Be it uttering my first notes on the elementary-school recorder or attending orchestra concerts, creating and enjoying music has accompanied me since my childhood. So, I thought I’d break down some of my current rotation of music playlists:

10 and 2 – Mellow, smooth tracks for the late, and arguably the most productive, hours of the day. For finding flow while coding or appreciating the sereneness on late-night drives (a double entendre never hurt anyone), this playlist helps me zone in on the present.

Scoville – Yaknow, like how spiciness is measured? BECAUSE THESE SONGS ARE FIRE. With the likes of Drake or DaBaby (“Hah?”), this playlist has songs ranging from Sriracha to Carolina Reaper. Whether it be early-morning grogginess or tennis tournament warm ups, this is the go-to.

fiddle – Just an alternative title for the violin pieces I’m currently practicing.

Simmer – I’d like to let you know (if you didn’t already) that Hans Zimmer is undefeated, and his inspirational film scores have accompanied me through many photo-editing sessions. From the grandeur of Interstellar to the drama of Inception, Zimmer brings things to a simmer.

Jocklad – Goth Babe–never a more misleading name. Far from punk or romance, any drive, to a local Costco or along the Pacific Northwest, deserves a dash of indie-pop. Accordingly, the other side of goth and babe consists of a jock and a lad.

I’ve realized that that’s the thing with this kind of lingo: most ideas have a quality such that everyone can participate in being in “the know.” Too elaborate, and no one will understand the poem’s metaphor without having the joke ruined.