Now Hear This — Everyone Reveals Their Go-To Spotify Playlist: Your Weekly Look Inside PaperCity Dallas

Music changes our mood. Maybe puts a spring in our step. Perhaps brings us to a place of needed reflection. Or sometimes it’s just what we need to get us through a long commute to work. For writers, we sometimes put on some tunes that inspires epic and sprawling word choices.

With that in mind, music is generally on in most of the PaperCity Dallas offices. For our Now Hear This  question of the week, I’ve polled our motley crew to reveal what is on their Spotify list.

Rebecca Sherman, Home Design Editor

I like to hear the rhythm of words in my head when I write, and music often interferes with that, so I rarely listen to it when I’m working. But, music is amazing for getting in the mood to write, or if I’m just organizing story notes.

I get started with beautiful, moody melodies like these: Kina Grannis’ “Beyond the Sea;” Amy Winehouse’s “Me & Mr. Jones;” Leon Bridge’s “Coming Home;” Sam Cooke’s “A Change is Gonna Come;” K.D. Lang’s “Skylark;” Elliott Smith’s “Somebody That I Used to Know;” Al Green’s “Love and Happiness;” Olivia Olson’s “Tore Up;” Jame’s Blake’s “A Case of You;” Madeleine Peyroux’s “The Summer Wind;” Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On;” Juanes’ “La Historia de Juan;” Vladimir Cosma’s “Promenade Sentimentale;” Joel Virgel’s “Samba e Amor;” Stevie Wonder’s “Village Ghetto Land;” Örsten’s “Fleur Blanche;” Diana Krall’s “Lonely Avenue;” and Chet Baker’s “Almost Blue.”

Christina Geyer, Dallas Editor in Chief

Do you have an hour? There is not one moment in my day that I am not listening to music.

When I wake up: Typically I have to put on something upbeat and empowering. Right now, that translates to anything Cardi B, Beyoncé, and perhaps a little throwback Mariah Carey or Britney Spears (pre-shaved head, of course).

When on deadline at the office, you’ll find me chained to my desk and listening to the Rap Caviar playlist on Spotify. There’s something about rap and hip-hop that really gets me in the zone.

But hold the phone: If I’m on deadline and writing, then I always listen to classical music. I’m a sucker for anything Tchaikovsky, Chopin, or Rachmaninoff. I simply can’t listen to anything with words while I’m trying to find my own words.

This brings me to my workout playlist. I don’t create this myself, as I strictly workout at The Ballet Burn, which provides the best workout music in town. If I’m taking ballet technique at the barre, then it’s all classical. But for the days that I take The Ballet Burn workout — high intensity, people! — then the jams range from old-school Nelly and Missy Elliott to the occasional classic-rock song (Led Zeppelin, please) to M.I.A., George Michael, and even a little Tina Turner now and then.

For evenings, when cooking and winding down, I have two go-to playlists and it depends on the season. During the fall, I’m all about the crooners. There is something about Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Fred Astaire, Louis Armstrong, and Bing Crosby that is an automatic mood lifter — not to mention the perfect dance-around-the-apartment-while-cooking-dinner soundtrack. If it’s summer, my evening playlist is pretty much always Van Morrison. His voice takes me back to the poolside memories of my childhood.

Hillery Stack, Dallas Publisher

I always cringe slightly when I’m asked about my favorite music genre. I sound so basic, because the truth is, I pretty much listen to one exclusively — country.

Ever since my sister came back from her first year at the University of Virginia, with her southern twang and her collection of country music CDs, I was hooked. Naturally, not only did I follow in her footsteps to the same college, but our love for country music evolved and has become one of our most treasured bonds. Not a year goes by without several country concerts together. While this may seem obvious for a Texas resident, you have to keep in mind, we are Yankees so this always comes as a surprise to people. I have even convinced my hubby to love country music.

Now that I drive everywhere, SiriusXM The Highway is my go-to. However, I recently took up running again, so I am listening to my personal marathon training mix which consists of Rihanna, TSwift, Beyoncé, Daft Punk, and Pitbull (don’t judge).

Billy Fong, Culture and Style Editor

Like most of my colleagues, I have playlists for different activities. I also firmly believe, like the menu at a chic restaurant, it should change seasonally. With that in mind, some of my fall activities that require music are…

Road trips. When driving down long expanses of the flat Texas landscape I generally find my happy place in listening to the classics. By classics, I mean the music from my heyday — the 1980s. I’m generally pretty specific and favor the New Wave genre (ie: Smiths, Cure, Siouxsie and the Banshees). With that in mind, some of the oft-played songs will be Echo and the Bunnymen’s “Lips Like Sugar,” New Order’s “Love Vigilantes,” and INXS’ “The One Thing.”

Getting dressed for a night out. This requires some real thought and I can never land upon an outfit unless the music selection leads me to one. (Sort of like using a Ouija board.) That said, music normally needs to be upbeat or have a sexy vibe to inspire me. A few that have been on in my closet of late include Madonna’s “Ray of Light,” Diana Ross’ “Love Hangover,” Portishead’s entire “Dummy” album, and Hall and Oates “Rich Girl.” That last choice generally makes sense since I’m often on the arm of a girl from Highland Park.

Writing my features. Generally, the topic at hand informs my playlist. I agree with CG and sometimes veer towards classical music since I don’t need words thrown at me when I am digging deep to come up with my own. Holst’s “The Planets” and Copland’s “Appalachian Spring” feel like ambient music but without feeling like Ambien music.

Lisa Collins Shaddock, Senior Editor

I am constantly creating playlists for different moods and activities (driving with the windows down, going for a run, dancing in my bathroom…) but my most tried and true is my glass of wine in hand while cooking dinner playlist. It’s a mix of the soundtrack from Vicky Cristina Barcelona and favorites by Van Morrison (“Into the Mystic,” “Crazy Love”), Bob Schneider (“Honeypot,” “Han Solo”), Leon Bridges (“Coming Home,” “Beyond”), The Rolling Stones (“Beast of Burden”), and others.

To switch things up, I’ll throw on the Hamilton soundtrack — which I have almost fully memorized.

Kaley Hanna, Marketing Coordinator

I am truly a mood listener. I am inspired by all things when surrounded by music. It’s country if I’m driving to east Texas to visit the in-laws, its pop hits if I’m getting ready for a girls night out, it’s Broadway classics if I’m really trying to emote my feelings (I am, arguably, the world’s greatest lip syncher).

Currently, my two favorites are Mean Girls, the musical and an up and coming country artist named Ashley McBryde. If you are a fan of the early 2000s comedy, you will love the slightly updated musical (with new plot points about cyberbullying, Instagram followers, etc) but still the tried and true, quote and singalong we have all come to know and love. Also if you want to know what I’m going to be for Halloween — I’m a mouse, duh.

Ashley McBryde is a gritty, talented country artist with song lyrics that touch me deep down in my soul. When listening to an entire album (she currently has two out), I find myself daydreaming about playing her songs in a dive bar. Suddenly my ex-boyfriend walks in and he finally knows how he made me feel when he dumped me after our high school graduation. He is filled with remorse and regret because I am not only a talented singer, but can play guitar as well — both skills I magically picked up over the past 11 years since he left me…. but I digress …

All this being said, Ashley McBryde is a wonderful storyteller and transports you to another world. Check her and Mean Girls, the musical out on Spotify. You won’t be disappointed!

Linda Kenney, Account Executive

Music is life. Here is my current top ten.

“Deacon Blues” from Steely Dan: existential jazz fusion.

“Riviera Paradise” from Stevie Ray Vaughn: Texas Blues with a touch of Montreux.

“Moon Child Blues” from Robben Ford: jazz blues from the underrated Mr. Ford.

“Desert Rose” from Sting and Cheb Mami: mystical pop-jazz with Algerian tones.

“Laughs and Jokes and Drinks and Smokes” from Mark Knopfler: folk rock with the Knopfler charm

“Le Coeur” from Thievery Corporation: Electronic music with elements of jazz, reggae, Middle Eastern beat, and Bossa Nova.

“Rhapsody in Blue” by George Gershwin, specifically the performance by Zubin Mehta and the New York Philharmonic: classical music with pop and jazz elements, a brilliant composition.

“Chameleon” from Herbie Hancock: jazz with a funk beat.

“Uptown Dance” by Stephane Grappelli: jazz violin with a trace of Paris Blues.

”Take Five” by the Dave Brubeck Quintet: jazz written in quintuplet time

I have seen six of these performances live; for which I am eternally grateful.

If you ever have something you want our team to address, shoot us your thoughts via social media or email (@papercitydallas on Instagram; facebook.com/papercitymagdallas on Facebook; or yours truly, billy@papercitymag.com). Or, better yet send a message to the office, handwritten on the Smythson stationery of your choice — and feel free to include a bottle of Veuve. Champagne really helps get the ideas flowing.

Look for the next installment of Now Hear This from Billy Fong next Thursday.