Climate Anxiety: Soothed By Tunes

Each quarter, a group of students, faculty, and staff at WWU convene an environmental justice reading group to read and discuss recent texts. This Fall (2020), we read and discussed Sarah Jaquette Ray’s A Field Guide to Climate Anxiety, which provided useful tools to manage our anxieties around climate, but also around COVID-19, anti-Blackness, political instability and a host of other concerns. At the end of the quarter, we created a playlist of songs that celebrate some aspect of the text. Enjoy!

Climate Anxiety: Soothed By Tunes

 

Kate Darby and the Fall 2020 EJ Reading Group

 

Spotify Playlist: Climate Anxiety: Soothed By Tunes

 

“The Highwomen”, The Highwomen: The Highwomen tells the stories of interconnected, intergenerational feminist struggles for justice. It encourages us to embrace struggle and to “take that [Freedom] ride again and again and again and again.”, KJD

 

“Lockdown” by Anderson .Paak – .Paak’s song is a groovy ode to 2020. It speaks mostly of traumatic Black experiences of the year and the uprising of BLM protests. The tone and beat feel hopeful as the massive protests seen this year are exactly that. Silence is deadly and more people have renounced racism in America and across the world this year, likely more than ever. 2020 wasn’t “horrible” as many white folks are quick to claim; 2020 presented reasons to be hopeful about unpacking and confronting racism in our country. Even though it is painful, it is progress! – ALC

 

“We Are All Compost in Training,” by Pat the Bunny. A song about one method of dealing with the depression, burdens, and overwhelm that comes from living under this capitalist and exploitative system — internal reflection and growing spinach. –AT

 

“Big Yellow Taxi”, by Joni Mitchell:

This song talks about the destruction of nature for the sake of urban development and critiques capitalism. I also felt this song connected to the class and the book because it highlights being an activist in your own way- Joni was an artist and she used that platform to be an activist.

 

“A Place in the Sun” by Stevie Wonder: I really love the place based nature imagery in this song, and I think it does a good job of connecting to our discussions about noticing your environment and taking stock of what’s around you. Furthermore, Ray talks a lot about feeling isolated and exhausted in environmental work. This song is centered around being able to reflect/relax in the sun – which is something I’m sure we all need. -Bree

 

“Albatross” by Fleetwood Mac: The metaphor of the Albatross is that it is a sign of “inescapable moral burden, as of guilt or responsibility”. Further, Albatross as a species have had their share of environmental turmoil and threats. This song is melodic, relaxing, and easy to listen to with no lyrics. When I first listened to it, I didn’t know about the metaphor of the Albatross, and simply listened and enjoyed it. After reading Ray’s book, I feel less like the work that I do in the environment is an emotional burden (or an Albatross), and to just enjoy it, like I did with the song when I first listened to it. -Chloe

 

“Its Alright” by The Big Push: Talks about challenges faced every day- big and small- but in the end everything is alright. Gives a sense of hope or optimism and release of anxiety similar to Ray’s book.

 

“All Night” by Romare: This song is mostly instrumental but has great energy. It is one of the only songs that I can listen to on repeat and dance every time. It has great spirit and feels encouraging, often how I felt when reading Ray’s book. 

 

“A Calf Born in Winter”, Khaurangbin: This song is fully instrumental, but summons feelings of change, new beginnings, and peace. The title of the song beautifully sums up this idea. There is a recognition of the somberness of being in winter while also portraying the hopeful spirit of a newborn. This sentiment brings me to this moment in history and how reacting with creative expression and the feeling of hope is a medicine for the dark winter months. , Kenzi Garner

 

“What’s Up?” by 4 Non Blondes: This song is all about crying when you need to, shouting out, singing, questioning things, and continuing on through a lot of unknowns. We want revolution, and it’s also a song to sing really loud to! Like our reading, it brings out passion and energy even in difficult times, and I feel like it addresses a younger generation, just like our Field Guide. – Franny

 

“Long Wave”, by Bonny Doon: This song speaks on nature, living presently and understanding that time is nonlinear → [I am a feeling / And time is a longwave / And it cares / It cares about us all the same]. This song reminds me that I am enough, the small moments of work I am doing is important, and nature is all around us and includes us. Grounding, nostalgic, full. [Skylar]

 

“Oom Sha La La” by Haley Heynderikx: This song touches on feelings of not being enough or not being successful. I think it does a good job of expressing the pessimism that one can feel about life and the world, in somewhat of a melancholy way. It covers the stress of action, but also the consequences of inaction, as well. And then in moves into the step of taking some kind of action, whether in the form of productivity, self-care, or both. -Anna

 

“Wildflowers”- Tom Petty I got into environmental studies because I really just loved being outside, and I think part of me kinda lost that connection as I moved farther into academia. Taking a step back from that as I was evaluating my values while reading this book, I realized that I really just wanted to return to that place because it is one that is very hopeful for me! This song is about “belonging among the wildflowers”, which I think is a fitting message for someone whose remembering their connection with the earth!

 

“Strawberry”, by Paul Baribeau This song is really cute and it reminds me to take a breath and appreciate the small things, like strawberries and looking at the night sky. -KGS

 

Tardigrade Song, Cosmo Sheldrake: Tying in principles of biomimicry, tardigrades are one of the most resilient organisms we know of. The song also emphasizes prioritizing basic needs and comforts. Jamie

 

“Not Your Year”- The Weepies: Although this song could generally be applied to 2020 as well, I feel like the advice within the song and the lyrics pertain to the book as well; the feeling of everything not going right, of outside stresses ruling your life, and learning to be comfortable and okay with things beyond your control.

 

“Back To Earth” – Jason Mraz: This song is an upbeat reminder to check out and slow down when things get overwhelming. Returning to nature as an escape. \

 

“Tomorrow Never Knows” – Quasimoto, Madlib – This song is a littler downer, naming the destruction and chaos of our system, yet reminds the listener of the simple principle of life, impermanence. We truly don’t know about tomorrow. So let’s just focus on today and live.

 

“Tax Shelter” – Aus Rotten: A punk anthem talking about how the U.S. continually neglects its lower classes and minorities and favors rich individuals and corporations. It made me think of the book because they both discuss how class and racial inequality are so closely tied together with other political, social, and environmental issues. -Carmen