists are emotional archives of who I was at different points in my life, and in many ways, they shape how I continue to see the world.
My “Israel nostalgia” playlist reminds me of the warm summer air that swirled around the five folding tables pushed together and covered with oversized tablecloths to accommodate my 30 aunts, uncles, cousins (first, second and once- and twice-removed), siblings and grandpa every Friday night during summers spent in Israel growing up. The playlist reminds me of the laughs I shared with these special people and the memories I carry closely with me from those visits. The cover photo is 7-year-old me, giggling as my older sister and cousin hold me between them.
“Heart so full” reminds me of my 17-year-old self beginning to establish my priorities and sense of identity, learning how to be selfless while also understanding what true friendship and relationships look like. It represents the moment I started to recognize how I should treat others and how I deserve to be treated in return. The cover photo is a picture of me and my redhead friend at 17, laughing as we walk amidst the hundreds of strangers, brought together with the common goal of watching July 4th fireworks in Hudson Yards.
“Melech” reminds me of my connection with faith and the King of Kings. It reflects how I feel a practicing Jew is meant to act and carry himself. It reminds me of the sense of grounding I experience throughout Shabbat, the time I feel most aligned with Hashem and most whole. It reminds me that Hashem is always present to speak to through prayer, pizmonim (traditional songs) and shirei (songs of) Shabbat. It reminds me of my Sephardi heritage and the richness I feel in the tunes and traditions passed down through zemirot and chagim (holidays). The cover photo is of the Western Wall, taken right after I spoke to Hashem, not to ask for anything, but just to maintain my relationship with Him.
There is only one playlist that I have yet to find a cover photo for. This playlist, named “life moves pretty fast,” is a collection of songs that remind me of all the most special places, people and feelings in my life all at once. It reminds me that even the simplest aspects of life can hold extraordinary meaning if we choose to notice them. A stranger saying “hi” in passing, a first-time father admiring his newborn son, realizing you are mirroring something your parents once taught you, witnessing an act of kindness between strangers. These are the kinds of small moments that become meaningful once you are trained to see them.
I have realized that this applies to music itself too. While there seems to be no connection between the songs on my intricate playlists, between the ones that give you an adrenaline rush and the multi-lingual music my aunts and uncles adore, every song has a story that can teach a valuable life lesson. Some songs clearly and intentionally portray their meaning. Others require interpretation and active listening to uncover their depth. Some may not even carry deep meaning through their lyrics at all; rather, their meaning is found in their rhythm and sound. And in the process of listening closely to search for meaning, you begin to develop a habit of intention. You start to apply that same lens to the world around you and learn to find meaning in both the simple and the intricate.
And because I consistently listen to this playlist, I have realized something else as well: that when I return to my other playlists, I am transported back to versions of myself that I do not fully resonate with anymore. Each one feels tied to a specific chapter of my life, whether a certain mindset, emotion, or moment in time. I feel lucky to have grown into the person I once hoped to become in each of those versions of myself.
This playlist feels different. It is not attached to one phase or memory. It has no cover photo because there is no single image that could fully represent it. Every other playlist can be reduced to a moment, but this one follows me through all of them. Even its title captures the feeling of living through every single day.
Because music so strongly influences emotion and thought, the playlists we curate are not neutral. They shape how we interpret experiences, carry ourselves and relate to others. Uplifting music can uplift others, and meaningful music can move others. But while each of my playlists is meaningful, “life moves pretty fast” is a reflection of what music actually does most. It’s a reminder to slow down and actually notice what we’re living through.
Side note: I was listening to this very playlist while writing this article.
Photo Credit: Courtesy of Maya Menashe