London

As I’ve gotten older my music taste has changed. The songs in this playlist are a few of my favorites from when I was 17 years old and living in London. Admittedly, I don’t really listen to these songs anymore — which is not to say I don’t enjoy them, but rather they’ve already played their role in my life.

I stayed in London during the warm spring and summer months when, following a long rainy season, the city seemed to come alive. At the time, I was sleeping on the bottom floor of my aunt’s apartment while attending weekly Mandarin classes. When I wasn’t stuck inside, I was outside skating around on my red cruiser board. Ironically, my classes were located in the financial district, an area generally inhabited by suit-and-tie professionals. Flying down Liverpool Street at 9am and taking full advantage of London’s polished sidewalks, I never felt out of place.

Don’t get me wrong — I was no angsty skater boy. I was like the guy in the air-pods commercials who shuffles around, listens to ethereal techno music, and gets lost in his own imagination. I didn’t feel alone. I took photos, read books, explored museums, and learned new languages. I never really knew anyone, nor did I care to. Looking back, this was the most tuned-in I’ve ever felt. As I zipped across London — learning to internalize experiences and build confidence in myself — these are the songs that played in the background.