Samantha M. Lopez 10/21/24 Samantha M. Lopez 10/21/24

October, My Muse and Moment of Magic

October has always been my favorite month, not just because it’s my birth month, but because it feels like everything aligns perfectly: the crisp air, golden light, the scent of cinnamon, apple, and pumpkin weaving through every bakery and cafe. New York City thrives wrapped in the warmth of autumn. Halloween’s creeping closer, it’s peak farmers market season and there’s that sense of joyful anticipation in the air.

I prefer to keep my birthday plans simple, understated. I find applying less pressure on having fun actually turns out to be more joyful for me. So I figured the best way to kick off the month would be with one of my favorite things: an outdoor show, surrounded by my best friends. The show promised the kind of electric energy I was craving, and it didn’t disappoint. Kaytranada, Channel Tres, and Sam Gellaitry put together a 4-hour DJ set that was an electric collaborative dance party. The music flowed through the crowd like an unstoppable current, pulling everyone in, bodies moving in rhythm together synced to the pulse of the universe. Losing myself in the music, in the atmosphere, in the joy of being there with the people I love most, I felt grateful for life and another year around the sun.

I’d be lying if I said that I don’t routinely look forward to being taken out to dinner for my birthday. I am lucky to be married someone so thoughtful he researches restaurants until narrowing down options I’ll find interesting, menus filled with plenty of things I’ll love, and then excitedly say, “I knew that was for you” when I order precisely what he predicted. This year, the cuisine was southern Italian and the drinks were aromatic. Everything on Pasta Louise’s menu is made entirely from scratch - the sauces, breads, desserts, and of course, pasta. They feature a different shape of fresh pasta daily, which adds to the communal experience. Or at least I like to think so, since as it turned out, John Turturro was sitting at the table right behind us.

We ordered a chicken parmigiana starter, first time seeing that on a list of appetizers so it was practically a no-brainer, along with a farro salad with delicata squash, kale, pomegranate, ricotta salata, sunflower seeds and lemon vinaigrette that I am still thinking about to this day. So similar to something we make at home, I’m going to have to recreate this dish at home very soon. The pasta shape of the day was rigatoni, and for our mains my husband had a Creamy Wild Mushroom pasta with five different wild mushrooms while I had to try their Spicy Red Pesto. Both of us added cannellini beans, crispy prosciutto and arugula. Mine accidentally came with burrata but I was certainly not disappointed about that. Lasting thoughts, cannellini beans are extremely underrated and crispy prosciutto is my favorite version of prosciutto ever.

This month, I also discovered that Mariah Carey had released an expansive collection of House music remixes of her songs from the 1990’s through the 2000’s. She re-recorded vocals and added new melodies, building on multiple layers in her songs. A complete change of sound from the music that we already knew and loved. Daydream and Butterfly were tremendously influential to me as a child and a (secretly) aspiring singer. I remember sitting on the floor directly in front of the stereo, eagerly adding my CD to the rotating mix and flipping through the album booklet as it played, taking in the lyrics and rehearsing the highest notes.

Hearing so many of my favorite songs beautifully reimagined has made my month, maybe my year. It has been my soundtrack for this entire month and likely the rest of the year. I feel like everyone needs to know, I lived these many years completely unaware! Which brings up something else I feel strongly about, why are contemporary songs so short now? Successful albums and singles (ones I love too) barely include songs past the three minute mark anymore. Chugging along life to ten minute House remixes of songs from 1995 really makes the distinction. Honestly, we need to bring the genre back.

I’ll be clinging onto this moment for as long as I can. After Halloween is over, it’s Election week and before we know it the next couple of months race by at lightning speed. Holiday season is stressful of course, but for now I’ll just focus on getting to reunite and spend time with my sister again, as she always comes back to New York City to spend Christmas with all of us together. November, I’m ready for you.

Samantha M. Lopez 10/9/24 Samantha M. Lopez 10/9/24

KAYTRANADA Timeless Tour 2024, with Channel Tres, Sam Gellaitry @Forest Hills Stadium

I had been waiting for the perfect opportunity to see KAYTRANADA live since at least 2016 when 99% dropped. I thought it finally was the right time four years ago, until the Corona virus happened and the tour was canceled. Which is why as soon as I saw he was doing a Timeless tour and performing at one of my favorite small stadiums in NYC, I had to buy tickets immediately. Sold out back-to-back Friday and Saturday nights’ shows, I knew we were in for a very good time.

It seemed like the perfect way to kick off my birthday celebrations this year, so I invited a couple of my best friends and their partners and we all got ready to dance and have a good time. The show started on the early side which was nice for a change. Doors opened at 5, giving us a moment to grab drinks and a bite to eat before Scottish DJ Sam Gellaitry opened with his set. I wasn’t familiar with his music except for his collab with PinkPantheress which was easily one of my favorite songs from 2022. My friend from LA was thrilled for me when I mentioned his name, letting me know his time with Soulection cemented a devoted fan base on the West, so I looked forward to checking out his live set. It seemed like most of the crowd didn’t know him well either. He played a lot of unreleased music as well as some Charli XCX and a 2006 Teriyaki Boyz throwback to get people moving while everyone made it inside and the stadium slowly filled up.

Channel Tres
Photo Credit: Samantha M. Lopez

Next was Channel Tres. The Compton rapper and producer has a very distinct voice and sound I was excited to hear live. But it was his stage presence that set him apart. He didn’t DJ, instead he and his backup dancers had perfected choreography for each song he played.

This was a headliner worthy set and show. Performing my favorites including “Controller,” “Cactus Water,” “I’ve Been in Love,” “6am” and of course “Topdown” — we were having an incredible time watching the sun set in the background dancing to the rhythm.

KAYTRANADA
Photo Credit: Samantha M. Lopez

At 8pm sharp, KAYTRANADA made it to the stage. Setting up a stemmed glass of white wine right above his mixing board, the Hatian-Canadian producer opened with his album opening track “Pressure” before going into his set, which mostly consisted of his three main albums, 99%, BUBBA, and Timeless, as well as songs from Intimidated and At All.

Taking breaks to sip from his glass, he also played some of his biggest produced songs including GoldLink’s Meditation, and Victoria Monét’s Alright. The transitions between songs were seamless, the baseline vibrating through the crowd with dazzling pyrotechnics illuminating the swaying crowd. Everyone was moving, it was impossible not to.

KAYTRANADA matched the energy and playful spirit of his songs, singing along to his tracks and doing his signature drop during “Be Your Girl.” Ethereal visuals during Witchy, striking poses during “Dance Dance Dance Dance,” the crowd feeling every bit of the contagious energy. It was a perfect set, divided into two halves: the first half of the show was upbeat, the second slower and smoother.

“This ain’t no concert man, this is a party!” he exclaimed toward the end of his set, and he certainly delivered an electric, visually stunning dance party. An ode to his catalogue, it was obvious that the overwhelming theme and feeling of levity was his ability to entertain and foster an environment that feels divine, and brings thousands of people together.

October, My Muse and Moment of Magic

Another Year Around the Sun

KAYTRANADA Timeless Tour 2024, with Channel Tres, Sam Gellaitry @Forest Hills Stadium