Greetings from Weissensee! We’ve settled nicely into our new home, so I’ve put together this little playlist as a meditation on domestic life in Berlin, Germany. Love, marriage, kids, sleep deprivation – it’s all there! I hope you like it. Listen here.
I’m changing the direction of Selfie Playlist to focus on new music: Indie, Punk, DIY, Lo-Fi and Pop. I’ve also been writing a review of each song on Instagram and Twitter. If you like that sort of thing, please consider giving me a follow. I hope you enjoy the tunes as much as I do. Listen here.
Selfie Playlist 8: Criminal Crew
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January was full of suspense for my wife and I. We couldn’t wait to meet our daughter. She was due on the 12th, and as the date came and went, I created this playlist, and used it as a musical diary. It covers a wide spectrum of artists: Stevie Wonder, The Make-Up, Todd Terje and even Herb Alpert. Our daughter should have been a Capricorn, but was born eleven days late, an Aquarius, on January 23rd. We adore her! And I hope one day, she listens to this, and hears the love in it. Listen to it here.
Selfie Playlist 6: We’re Having a Baby
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Batten down the hatches! In December, the German government enforced another lockdown. That was fine by me, we’ve got a baby coming and it was a good opportunity to prepare ourselves for her arrival. When we weren’t listening to Christmas music, the soundtrack was 60s soul from New Orleans, inspired by Irma Thomas’ classic ’It’s Raining’. That song led to many other gems including Diamond Joe’s ‘Gossip Gossip’ , Betty Harris’ ‘Trouble with My Lover’ and Jesse Hill’s ‘Ooh Poo Pah Doo (Part 1)’ which my son and I now sing on a daily basis. I hope 2021 is full of more joyful discoveries and tender moments like these. Listen to the playlist here.
Selfie Playlist 5: Slow Dance in New Orleans
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I spent most of November on my back, suffering from acute sciatic nerve pain. It was a tough month, and at the end of it, I turned forty-one, which was a harsh reminder that I’m ageing. Thankfully, music has a healing quality for me and I managed to squeeze out a playlist in between the grunts and groans. It was fun exploring cumbia- music I grew up with, typically very festive and meant for dancing. I couldn’t get the basslines out of my head, and I’m happy to report, I’m back on my feet again. Listen to the playlist here.
Selfie Playlist 4: Cuckoo for Cumbia
1. Bocanegra -Sonido Gallo Negro
2. La Cosecha de Mujeres – Mike Laure
3. Cumbia Parrandera – Chicos Aventura
4. Nada Que Ver – Grupo Karicia
5. Pájaro Cenzontle – Son Rompe Pera
6. Cumbia Espacial – Ondatrópica
7. Cumbia del Monte Fuji – Frente Cumbiero, Minyo Crusaders
8. La Danza del Petrolero – Los Mirlos
9. El Aguajal – Los Shapis
10. El Conductor – Jose A. Bedoya y su Conjunto
11. Hotline Bling – Quantic, Los Miticos del Ritmo
12. Ya Se Ha Muerto Mi Abuelo – Juaneco y su Combo
13. Cumbia del Pichamán – Meridian Brothers
Listen on Spotify: spoti.fi/2IdOqBD
Listen on Apple Music: apple.co/3lHG4je
Back in L.A. there are parties dedicated to Morrissey and The Smiths at venues around town. For October’s Selfie Playlist, I wanted to capture those feelings of youthful abandon, togetherness and community that those parties represent. So, imagine you are on the dance floor of The Echo in Los Angeles, beer in hand, surrounded by Latinxs with pompadours, shouting along to lyrics about violence and poetry in Manchester, England. Then press play.
Selfie Playlist 3: Morrissey Dance Party
1. London – The Smiths
2. Glamorous Glue – Morrissey
3. The Last of the Famous International Playboys – Morrissey
4. Rusholme Ruffians – The Smiths
5. Vicar in a Tutu – The Smiths
6. Something is Squeezing My Skull – Morrissey
7. First of the Gang to Die – Morrissey
8. Ask – The Smiths
9. I Don’t Mind If You Forget Me – Morrissey
10. Sing Your Life – Live at KROQ – Morrissey
11. Sister I’m a Poet – Morrissey
12. Hand in Glove – The Smiths
13. Suedehead – Morrissey
Listen on Soundcloud.
Listen on Spotify.
Listen on Apple Music.
Our self-titled album Thee Nathaniel Fregoso & the Bountiful Hearts has been released today via R.I.P. Ben Lee Records. Stream it on Spotify, Apple Music or Tidal or buy it on Bandcamp. Watch the video for ‘Just Like Seventh Heaven’ here and the video for ‘Oh Baby!’ here. We did it!
Photo by Malia James. Artwork by Gabriella Seemann.
