DJ Jim Q's Playlist: KOORSOO

Welcome, listeners, to the new year and to a fresh new playlist for 2026. The theme this month is KOORSOO (کورسو), a Farsi word meaning “a faint glimmer of hope.” The theme was selected by our friends from the Tehran chapter of CreativeMornings. While I am new to the word Koorsoo, it feels like an ideal theme for inaugurating a new year with a spirit of hope and optimism, something I think we could all benefit from these days.

Art, and music in particular, has long served as a potent source of inspiration and hope. We listen to music to celebrate happy times and to help us through our struggles. It can be a rallying force for some, a guiding light for others, or simply a soundtrack to keep us moving. Music is important to us and to our journey. I’m reminded of the role music plays in the contemporary hit show Stranger Things, where Kate Bush’s song “Running Up That Hill” is used to draw one of the characters out of a supernatural trance. It’s her favorite song and she can hear it and she follows it back to consciousness. At least, I think thats what happens, I’m a little fuzzy on Stranger Things lore, don’t come at me. Interdimensional monsters and telekinesis aside, this works as a plot device because we can imagine a song having that kind of power over our minds. That’s pretty incredible when you think about it. Like a lighthouse, music can show us the way, guide us in the right direction, and sometimes be just the glimmer of light we need to find our path.

This month’s playlist is curated as an auditory guide through the darkness, with a murmur of brightness and a whisper of encouragement. The theme is Koorsoo, a Farsi word meaning a faint glimmer of hope, and these 40-plus songs are illuminated with hope and inspiration. From MK.gee’s “Are You Looking Up” to Fugazi’s “Strangelight” to Television’s “Guiding Light,” follow the glow of these sonic beacons toward a better state of mind and an uplifting musical destination.

I also want to note that this will be my final playlist for the CreativeMornings community. It was a difficult decision to step away, as this has truly been a labor of love, and it has been an amazing run. My residency has lasted over twelve years, with more than 150 themed playlists curated. But all things must come to an end, and I believe it’s time for me to hand in my headphones. I want to thank Tina for the platform, and Carly Ayers for originally inviting me to share my DC chapter playlists with the wider CreativeMornings community. I also want to express my gratitude to all the wonderful community managers throughout the years who have helped me publish these posts, Alexandra, Amanda, Annie, Brian, Casey, Celestine, Emerline, Katie, Kevin, Kylie Paul, and Sally, and I sincerely hope I didn’t miss anyone. Thank you all. And to the chapters across the globe that enthusiastically embraced these playlists, and to the listeners who have enjoyed them over the years, it has been an honor and a pleasure.

If you’d like to keep up with my exploits, I encourage you to follow me on Spotify and Bluesky. Or better yet, maybe I’ll see you in person at a CreativeMornings event in your city.

Your friend always,
DJ Jim Q