DJ Jim Q's Playlist: Invisible

The theme this month, Invisible, was selected by the Rome chapter. And what a great theme for a playlist. Music, after all, is the most invisible of art forms. It manifests only in the unseen vibration of molecules traveling outward from a source. It is fleeting and intangible by nature, and still so evocative. Our ears decipher sound like a code and transpose the patterns into music within our heads. I find it amusing how music is so completely dependent on mostly unreliable factors. Variability in the means of reproduction, speakers or live instrumentation for instance. With sound, the physical environment will also have drastic influence over what is heard and not to mention the listener’s position relative to the source. Every ear is different and so everyone hears things differently depending on the shape of the ear, the ear canal and the hearing capacity of the individual. I’m sure that my many years as a DJ and drummer has shaved off a few frequencies in my hearing range. All of this is to say that it is truly amazing that such an ephemeral art form is so meaningful to us, so personal but also completely unseen.

The theme is invisible and we have a stellar playlist cued up with hidden gems, buried treasures, and a few secret favorites. The boys in The Pharcyde bemoan their collective ignorability in “Passing Me By”. Rod Wave attempts to bury the pain with fame and fortune in “Invisible Scars”. Bluesologist and poet Gil Scott-Heron sings us a lesson on erasure in “Black History / The World”. From Mitski to Fugazi from Pusha T to Baebadoobee, as well as a few bands with names that don’t rhyme, these songs of invisibility are truly out of sight.

Thank you for listening. If you enjoy these playlists, and you’re so inclined, give me a shout on Twitter and be sure to follow me on Spotify. See you next month.