Downtown Culture Meets My Inner Sanctum

I woke up yesterday knowing I had my most important interview yet. An internship with Portland Monthly hanging in the balance. I don't know what fascinates me about magazines, but the self-exploration one must go through to challenge its readers with stories that range from the mundane to the spectacular appeals to me. It was hot yesterday and I figured I would take the MAX to cross the river. Whenever public transportation is involved, music is a must. Plus, I find that music calms my soul enough to allow me to be the confident person I know I am inside.

Most times I'll shuffle it cause I find that sometimes, my iTouch has some mysterious way of knowing which songs I want to hear in specific moments, but it was M.I.A.'s Kala to start out. Knee-deep in "The Turn," I heard my name drifting amongst the music. I instinctively look up and see my "buddy," Desmond from high school. The only thing shadier than this kid's life might be the oddly-disturbing color his hair has turned after several failed dye jobs. But there was my turquoise-topped friend of mine sitting down next to me preparing to tell me how fucked up his life again. I kept "Paper Planes" going in one ear as I playing the organ alongside his emotional parade. Briefly, I thought about the fact the "Paper Planes" is being used as the trailer theme to the movie "Pineapple Express" coming out tomorrow. That cheered me up immensely. I'd loved to leave my body and pull a Seth Rogen/Hulk Hogan splash on Desmond to silence his meanderings. As the MAX approached, he scampered off and I thankfully hid inside knowing my next meeting with him on some random street corner would be all too soon.

It was time for some Santogold. "I'm a Lady" feat. Trouble Andrew has quickly turned into one of my favorite songs in the past year. I never was a huge 80s fan, but she has quickly turned the page on that sentiment. Everything is sultry, aggressive, and light-hearted. That album is just beautifully crafted. I would need something of the kind when realizing the steel bridge is closed until the 25th! I had to take a connecting MAX shuttle over the Burnside and then catching the MAX downtown to continue the journey.

After losing myself a couple more times, I found Portland Monthly and put away Santogold for the interview. Only lasting 25 minutes, it was back to the pavement and getting back over the river. The pace and culture of downtown seemed sprawled out in front of me. I felt like a walking candy apple of sorts. While I realize I'm proportional, when I'm listening to music I feel so much weight around my ears and head. Everything is being processed up top and sometimes it manifests itself as pressure and weight. I feel a thousand miles away from my feet and torso and let the music float me to my predetermined destination.

I passed some girls with vibrant-colored hair (much better than Desmond's) and I switched up Santogold for Paramore. While Paramore may not do anything revolutionary, I am a sucker for girls with alternative tendencies. With Amy Lee, Haley Williams, Lacey Mosely, and Christina Scabbia leading my short list of female rockers, I think my obsession is really fascination. Fascination in the fact that African-Americans don't usually find themselves with girls like that and the unknown is always fun.

And then later the day I did meet her. In the form of Kate Winslet in the movie, "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind." I understand why everyone always flips shit over the movie. Everyone who has just broken up with someone should see the movie. It amazingly puts everything in perspective. One of the best movies ever made, in my opinion. However, a multi-haired Winslet finds herself drawn to a stranger that she swears she has met before. The movie underlines human attraction and the dooming feeling to repeat our mistakes over again. But I love it because it is the mistakes that make up who we are.

It ended up being one of those days that looks as if it were themed with all the hair job references, but I think that's just how life goes. We have purpose and my music is just a catalyst for discovery. Objectivism states that we use our senses to build our own sense of reality. Music has become just as natural as smelling, touching, and seeing. And with it, I will build my world around me...


This. Is. Truth.