Playlist: Lucy Arnell bonds deeply with stories of human conditions

Welcome to Playlists, a series where we turn over the reigns to artists to curate the next big playlist

Music can say things we just can’t utter allowed. Between sun-bleached layers of electric guitar, beat-threshed rhythms and cloudy, poetic and reliably-cathartic lyricism, stories in song can dig into the soul and uncover courage, fear, anger, sorrow, joy, triumph. Through a distinctive alt-rock lens, warbling song bird Lucy Arnell wanders through a world of ash and ruin, attempting to come to grips with reality and her own deteriorating psyche. Her latest record, 2018’s Anyways, Amy, is stamped with a fire-born spirit and captures the tragic beauty of life in sweltering theatrics greatly influenced by many pillars who have trodden down pathways before her.

Exclusive to B-Sides & Badlands, Arnell, a voice both siren-like and scaly, curates a playlist of soul-bounding stories that have stuck on her brain through the years. From the work of Rolling Stones to Elton John to Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, her inspirations tread upon countless territories of the human existence, weaving in and out of dark puddles of sanctimonious melancholy through sky-knitted hope. In each case, she carries a command for the majesty of some of the finest rock music to ever be made. The playlist also includes Nirvana, Ex Cops, Smashing Pumpkins and Phish, among others.

Below, Arnell walks us through her selections and offers up sage wisdom.

“Rocks Off” by Rolling Stones

How do you tell a story about the time I ate too many weed gummies because I thought TSA knew and had to listen to “Rocks Off” on repeat for 8 hours to survive?

“Daniel” by Elton John

Caught EJ in Vegas on the Red Piano tour in 2005. He had 30-foot balloons inflate throughout the whole show and a video of Pam Anderson pole dancing.

“Scentless Apprentice” by Nirvana

I got into Nirvana late but fully dove in once I did. The words are from his favorite childhood novel about a perfume maker’s apprentice who couldn’t smell. I think that says a lot more than I could explain.

“Behind That Locked Door” by George Harrison

George is my favorite Beatle. John a close second. We’re all behind a locked door but maybe GH got out. My producer and good friend Jason Abraham Roberts took me on a pretty thorough Beatles journey in 2013, and from it, I emerged with the most love for GH.

“The Millionaire” by Ex Cops

Another good friend Brian Harding (Ex Cops) is one of the best songwriters. He just has this vast knowledge of music. Brian taught me I have every right to be influenced by anything at any time and to combine any number of those influences in any way. It was a privilege to work with him on “SMS” from my new record.

“May This Be Love” by Jimi Hendrix

Metal has human properties and is alive. 46 replays of this song taught me that because the solo sounds DIFFERENT every time. It’s stunningly beautiful, but that added element is remarkable.

“Here Is No Why” by Smashing Pumpkins

The solo. Every time. Cool that dudes like Billy Corgan can make uplifting rock songs.

“Reba” by Phish

A song about a version of Mrs. Lovett. I’m a big horror fan.

“High Time” by Grateful Dead

When you hear something you bond with so deeply, it takes you home every time. My eternal vehicle home.

“Teach Your Children” by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young

I listened to this song MY WHOLE LIFE. Since I can remember. I didn’t get into Jerry Garcia until I was in college. So there was a huge gap between my early love of classic rock, and my later love of improvisational rock. I hadn’t even considered the link between those scenes. Only about three years ago did I learn that Jerry plays the pedal steel on the intro. For my whole life, I’d been unknowingly loving the man who would later come to mean so much to me. It really freaked me out!

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