# ~ my favorite things ~ 2023 By [saarim](https://paragraph.com/@saarim) · 2024-01-01 --- We are ending 2023 in a tough spot. There are dark forces everywhere. It feels like this year we’ve become more comfortable than ever as a society to give into our fear of _the other_. Othering begets violence and more othering, and we’re seeing this play out everywhere. It’s normal to respond to all of this with a sense of nihilism about the world we live in and the powers that be. But people have been predicting the [end of the world](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_dates_predicted_for_apocalyptic_events) since the beginning of time, and so we must fight on. I’m excited for 2024, I hope it’s better than 2023, and if it’s not … I hope we can still find some of that childlike wonder in ourselves and follow the silver rule. Anyway, I did this post [last year](https://saarim.mirror.xyz/wYA4XYwF6WnTdfKvzkFCpt1pqAT4A36EImALMgvx498) and people seemed to like it, so here we go again. Music ----- I spent a lot of time this year getting back into making music and honing my craft. I’ve released some sketches on [Nina](https://www.ninaprotocol.com/hubs/poolnoodle93). As a result, I’ve also been listening to a lot more music this year. Granted, most of it is old stuff and a lot of it is UK hardcore/bleep/jungle, but I have found some new stuff that I think goes dummy. ### **1\. Jam City - LLTB (feat. Wet)** I’ve always loved Jam City and his latest record is a masterclass in pop production. This is my most listened to album this year according to Apple Music. Really good stuff. [![]({{DOMAIN}}/editor/youtube/play.png)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j5wOULIAhqo) ### **2\. Overmono - Good Lies** These guys have had a great past couple of years, I used to play Hackney Parrot regularly when I was DJ’ing a full ten years ago. Genuinely inventive. [![]({{DOMAIN}}/editor/youtube/play.png)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-0N2cLqGtE) ### **3\. Tek Lintowe - Ween Wao** Excited to see him live in NYC next week. [![]({{DOMAIN}}/editor/youtube/play.png)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdBRYjEumUs) ### **4\. Tirzah - Promises / 2 D I C U V** Mica Levi went wild with that one beat. [![]({{DOMAIN}}/editor/youtube/play.png)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajcEDoPE6uM) [![]({{DOMAIN}}/editor/youtube/play.png)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8DulcBV4Vcc) ### **5\. Playboi Carti - 2024** Kanye Beat. [![]({{DOMAIN}}/editor/youtube/play.png)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YG3EhWlBaoI) ### **6\. NewJeans - Super Shy** K-Pop [enlisting leftfield producers and musicians](https://www.gq.com/story/newjeans-get-up-songwriter-erika-de-casier-interview) is such a positive development for pop music. [![]({{DOMAIN}}/editor/youtube/play.png)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ArmDp-zijuc) ### **7\. Lily-Rose Depp - World Class Sinner / I’m a Freak** People love to hate this show, but it is way better than Euphoria and the song slaps. [![]({{DOMAIN}}/editor/youtube/play.png)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CD90Zx1BYiQ) ### **8\. Pangaea - Installation** Maybe 2024 is when I get back into four on the floor. [![]({{DOMAIN}}/editor/youtube/play.png)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C8Ct6P4k8Gc) ### **9\. Charli XCX - Speed Drive** Barbie was mid, but this song is not. [![]({{DOMAIN}}/editor/youtube/play.png)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TxZwCpgxttQ) ### **10\. Skrillex - Tears** I saw this on the [Basement set](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hb0XLX0b4Y4&t=351s&ab_channel=Skrillex) right before the album came out. Goes hard. I like Rumble too ofc. [![]({{DOMAIN}}/editor/youtube/play.png)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4TmVP3q4V8c) \_\_\_ Movies ------ I got back on Moviepass this year. I get to enjoy the magic of movies for a nominal fee of $30 a month. They were pretty dece this year. ### 1\. May December I left the theater, opened up Letterboxd and smashed the stars on this. [![]({{DOMAIN}}/editor/youtube/play.png)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4VdAParM4h8) ### 2\. Killers of the Flower Moon My only gripe was that it should’ve maybe been _longer_. [![]({{DOMAIN}}/editor/youtube/play.png)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EP34Yoxs3FQ) ### 3\. The Holdovers I miss going to school in New England! [![]({{DOMAIN}}/editor/youtube/play.png)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AhKLpJmHhIg) ### 4\. John Wick 4 The [bathhouse](https://beaire.com/en/aire-ancient-baths-newyork) from John Wick 1 and 3 is a great date spot. And possibly would be the best place to rent for a party in New York. [![]({{DOMAIN}}/editor/youtube/play.png)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qEVUtrk8_B4) ### 5\. Bottoms A great little movie. I laughed. [![]({{DOMAIN}}/editor/youtube/play.png)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JUhsF1cofxU) \_\_\_ Housekeeping ============ * 2023 was a tough year in many ways, but I made a lot of personal progress (I think). But I also lost a bit of that childlike wonder as I got worn down over the year, I’m looking to get some of that back in the new year. I want to get back into TM, classical piano, and reading more nonfiction. * I’ve been working hard to get my music practice together this year after a very long hiatus. It’s been mostly demos and sketches in 2023, but I’m getting close to something good. I hope to be releasing a lot more music in a lot more places this coming year, stay tuned. I’m excited about this intersection of jungle and shoegaze zone I’ve been producing in, I think it’s got legs. * Professionally, I left my job earlier this year. I’ve been busy working on developing an alternative to Dice, Ticketmaster, and all that jazz. It’s a compelling business, and I’m excited to share it with folks early next year. Also, I will be taking on investors, so let me know if you want to chat or have any advice. It’s my first time being a “founder”. I promise not to post cringe. \_\_\_ _Donate to the ongoing humanitarian crises in_ [_Gaza_](https://donate.unrwa.org/gaza/~my-donation?_cv=1) _or_ [_Ukraine_](https://www.unicefusa.org/what-unicef-does/where-unicef-works/europe/ukraine?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAv8SsBhC7ARIsALIkVT16FKd0PMWm03crOpQAWs0SgtWdjCYNLg0r9Tn6oovUc9nCLpjdNL0aAsD4EALw_wcB) _or_ [_Sudan_](https://www.savethechildren.org/us/where-we-work/sudan?cid=Paid_Search:Google_Paid:Emer_Sudan:Nonbrand:103020&s_kwcid=AL!9048!3!663859706838!e!!g!!sudan%20crisis&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAv8SsBhC7ARIsALIkVT0EzxPK-cZnQuOwvw8MpxZ2-NrjCxbhYj7Zmlj55DVimEV74ywe6H0aAidtEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds) _or anywhere else. Do your research._ --- *Originally published on [saarim](https://paragraph.com/@saarim/my-favorite-things-2023-2)*