DJ Jim Q's Playlist: Monumental

The theme for February is Monumental. Is there any disagreement that music is monumental? The role it plays in our culture is beyond massive. Our songs inspire style, art, and political movements. They provoke the scorn of the establishment, and of course terrify parents, always frightening the parents. Music evokes such strong emotional reactions, it can get our hands sweating, hearts beating and the blood flowing. So much so that it sometimes compels us to gyrate around like fools, some more foolish than others. How utterly strange it is that the simple vibration of air at varied frequencies can elicit such immense response. This just reinforces the tremendous and visceral connection we have to music. Its power seems at times beyond our control, and absolutely bigger than we are.

I was delighted to see that my fellow DMV comrades in the Richmond, Virginia chapter selected the theme this month. I’ve nominated a bunch of artists from RVA, including the bolero revivalist, Miramar. Miramar’s first album is an enchanting dedication to Puerto Rican composer Sylvia Rexach with a collection of covers of her compositions. It’s a beautiful selection of songs and my introduction to the bolero genre. I’ve also included Richmond favorites, Bio Ritmo. Bio Ritmo shares a few musicians with Miramar, but with a completely different stylistic expression of Latin-infused dance. For over two decades Bio Ritmo has been recording and performing original contemporary Latin music that sounds both fresh, timeless, and always infectious. And if you ever have the opportunity to see Bio Ritmo live, count yourself lucky and don’t miss out.

These towering tracks of mammoth musicianship were carefully curated to honor the Monumental theme. This month’s playlist is densely packed with over forty songs of distinction, importance, and colossal consequence. From the “Monumental Shame” of Spirit of the Beehive, to the ominous thump of Black Sabbath’s “Iron Man”, to Burna Boy’s robust “African Giant”, to Beyonce’s “Bigger”, this epic playlist is full of songs that command attention and inspire awe.

Thanks for tuning in this month. I hope you enjoy the playlist. If you do, I would love to hear from you. Give me a holler on Twitter and be sure to follow me on Spotify. See you next month.