JUGS Jams: 2020 in the Rearview

2020 was a year of many things: resilience, agility, uncertainty, reckoning, change, fear, solitude, and unity. It was also a year filled with grief and mourning for those we have lost, and for how lost many of us have felt. We mourned the people we love, the plans we had, the places we wanted to go, the world we wanted to see; but amidst the mourning there was space. We filled that space with books, zoom calls, Tiger King, banana bread, sourdough starter, take out, long aimless walks, protests, campaigning, voting, educating ourselves, watching virtual concerts, falling out of touch with some and more in touch than ever with others. We virtually dated, we social distanced, we learned about science and empathy and how connected they are - and ultimately, how connected we all are. This time of year we see a lot about accomplishments, and celebrations while people reflect on the year, but this year, the accomplishment should be in how you used this space to serve you and get you through one of our toughest years in this lifetime. For me, much of this year was spent finding comfort in music and my relationship with music deepened more than ever. I was moved to tears often by songs I’d heard a thousand times before, I discovered new music, but relied heavily on classics and I had a LOT on repeat...when everything else is unpredictable, sometimes you’ve got to create a little predictability in your playlists, ya know? This playlist won’t necessarily surprise you - but it may feel like a hug from a friend - at least that’s what it’s been for me. *hugs* from the JUGS team!

Artist on the rise: Joy Oladokun

Joy is a sensitive songwriter with a lot to say about ‘life as she learns to live it’ - kind of perfectly relatable these days if you ask me.

On Repeat: New Song, Maggie Rogers & Del Water Gap

I don’t know if it’s the fact that Maggie Rogers won’t stop talking about this song, or that she said she was amazed herself that they found the original audio, but listening to it feels like I’m eavesdropping on a really tender moment - as if I found something I wasn’t meant to find, but need.

Hometown She-Ro: Eleanor Elektra

Without the local music scene this year, I have had to explore a bit more to find local artists and am so happy I stumbled upon Eleanor Elektra - her soft guitar and ethereal voice make her music exceptionally entrancing - especially her song 1921. Check her out!

Want to see your favorite artist on our next playlist?

Suggest a song

Allie Kovalik is a content contributor who has an ear for music, an eye for dogs, and a taste for tacos. Follow all three of her adventures (and many more) on Instagram: @alliek20