Talking about music, I would say that my current favorite singers are Taylor Swift and Lana Del Rey. I know -- I know. I know it! It might sound weird because these two have kinda different theme and they sounds so contradictive to each other. Taylor has a kinda-romantic mood whilst Lana has melancholic vibe. 

Looking backward, I think it's safe to say that Taylor's songs have been accompanying me to grow for over than a decade. I've been growing up with her songs, vibing to her albums, and even learning English through her lyrics. Lately, I listen to Lana's songs more often. I don't remember how and when it exactly happened. It's just happened without I care so much. I just realized it last year that my playlist has changed. Some of Lana's song crawled up into my frequent top songs-to-listen. Magic! 

Taylor Swift - Folklore era

Lana Del Rey - Did You Know That There's a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd era

Well, the shifting is quite surprising even for myself. Never did I expect that I would be liking Lana's song. Lana was definitely not an unfamiliar name for me. It's an 'old' name, favorite singer of a friend of mine -- Yarik -- that once I thought Lana was a Russian name -- taken from Svetlana. So, I knew her for so long but I was just so skeptical and never tried to hear any of her song. 

Again, I don't know how and when it started but I remember the moment I first enjoyed Lana's songs was when I was in Lombok. At that time, I used to listen to her songs while taking a walk from indekos to Sangkareang Park. Lana's songs, 'Radio' and 'Summertime Sadness', were repeatedly played alongside with the Taylor's songs -- Miss Americana, August, and My Tears Ricochet. Yes! It was the moment where The Eras Tour was started! 

Slowly but sure, I started to like more of her songs. From 'Radio' and 'Summertime Sadness', I added 'Young and Beautiful as well as 'Doin Time' in August 2023. In April 2024, I successfully added two of her songs into my favorite list: Born to Die and Dark Paradise. Now? Well... I have longer list! I'm not a biggest fan of hers but I'm pretty sure I enjoy listening to hers. 

Talking about those singers, I can't help to not 'touching' these two months: July and August. The one feels like hot summer and the other is like windy-breezy autumn. When I listen to Lana in July, her songs hit so much different. Young and Beautiful, Summertime Sadness, Radio, and many more just sounds sooooooo summer. When it comes to Taylor, we all know she’s inseparable from August. Of course, August is like everywhere in the whole social media. It's a back sound-coded for Instagram stories, reels, and short videos. A public secret I guess. As a fan of both, the mood shifting between those two are effortlessly beautiful. I truly enjoy the moment. 

Anyway, does music reflect our life journey? Starting from adoring and listening to Taylor's music since I was so young and then now I kinda shift to Lana's. Adolescent life was colorful and dreamy, filled with friendship, hard laugh, optimism, idealism, and love. I would say the color of Taylor's music was perfectly match with my past energy. It was the back sound of my life! And now, since I have been entering the adulting-phase, I feel like my life is kinda a bit useless (sometimes), fragile, melancholic, and hopeless-romantic. Well, yeah. Lana's songs are suitable for that 'mood', aren't it? 

So, welcome to my Lana's era, I guess?

Love, 

(not a) Cinnamon Girl