DJ Jim Q's Playlist: Simplicity

Nominated by our friends in the Gothenburg chapter, the theme this month is Simplicity and I can already feel the relief of decluttering. I have come to believe that creative works benefit from simplification. I was watching an old MET profile on the brilliant portraitist Alice Neel. She had a quote that resonated with me about painting, saying “…it’s one of those things that’s hard to start, and it’s hard to stop.” While she was talking mostly about momentum, it is the “hard to stop part” that makes me think of simplicity. Less is more in most instances. I’m certainly guilty of overburdening creative work. It comes from my obsessive and fastidious tendencies and sometimes it is done to overcompensate for feelings of doubt or uncertainty about the quality of the work. Over the years, I had to condition myself to reduce and simplify rather than continuously expand or ruminate on my creative endeavors. The work won’t surrender, you have to decide when it’s finished. As Coco Chanel famously suggested, “Before you leave the house, look in the mirror and take one thing off.”

Most creative endeavors benefit from restraint and some amount of simplification. Music in particular can be most compelling in its very basic expression. Harlan Howard put it best when he described country music as "…three chords and the truth.” While I have a deep appreciation for complex and intricate music from progressive rock, to jazz, to experimental forms, it’s often the most simple music that resonates with me on an emotional level. Music stripped back to its rudimentary elements always seems to be more enticing and powerful. Early hip hop was often just an MC, some turntablism, and maybe a drum machine. Eric B and Rakim’s “Paid in Full” is one of the all time greatest hip hop records and it was constructed with just those simple ingredients. Punk’s DIY foundation suggests it’s simplicity was often less of a choice and more of a limitation, but nonetheless the results are the same, concentrated no nonsense songs that were far more immediate and provocative than the elaborate prog rock and intricate studio productions dominating the radio at the time. Of course roots music, the blues, classic country, and folk music has always been modest in terms of its construction. It is this minimalism that makes it feel unadorned, honest, and real. One of the most compelling things is an artist baring their soul with little more than their voice accompanied by a single piano or guitar. These minimal compositions tend to feel more vulnerable and that heightens the emotion. A few of my favorites are: Cat Power’s performance on Jools Holland of “I Don’t Blame You”, Sinéad O'Connor acapella rendition of “Danny Boy”, Lead Belly’s haunting “Where Did You Sleep Last Night”, and Bob Dylan’s pining serenade “The Girl From North Country"—these stripped down performances have a potency undiluted by ornate sonic decoration. Some of the greatest bands are built around simplicity. The Ramones, AC/DC, White Stripes, Pixies, Run DMC, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Motörhead, The Meters, and ESG, each had a simple formula, consistent sound, limited instrumentation, and unpretentious compositions. With fewer ingredients, each flavor is more potent.

Complexity can be intellectually stimulating, but the heart responds to simplicity and this month’s playlist is stripped down with powerfully minimal and uncluttered songs. Charlotte Cornfield keeps it ”Cut and Dry“, Amerie responds to ”Just 1 Thing“, Nico ponders on the little things ”These Days“ and ”Let it Be“ is simple but sage advice especially when sung by Aretha. So cue it up and simply let it play.

Thanks for listening. If you like these playlists please let me know. I would love to hear from you on Twitter or Threads. Also be sure to like and follow on Spotify. See you next month with another themed playlist.