Healing Diaries no.09 | free.

Listen to the lyrics...

-Signing off- 

Chymere A. ♡

Music Collective vol. 70 {Kissez On You}

The beautiful, oh so talented, way too underrated, Sevyn Streeter truly blessed my life with this gem of a visual. Directed by @Malakaithebrave on Instagram, everything from the choreography to the make up, to the set was flawlessly executed and makes me want to keep an open ear out for whatever her and her team put out next. I'm so in love! 

Music Collective vol. 69 {Chymere's IG Mixtape vol. IV + V}

Journal entry | 03.09.2020

I'm really starting to think that I tend to not get what I want, simply because I don't always stand on what I say I want, especially when it comes to what I expect from other people or decisions that involve certain other people. It irks me into frustration (with myself), because it's like...how do I go about reprogramming this less than desirable aspect of myself, honestly? What happened to that wide-eyed ambitious girl who recognized what she wanted and didn't stop until she got it? I miss her...I need her. I miss the adrenaline rush of achieving or obtaining something, off the strength of determination to make it happen. How do I get back to myself?

Gotta get her back, someway...somehow. Together, we'd be unstoppable. 

This set of playlists are dedicated to the fight it took to get myself back. Press play..enjoy. | Available on Apple Music and Spotify.

// vol. IV

// vol. V

-

Music Collective vol. 68: {Selfish...af}

I feel this song on a spiritual level these days...just listen.

-Signing off- Chymere A. 

♡ Follow me on Twitter + IG: | ♡ @ChymereA

Music Collective vol. 67 {Optimistic: IG Playlist vol. III}

Lately, I've really been in a magical head space, where even on days I'm not completely satisfied, I still feel gratitude and optimism fill my lungs. Creativity has also been flowing beautifully. Finding inspiration after allowing my own thoughts to form a blockage against myself for so long is such a relief and I'm happy to be in this place. 

I originally created these as highlight on my Instagram story to document the songs that stand out to me the most. Eventually, I curated playlist on Apple Music and Spotify for others to enoy. Just like the previous two, this compilation is, essentially, a reflection of where I am in my life at the moment; just feeling hopeful, thankful, and blessed beyond words. 

Albums in heavy rotation:

• K.R.I.T. iz Here - Big K.R.I.T.
• Diaspora - GoldLink
• Revenge of the Dreamers III - Dreamville
• Care Package - Drake

What have you been listening to lately??

-Signing off as-
Chymere A. ♡

Music Collective vol. 66 {My IG Playlist vol. II}

The second volume of the IG Music Playlist series is a pretty direct reflection of how I've been feeling and the thoughts I've been keeping since late July/early August. A lot of these songs even have personal significance, because the lyrics speak directly to some of the circumstances I found myself in this year. Taking a look at the collection, I'm amazed at how well music is able to translate messages that are hidden deep down in a heart's crevices.

Here's a Spotify playlist with the second volume of all the songs I've featured thus far with about 3 hours worth of quality music. Both playlist will also soon be available on Apple Music:

Music Collective: vol. 64 {Nice for What}

There are so many things I love about this song and its stellar visual component. With the fusion of Lauryn Hill's "Ex-Factor" and classic NOLA bounce, 'Nice for What' is a feel good song from start to finish. In typical Drake motive operation, he focused in on what is likely his largest demographic: women. Once again, all summer long Instagram will be oozing with Drake lyrics as captions. 

Directed by Karena Evans, this video spotlights some of Hollywood's most notable women, including a few of my personal role models, such as Yara Shahidi , Misty Copeland, Issa Rae, and Tracee Ellis-Ross. The other phenomenal figures featured in the video were as follows: Olivia Wilde, Letitia Wright, Zoe Saldana, Rashida Jones, Jourdan Dunn, Tiffany Haddish, Syd (from The Internet) Elizabeth and Victoria Lejonhjarta, Bria Vinaite, Emma Roberts, and Michelle Rodriguez. What better way to celebrate women worldwide than to hire someone who is a woman herself? Smart move, Aubrey...smart move.

Reminiscing on some of the best years of my life, Drake has always dropped feel good anthems just in time to show up on playlist curated especially for day parties and road trips. Naturally, the team behind him has found a way to tap into his audience extremely well. Whether it's a marketing ploy or not, every year since '07, Drake has given the ladies something to relate to. It's no mistake that his latest release, 'Nice for What' follows suit. 

Music Collective vol. 63 In My Zone (Side A // Side B)

Most of the albums I loved from 2017 - over the past couple of years, actually - are still in heavy rotation. Projects such as Ego Death (2014) and 99.9% (2016) are aging like fine wine and I listen to those records often. Having recently compiled the annual Musical Year in Review on The Sky Box Suite, many of my favorite releases from last year, like 4eva is a Mighty Long Time, Flower Boy and Ctrl, still get weekly spins from me, so don't mind if you notice some kind of repetition happening on this play list. I've just been super satisfied with my collection lately, which is partially why I haven't posted something music related much on here, aside for the year end compilation. Some old, some new, a lot of Drake for whatever reason, and somewhat random of a compilation, here's what I've been listening to lately. In My Zone (Side A // Side B) will be available for your listening pleasure on Apple Music + Spotify 01.27.18. 

+ S I D E  A :

1. Diplomatic Immunity - Drake
2. Whip It - Bia
3. So Am I - Ty Dolla $ign ft. Damian Marley
4. Dat Side - Cyhi the Prynce ft. Kanye West
5. Neon Guts - Lil Uzi ft. Pharrell
6. Worth It - Dave B. 
7. Walk It Talk It - Migos ft. Drake

+ S I D E  B :

1. Not Discuss It - St. Beauty
2. Sweet Holy Honey - Sango & Xavier Omar
3. Buzzin - Alina Baraz
4. Rather Be - H.E.R.
5. Call Me - Hudson East & ESTA.
6. After the Storm - Kali Uchis ft.  Tyler,  the Creator & Bootsy Collins
7. High - Ledisi
8. Selfish - PnB Rock
9. Anita - Smino ft. T-Pain
10. Never Be the Same - Camila Cabello

+ A L B U M S +

1. November - SiR
2. Skin&Earth - Lights
   • sidenote: Shoutout to LJ | A Journey East for recommending this incredible album. As I was listening to it early, I realized that this album is probably the first time I've ventured outside of hip-hop/R&B/soul scene in quite a while. I'm so impressed.
3. blkswn - Smino
4. No_One Ever Really Dies - N*E*R*D
5. War & Leisure - Miguel
6. Nothing Was the Same - Drake
   • It blows my mind that this album is slick a "throwback" now...
7. P2 - Dave East

Music Collective: vol. 62 {Drippin' in Finesse}

It all began the afternoon of January 3rd with Bruno Mars tweeting about a midnight release of his collaboration with Cardi B., remixing Finesse, a track that premiered on Mars' 3rd studio album, 24k Magic. A few hours later, he mentions Ms. Cardi B, casually teasing about dropping the video as well. After playful online banter between him and his co-star, Bruno Mars then blesses the world with the visual for Finesse.

I don't know about you all, but I love me a good video component. It's this incredibly nostalgic spin on the 90's sketch comedy series, In Living Color. The song itself is so fun and vibrant, just like Bruno's on stage personality, but Cardi B. really brings this remix to life, in my opinion. Her vocals match the flow and her presence is greatly appreciated.

Not only is this song the perfect jam to jump start the weekend, the video takes me down memory lane. Suddenly, I'm back in high school again, catching the latest music videos on MTV before it's time to leave for school. Good times.