ANNE MARIE TO STEPHEN:

AM: What is your favorite song?

SB: Try by Airhockey, just puts me in a Tame Impala mood.

AM: Have you heard any of these tracks before?

SB: What I want the most by Diamond Cafe. Was my last song out of the February list and I thought maaaybe I could sneak it into March without anyone knowing. Guess that plan went out the window.

AM: What is the last piece of content that you absorbed that inspired or moved you? Something new to your ears or eyes that made you jump outside of your viewing or listening experience for a second and think, things are looking up. I'm going to be able to accomplish my goals. Life really is good.

For me, it was the first track on February's playlist. I was out for a walk the other day at dusk, there was a nice breeze, and it shuffled on. I just started feeling better. Feeling like all the things I want and need are right around the corner. It was a moment of levity. A temporary feeling. But I felt it.

SB: Well, as you can imagine, this past week was particularly difficult for me with Daft Punk hanging it up. What an amazing group, what an amazing run. I work my R.A.M shirt yesterday and it turned into a conversation piece just about everywhere I went. Young kids talking about how they’ve been inspired by Daft Punk, older gents talking about when they first heard about them in the 90s. It was quite nice to see just how many people have also been moved by the group. That said, I still found myself bummed out that we won’t ever get to experience that first listen. That snippet of a song teaser that you just play over and over imagining what the rest of it will look like. But the one thing that does give me hope is hearing/seeing all of the young artists out there that were so heavily influenced by DP that it brings me joy to see who the next budding musicians will be that will carry on DP’s lessons. Which is why (getting back to your question) last night, I kicked back in my chair, poured a glass of bourbon and played Parcel’s Live Vol. One album all the way through. And while it’s not Daft Punk, you can tell the heavy influence (they’ve admitted as much) and it made me smile and think that the robots will live on beyond the albums they made.

STEPHEN TO ANNE MARIE:

SB: What is your favorite song?

AM: Lucy by KALI. Although the opening to It's Been You by Mindchatter is dope.

SB: Have you heard any of these tracks before?

AM: Madlib but not this song.

SB: What kind of music do you think will take you by surprise this year and become more frequently played even if it’s not in your regular rotation?

AM: Hopefully classical music. I feel so classically illiterate but every now and then I come across something I really vibe with and it makes me sad that I'm not more knowledgeable about it. The same thing happens with classic rock. There are songs I don't like and then I hear something I love and our good friend, Hilary, reminds me that it is technically classic rock. I'm hoping she'll make me a playlist later this year. Still on the hunt for someone to make me a classic playlist, though.