In this moment I’m celebrating the end of a good era here at Michigan State and the Impact, where I’ve made many memories and friendships. If I had to compare my experience here at MSU to anything, it would be like riding the Greyhound from Detroit to Chicago, then back to Detroit. It starts off slow and mellow. You sit next to someone you don’t know and spark up conversation with them because you’re on a four hour ride together. They don’t speak much English but you two make it work. You learn a lot about a family that you will never meet. Around you are the sounds of talking and people having intimate conversations on the phone for everyone to hear. Smells travel in the air that you’ve never experienced from family home cooked meals that were smashed in the plastic baggies they shoved in their bags last minute. You look out the window and one moment you see the beautiful countryside of a state you have lived in all your life, followed by the artistic graffiti tags on a more urban and concrete landscape. Your neighbor decides to read a book. You see a pin on their bag that you know of but they have their headphones on, so you don’t say anything. You briefly think about what a conversation with them about the anime pin would look like. You try to read a book but only get about three pages in before putting it down and going on your phone. You are headed to an event and as the clock counts down you get more and more excited about what your next 8 hours hold. The person next to you falls asleep and for a moment you think that their head is going to rest on your shoulder, so you think about what you would do if that would happen. At the next stop everyone piles out to stretch and breathe and as you wait for 20 minutes to get back on the bus and sip the over priced chai latte with oat milk you bought with a sticker you realize you’re all on this bus together coming from different places and going to different destinations but the one thing you all share is that old and slightly musty bus. You are left with the thought that had you not gone and bought this random Greyhound ticket to go to the final Pitchfork festival you wouldn’t have met all of these people or gone to see your favorite artist Kara Jackson perform songs from an album you fell in love with as music director at MSU’s Impact.
During my time at MSU I met many people and experienced so much; I got to discover different parts of myself during my four year ride.
Now that I’ve confused you we should get into some of the musical stops I made along the way.
Biking – Frank Ocean, Jay-Z, Tyler,The Creator
If you know me this one is a no brainer. I found Frank Ocean’s Channel Orange album my sophomore year. The second I found it I listened to it three times because once didn’t satisfy me enough. Quickly, Frank Ocean became my favorite artist. Something about his style and voice is unmatched. This song in particular was one of my favorite songs of summer 2023 and each time I listen to it I’m reminded of that time. The sun felt brighter than normal, the smell of the air sweeter. It also helped that I was biking a lot that summer.
She’s Actin’ Single (I’m Drinking Doubles) [Garry Stewart]- Wednesday
Shout out to our past programming director Mckenna for showing me this song! I have always liked Wednesday and their Rat Saw God album was one of the first I had reviewed as Music Director. Instantly fell in love with them and I even got to see them at the 2024 Pitchfork festival which was an amazing time. This song opened my mind to the original Garry Stewart song and then fully blew up my love for old drinking country music.
Judge – Prostitute
Listening to this album for the first time felt like my third eye opening. Truly. Back when they first released this song the title track was so brain melting in the best way which was called Attempted Martyr. Unfortunately they ended up taking the song off of the album due to copyright reasons but I can vividly remember my roommates and I sitting around the TV watching Abbott Elementary and absolutely losing my mind with headphones on about this album. Another draw of this album was the Michigan references, especially Joumana Kayrouz which is all about his deep attraction towards her. If you don’t know who that is… look it up.
California Here We Go – The Garden
Now this is the part when we talk about the first concerts I have ever been to. Something that surprises a lot of people is the fact that I haven’t been to many concerts in my life. The first concert I ever went to was The Garden. I was obsessed with them in 2020 so when I saw them pop up in 2022 I thought it was only right to go. The concert was a lot of fun and there were a lot of inviting people as well in a much smaller venue which I liked. The brothers started hanging on the ceiling which was crazy and the crowd was filled with a bunch of cool people. I think this was a very great first concert. Also this song is just goated.
Lauren – Men I Trust
My second concert was Men I Trust. They have been a staple in my personal rotation for a very long time. Their music is just the right amount of everything for when you are chilling.
A Fan’s Mail (Tron Song Suite II) – Thundercat
This was my third concert, and I did in fact write something about it so if you want to know how I felt about it go ahead and check that out here. I went with a very good friend of mine and it was truly a great experience. This was also a great introduction to different bass styles. I have long been a fan of Thundercat’s music and the way he can incorporate crazy bass lines into a more mellow RnB song will forever intrigue and amaze me.
But Not Kiss – Faye Webster
A concert that I will always remember would be Faye Webster’s. It was the first time I went to go take pictures at a concert for a bigger artist. Although it was a bit intimidating, I felt so welcomed by the other photographers that I felt comfortable being in the photographer’s pit. I also have a love for Faye Webster, so I was also enjoying what I was hearing.
Crave – Paramore
I only added this song because I love Paramore and the first line of the song I hold so close to my heart.
“I can’t wait to memorize this day oh a picture cannot contain the way it feels”
I think that’s how I feel about graduating.
Joker Lips – MJ Lenderman
I remember sitting in the car with a good friend of mine talking about her graduation and how things will be different. We talked about our friendship and how grateful we are for one another. This song played in the background as we cried because we knew that we had made such an impact on each other in such a short amount of time. If you’re reading this I dedicate this song to you love!
A Lot – 21 Savage
I would listen to this song as I went to the gym in the summer because it was the exact length from the garage to the parking lot and it would get me hype enough before walking in.
Sky Walker (feat. Travis Scott) – Miguel
This is one of my guilty pleasure feel good songs that I would play driving when it’s nice out.
HOME – BTS
Paying homage to my roots. I was a kpop girl before all of this and I must stay true to that.
Holy Wars…The Punishment Due – Megadeth
One. Of. My. Favorite. Songs. Ever. Megadeth released a true banger when this dropped because not only does it change in such wild ways but it truly leaves the hair on the back of my neck standing up every time that I listen to it. Not only am I in love with the message of the song — pay very close attention to the lyrics — but the instrumentals are literally like butter. I lowkey can’t listen to this song while I’m driving because I will start to speed.
Sign – FLOW
The show that I stuck with the longest my time at MSU was Naruto and this song is from the pain arc *cough* best arc *cough*. I remember listening to this song for the first time after a major event in the show and literally crying. In order to feel the full intensity of this song you have to watch the whole show and report back to me on how hearing this made you feel. When the drums come in it truly feels like… wow…
Taking What’s Not Yours – TV Girl
The memory of dancing with my friends to this song and helping one of them fix the tape on his outfit for a party we were going to (BTW, the tape WAS the outfit). TV Girl has been one of my top artists since coming to MSU; I first discovered them the winter of my freshman year. I would bundle up at 11pm and go on walks when it was snowing with TV Girl’s French Exit playing in my headphones. Someone once told me that I was so loner Batman for that. Now I listen to who really cares more than French Exit. I guess I’m in a different era.
Laputa (Taylor McFerrin Remix feat. Anderson. Paak) – Hiatus Kaiyote
One of my most replayed songs of my time being here.
What We Do – Freeway, Jay-Z, Beanie Sigel
I’m not from Philly but this song makes me wish I was. Apparently this is their anthem. I saw a video of some people at a basketball game singing along to this song and no matter who was on screen everyone knew it. I wanted to feel like I was a part of something so I saved the song too. Also — because it’s got Jay-Z and it’s a good ahh song.
Oceans – Jay-Z, Frank Ocean
Who would have known Jay-Z and Frank Ocean would eat so hard on a track together? I did. I knew. Also another one of my most replayed songs during this time.
It’s All Over – Dreamgirls Soundtrack
I am a musical lover at heart which I don’t know if a lot of people know about me. Dreamgirls is one of my favorite movies because there are voices like Jennifer Hudson and Beyonce on the soundtrack. My family raised me on this movie so I could recite the plot and songs from top to bottom if needed. I have this memory of my sister and I singing every single part of this song together and laughing hysterically because we kept getting the lyrics wrong, and because there’s about 5 different people singing at the same time so it was all over the place.
Guess Who I Saw Today – Samara Joy
If I didn’t add some jazz in here this would be an incomplete playlist. I wanted to add a song that has stuck with me for so long, and of course it would be this one. As the host and one of the founders of Sound Of Color, the jazz specialty show here at Impact, I have fallen in love with the genre and expanded my knowledge about it as well. In working on this show I have met many amazing musicians and lovers of jazz. I am forever grateful to the people who have been a part of the Sound Of Color journey with me. I love this song particularly because you can visualize the story being told in your head along with the song. Additionally, Joy’s vocals are beautiful and so unique that you can’t help but fall in love.
Like Someone In Love – Chet Baker
Chet Baker has been my top artist for about 4 years now. I used to fall asleep to the Chet Baker Sings album and still do from time to time.
Dance Yrelf Clean – LCD Soundsystem
Impact house party staple.
Take Me Home – PinkPantheress
How it feels to be in your early twenties.
Trampoline – Kero Kero Bonito
One of those feel good songs off Bonito’s Graduation album — which is fitting, since that’s exactly what I’m doing — reminds me that if I fall down I can always get back up and bounce!
Goodbye – JMSN
Now we have made it to our final stop together on my last musical ride here at MSU.
The last concert I went to was JMSN’s and it was beautiful. With this, I would like to say goodbye to MSU; goodbye to the Impact; goodbye to an era; and hello to the future.
I’ll leave by saying this: It truly is about the friends you make along the way.
