The Playlist: Cerentha Harris
In this week’s Playlist, I wanted to turn the spotlight on Lifework’s fearless leader (and my editor) Cerentha Harris. We’ve been working with each other for a while now, but always from opposite coasts–and I often wonder what it would be like if we were creating this blog together in the same workspace. At least now I can get a taste of what it would sound like. Take a listen to her music mix below.
What do you listen to while you work? When I write I like to listen to music without words. Something more ambient. But when I’m researching or editing I’ll listen to a whole range of stuff from Sufjan Stevens to Elvis Costello to Vampire Weekend.
How do you listen? Through speakers attached to my Dell monitor. I work from home so there’s no one but the dog to disturb. I don’t have to worry about keeping it down!
Do you have any favorite music websites/providers? I’m addicted to Pandora. I hear a song I like, create a playlist and get a whole bunch of other songs I like. It’s perfect. I like what pops up on my Eric Satie station – it works well when I’m writing and I need to concentrate. I got into Spotify for a while and I like being able to look at other people’s music lists but I keep returning to Pandora. I’ll also sometimes jump into iTunes and let that play at random. A lot of that music came from my husband so it’s fun for me to listen to it – like getting a mixed tape from him.
Does music influence your work? It certainly influences my mood but not my work directly. There’s nothing like a good song to pick you up out of those 3pm doldrums. Almost as good as a cup of coffee.
What song or artist best represents the work you create? I dread this question! My mind goes completely blank at the thought of pinning down one song to describe all the different work I do. I heard Kate Bush interviewed on KCRW yesterday and was reminded how much I love “Wuthering Heights“. It’s such a wonderfully overwrought, operatic song and fun to work to. But a better song to represent the work I do would be Hauschka’s “Children” – it’s a rich, layered instrumental piece that’s busy (like me) and beautiful (which is what I aim for with the work I produce).
Cerentha’s Playlist
Ryan Adams, Dirty Rain
Sufjan Stevens, Chicago
Lenka, The Show
Ingrid Michaelson, Be OK
Badly Drawn Boy, Once Around the Block
Aimee Mann, Save Me
Ben Lee, Apple Candy
Bernard Fanning, Hope and Validation
Nick Cave and Various Artists, The Ship Song Project
Billy Bragg and Wilco, California Stars
Fiona Apple, Across the Universe
Erik Satie, Gymnopedie
Love it!