Sonic Memories

As many of you know, music is my B-A-G. The Court House has always been a music box- whether it is someone singing at the top of their lungs in the shower, practicing guitar in their bedroom, playing the same Regina Spektor song over and over again on the key board in the basement, or just generally blasting tunes with all the windows open-  I'm sure every neighbour on our street has considered issuing a noise complaint at least once. We are the only family I know whose sole household rule is "no singing at the table" (things could otherwise get a little out of control).

Music is also one of my primary memory triggers. For example, anything by Kenny Loggins will instantly bring me back to sleepy midnight roadtrips to visit family in Montreal. Joshua Radin's "Closer" transports me back to the Chiapas region of Mexico in 2010. James Taylor's "Copper Line" reminds me of pretty much every cozy Sunday in B-Trae history. Ne-Yo's "Closer" reminds me of the best summer ever (2008, for those of you who were there). Ben Howard's entire Every Kingdom album takes me so close to the West Coast of Costa Rica, I can almost smell the salty water and feel the ocean breeze on my face. And John Mayer's "Walt Grace's Submarine Test, January 1967" brings me back to one of the worst days of my life. Funnily enough, so does One Direction's "Live While We're Young".

All of this is to say, some of my strongest memories (especially ones that take place overseas) are triggered through music.

Now, since my usual music dealer fell through at the last minute before my departure, I haven't had much new "western" music to listen to.  Fortunately, this has forced me to embrace the truly amazing music scene that Africa, and more specifically Tanzania, has to offer.  There is one song (which I have linked below) that I keep hearing over and over, and I can already tell that it will be the tune to forever bring me right back to the smokey, dusty and bustling streets of Mwanza.

This song is unapologetically Tanzanian. It's honestly a true snapshot of what I am seeing and hearing here every day. Hilarious, awesome, and SUPER catchy- see for yourself!



Lots of love,
Car xx