Very Specific Playlists is a weekly feature in which Jezebel staffers make very specific Spotify playlists based on their weird proclivities.
Oh right, taxes… For a good portion of absent-minded America, the past few weeks have been stressful, trying to carve time to complete a simple mandatory adult task we’ll otherwise be audited over. The sweat beads on your foreheads and armpits have been activated, signaling the fact that a dreaded deadline is approaching (this year it’s Monday, April 18). Do you say fuck it and file for an extension or do your diligence and listen to some soothing music while you calculate your previous year’s riches, expenses (receipts for which you definitely saved) and smart investments?
More than likely, the scenario is you confusedly reading TurboTax instructions four times in a row to make sure you get it, even though you do this every year. Full disclosure: I have already filed my taxes. But I’m no stranger to procrastinating until the final hour. For some people, the process takes but 10 minutes, in which case not much musical support is needed. For those of us who do a lot of freelance work or own a business, this time of the year means hours of fine-combing and hunting for paperwork you swear the cat was just chewing on. We could hire an accountant or go to H&R Block or something, but we’d rather not spend unnecessary money on The Man. Here’s a stress-relieving playlist to help get through these late-filing woes.
1. Freddie Joachim, “Shoulder Kiss”
I found this song on Spotify’s “Jazztronica” playlist, described as a place “where jazz meets electronic music.” Normally, I’d never browse a playlist with the title Jazztronica, but I took a chance on this hoping for some chill electro vibes and discovered Freddie Joachim, a DJ/producer whose smooth, stripped down (neo-soul reminiscent) style is the type that soundtracks rainy days or lounges or rainy days in lounges.
2. Billie Holiday, “Easy Living”
My favorite photo of Billie Holiday is a shot of her singing so intensely you can feel the emotion pouring out. When I moved into my Crown Heights apartment several years ago and found myself shopping for vinyl art to frame on my wall like a true Brooklynite, I bought a cheap Billie single cover featuring that image at a record store. “Easy Living” is one of those classically carefree songs and perfect background music for contemplating, house cleaning or digging through piles of receipts.
3. The Internet, “Under Control”
There’s a surprisingly easy transition from Billie to the laid-back sounds of the Internet. While almost any song on their album Ego Death works for relaxation, this one is a good rhythmic support system for tax time because it’s like a little Uncle Sam angel whispering in your ear, “It’s under control, I got it…”