It's impossible to separate life in 2020 from the weight of COVID-19. The year was defined by isolation, uncertainty, and a desperate search for connection. With so much time spent indoors, the way I engaged with music changed. The high-energy sounds that might have dominated a more "normal" year gave way to something quieter and more introspective. It was a year of deep listening and letting lyrics sink in longer.
The availability of music also shifted. Live music was replaced by intimate live-streamed performances. One that stuck with me the most was Ben Gibbard streaming live sets of Death Cab for Cutie and The Postal Service. Hearing those tracks in such a direct, unfiltered way felt perfect for the moment — comforting yet tinged with the sadness of everything happening around us.
In the middle of all the COVID stress — managing work, leading a team from home, the general weight of isolation — we brought home our second dog, Jasper. And unlike with our first dog, Mocha, I struggled to adjust. It wasn't all Jasper's fault, but he became the catalyst for a full-on panic attack. Looking back, I think I was just overloaded — too much change, too much responsibility, too little space to process any of it. It took time to settle into a new rhythm, but I eventually found my footing. I realized that Jasper's behavior was rooted in anxiety, and we had more in common than I originally thought. I'm happy to report I now couldn't and wouldn't want to imagine a world without that little guy.
One bright spot in an otherwise heavy year was our summer escape to the Hamptons. The drive there had its own soundtrack: Taylor Swift's Folklore, which had just been released. From the moment Exile played through the car speakers, we were hooked. The album became woven into the fabric of our family and remains a favorite to this day.
It's funny how certain music becomes so deeply tied to a specific time in your life. The songs that defined 2020 for me weren't necessarily the ones that would have in any prior year. But they fit the moment, and they stuck. Soccer Mommy, Waxahatchee, Taylor Swift ... this music not only takes me back, it also increased my appreciation for and opened doors to new artists.