In defense of the indie 2000s

Image Courtesy: Meghan Pascual

I’m sure I sound like a broken record when I say this semester has gone by too quickly. As the talk of summer internships and vacations begins, I’ve moved to focus on the moments that make time feel slower.

When this new year started, I made a bucket list of things I wanted to start or improve on. I also made a moodboard that had goals for the year, outfit inspo and recipes. As I started my spring classes and clubs, I saw my routines start to slow down. 

I attribute this initial shift to camp. During my last summer, I spent nine weeks in North Carolina’s mountains working as a camp counselor. Despite the long days and the longer list of insane stories I acquired, I never felt more in tune with myself than I did when I was there.

It was at camp that I discovered the art of taking time for yourself. On the rare occasions when I had some free time or a meal off, I tried to spend it slowing things down. Many of these times circled the calm, and some highlights I can vividly remember included tanning alone at the dock and going for drives with the windows down.

I quickly made a playlist I could listen to when I had this time off, and it added to my routine at camp. Norah Jones’ “Sunrise” was the first song I added. From there, I moved through her discography and fell down a music spiral of early 2000s music. 

During my transition into sophomore year, I wanted to find ways to feel the same way I did at camp. I started yoga, I invested in some Free People, and religiously watched back old live 2000s music performances (If you haven’t checked out “In Your Atmosphere - Live Version” by John Mayer, go ahead).

Although the 2000s saw the rise of many popular boy bands and girl groups, the slow, indie scene was moving in parallel. This music combined much of what was old with a new, fresh spin and invited a new generation of millennial listeners. For musicians like Norah Jones, her music combined jazz with pop, featuring artists like Dolly Parton and Ray Charles in her music, which I feel really speaks to how timeless she sounds.

This genre is referred to (lovingly, I hope) on social media as Starbucks music. For me, it perfectly captures that feeling of being little and seeing the world through a different perspective, where the most exciting outing was to Starbucks with my mom or feeding the ducks at the park. 

So while this feeling may be tainted by a little bit of nostalgia, there is something to say about the vibe that this music exudes. It’s not fluff; it doesn’t have strong instrumentals, but it’s genuine and makes you feel a little calmer each time you listen. There’s jazz, there’s some soul—it’s easy listening. 

I have no expertise in stress management, but doing small tasks that help me to put life into perspective and putting aside time to do so has been important. Whether it’s the walk back from my hot yoga class, listening to Norah Jones while I cook breakfast or watching my favorite 2000s low-budget movie back, these tasks together help me to slow my routines and focus!

Strike Out,

Meghan Pascual

Editor: Cira Thigpen

Athens