Since early 2024, I’ve been crafting monthly playlists for my family and me.
These aren’t just collections of songs; they’re soundtracks that encapsulate specific moments in our lives.
In March 2025 we mostly stayed in Ravenna. Luce turned one month, and we’re still adapting to life with a newborn girl.
One of the best things of these playlists is how I get to share my tastes with Mauro, her 4-year old fratellone.
By the way, if you’re not subscribed to Spotify, I provided links to each song on YouTube (where available). Just click on the titles below.
The artists
- Jack and the Weatherman – Rock Bottom. A nice, rythmic and melodic indie-folk song to start the month. It’s also a reminder to be happy and grateful, even when things seem like falling apart. I never hit rock bottom in recent years, thanks to Paola and the sheer joy in building my businesses. I’ve been lucky in having my family around and many new friends, also. And I tink I matured. If something very bad would happen now, I think I would react differently than I would have ten or fifteen years ago – when I was much less emotionally strong and stable.
- Gianluca Merenda – Obscene. He’s a very good guitarist from Scauri, close to where I grew up.
- Andrew Galucki – I Know the Way Home. Here in Ravenna, or back where I was born, Gaeta. Knowing where your roots are gives you strength.
- First Aid Kit – I Found a Way. I absolute love the two Swedish sisters. In many ways, they produced higher quality folk-pop than the classics from the 70s
- First Aid Kit – In the Hearts of Men. This one is even more beautiful than the previous one.
- AURORA – A Soul With No King. The Norwegian girl strikes back. She’s one of, if not maybe THE favorite artist of Mauro. Also because hers was the first concert where we brought him, back when he was only 2 years old.
- AURORA – Starvation. This melody is a masterpiece, and the dance part at the end is now a meme in our household. Every time it starts, I start jumping and Mauro bursts out laughing :D
- Ayla Nereo – Hum. Another instance in which Spotify seems to have read my mind. Perfect soundtrack for my tummo breathing sessions, as well as an hym and reminder to keep a calm focus on the breath during the day.
- The Veils – The Ladder. Discovered them on a magazine (yes, one of those made of paper that one had to pay) back in 2002. Glad to find them back on Spotify.
- KOMPROMAT, Rebeka Warrior, Vitalic – LIFT ME UP. This tune is a big change, a diversion filled of dark and dancy vibes. Reminds me of a long night raving in Berlin with some friends from Genoa, in 2016.
- Gizmo Varillas – End of the Line. Another artist whom I discovered on Spotify and now is a regular presence, with his sunny Spanish vibe. Simple but catchy, gives me a lot of energy.
- Radical Face – Safe and Sound. This one’s another nice surprise gifted by the algo. I like the fact that I can’t categorize it immediately. Sounds fresh.
- Shakira – Ciega, Sordomuda. People might laugh me at me for such an addition. But I admit I was influenced by Rolling Stone’s 100 Best Rock Albums of all time on this. The last one she recorded in Spanish. Perfect to introduce our new nanny in the house, whose also from Colombia. Besides, it’s a very good pop rock song.
- Fleetwood Mac – You Make Loving Fun – 2004 Remaster. A classic group I haven’t delved into as much as I would. It’s always good to sing about sex in a classy and inspiring manner.
- The Polish Ambassador, Ayla Nereo, Mr. Lif – Shine Bright. A great energetic crossover. Unbelievably simple but effective bass line!
- Mumford & Sons – Malibu. Straight from the Release Radar. They’re one of Paola’s all time favorite bands.
- The Lumineers – Automatic. Another big new-folk-pop name, coming back with new stuff. Since we saw them in the amazing Piazza Ariostea in downtown Ferrara 2 years ago, we feel a deeper connection to them. This songs makes me reflect on how I was able to quit drinking alcohol, after 2 decades, and how hard it is for most people to drop bad habits.
- John Lennon – Mother – Remastered 2010. Weird intro, but then very good tune. My father gave me his LP of Lennon’s Best of, published right after he was murdered back in 1980. This song is not one of the ones I enjoyed the most, but now I dedicate it to Paola and to my mom Isabella.
- Groundation – Energy. I own their first album on LP and follow them closely, every time they show up on the Release Radar. I honestly think they’re the best act in contemporary reggae worldwide.
- Volbeat – By a Monster’s Hand. Sometimes the metalhead in me comes back, and needs some raging rythm. This one maybe sounds too much like Metallica, but I appreciate how the singer’s voice has evolved through the years.
- Aukai, Richard Houghten – Slow Sun. Dreamy introduction to new days. I wake up and ask: What kind of value I will give the world today? What can I create?
- Ayla Nereo – Take It Slow. Sounds like a song for children, but it serves as a good reminder for those productivity maniacs like me who seem to lose themselves in task after task. And then anxiety seeps in, again…
- The Beatles – While My Guitar Gently Weeps – Remastered 2009
- Fleetwood Mac – Songbird – 2004 Remaster
- Fleetwood Mac – Gypsy
- Yaima – Gajumaru. This was THE most important discovery of the month. Great project, enchanting mix of weird guitar and electronic sounds, with a powerful and inspiring voice, that incites me to create freely and become myself.
- Yaima – Rebirth. And this is their best song in my view. I listened to it at least 40 times, only in March. I think about I am reborn in Luce, my one month old daughter, and then in Mauro’s eyes. And how I am rebirthing myself as a financially free individual, who after 10 years of grinding only now starts to pull the brakes.
- Matt Berninger – Bonnet Of Pins. The National’s frontman comes back, and I feel he’s filling the space Lanegan left.
- Ayla Nereo – Wheel Of Time
- Putumayo, Bonny Abraham, Meissam Alinaghiyan, RAMKUMAR – Nomad.
- Putumayo, Amanda Martinez – Mi Libertad. Again on the theme of breathing and feeling free. It’s a work in progress, but I enjoy life every day more than the one before.
- Wildlight, The Polish Ambassador, Ayla Nereo, Ryan Herr, TROPES – Crucible – Acoustic. VERY good. They gave me the chills while I was in one of my breathing and meditation sessions, in a quiet corner of my neighborhood, sitting on a bench after lunch, as the spring sun warmed my head and body. Pure bliss, as I thought about my father’s legacy. It was a thursday and we just had one of the long videocalls I’m recording to gather material for his and my mom memoir.
- Wildlight, The Polish Ambassador, Ayla Nereo, Jesse Klein – Honey. Me and Mauro danced to this many times in the bathroom :)
- The Head and the Heart – After The Setting Sun. Another pleasant surprise from the Release Radar, from a band that Paola did not know (while on the other hand, it was her who introduced me to Mumford & Sons and most new folk). They still sound original and unique. And the song has a nostalgic aura that makes us reflect on the time we spent with our parents back in the 80s.
- Ayla Nereo – Eastern Sun. Solemn hymn, to be born again every day. I’m on the way to hitting 230 days in a row of qi gong and tummo breathing
- Malte Marten, Chantress Seba – Starseeds (1111 Hz)
- Alborosie, Raging Fyah – The Unforgiven (feat. Raging Fyah). One day I was in the car with Mauro and the rock radio (RadioFreccia) played the original from Metallica. He said he liked it. Then I put this reggae version on, and he admitted he liked this a lot too :)
- Ayla Nereo – Vessel. This closed the month, while I was preparing my return on this blog with a piece about children as knowledge creators, and not empty vessels.
The genres
Indie folk / indie pop
(es. First Aid Kit, Jack and the Weatherman, The Lumineers, Andrew Galucki, The Head and the Heart)
World / global fusion
(es. Putumayo, Ayla Nereo, Amanda Martinez, Yaima, Wildlight)
Alternative rock / soft rock
(es. The Veils, Matt Berninger, Fleetwood Mac, Mumford & Sons, The Beatles, Volbeat)
Electronica downtempo / ambient
(es. The Blaze, KOMPROMAT, The Polish Ambassador, Malte Marten)
Spiritual / conscious music
(es. Ayla Nereo, Wildlight, Yaima, Chantress Seba)
Latin pop / reggae
(es. Shakira, Alborosie, Groundation, Amanda Martinez)
As always, each song serves as a time capsule, bringing back the emotions and experiences of that period.
Feel free to listen along. Maybe you’ll find echoes of your own experiences.
EYES TO SEE 