I'm not prone to nostalgia, but I sometimes ask myself where and who I was this time __ years ago. For today’s reflection, let’s go with 14.
May, 2010. I had just relocated to Calgary for a three-month contract at the Sled Island Music and Arts Festival. I saw the opportunity as a step towards finally extricating myself from Vancouver, the city I had called home for over seven years at that point. (I alluded to my desire for a major life change, and my desperation to leave Vancouver, in a post a few weeks ago: When I Drove.) I was also at a career crossroads, choosing to leave the music industry for large-scale event production and curation.
My first impression was how much friendlier Calgarians were compared to Vancouverites. In organising a multi-venue arts festival, a pillar of the local cultural landscape, I was welcomed into a community of artists, music-lovers, and civic leaders. Calgary and its lovely people would be the change of scenery I needed to figure out who I was becoming and what I wanted next.
Sled Island was my first experience being heavily involved in all aspects of a major cultural event. It was a challenging gig, but I learned a lot and had a positive experience overall, so I returned the following year for a larger role and a longer duration. Working on the 2011 festival was by far the most fun job I've ever had — shout out to Amy H, Lindsay, Shane, Richard, Evan, Paisley, RJ and Spencer for making me feel valued and so glad that I returned. (If any of you are reading this, email me or let me know in the comments!)
I knew Calgary was never going to be my home, but I ended up staying for 9 months that year, because I was in love. (More on that another time.) The months I spent there in 2010 and 2011 suppressed my hunger for change, progress, adventure. I suppose I needed to make that short-term, low risk move — and discover a new community, and affirm my career aspirations, and fall in love — in order to make the biggest move of my life: emigrating to the UK in January 2012. Calgary was the stepping stone to a great big leap, London.
A lot happened in those first three years of the 2010s. I started the decade as a 26-year-old Vancouverite, on the cusp of major experiences and decisions that would define my future. I ended the decade as a 36-year-old Londoner, thriving beyond my grandest expectations.
Ten years is a long time. My homes and friends and loves changed a lot. Songs were my consistent companion and comfort. I have compiled a musical celebration of the most formative decade of my life thus far. The 21 finest songs released between 2010-2019, in ascending order, are:
“Shake it Out” - Florence + The Machine
“Sprawl II" (Mountains Beyond Mountains” - Arcade Fire
“Dance Yrself Clean” - LCD Soundsystem
“Oblivion” - Grimes
“Odessa” - Caribou
“Hunger of the Pine” - alt-J
“Midnight” - Coldplay
“Man of War” - Radiohead
“The House That Heaven Built” - Japandroids
“Rolling in the Deep” - Adele
“Wait” - M83
“Everlasting Light” - The Black Keys
“The Daily Mail” - Radiohead
“The Mother We Share” - CHVRCHES
“Terrible Love (alternate version)” - The National
“bad guy” - Billie Eilish
“Take Me To Church” - Hozier
“Sweetest Kill” - Broken Social Scene
“Feet Don’t Fail Me” - Queens of the Stone Age”
“Art of Almost” - Wilco
“Under The Pressure” - The War on Drugs