According to Eddie, the Right Song Always Shows Up
From moments of change to memories that still linger, Eddie’s picks reflect a listener who trusts music to meet him exactly where he is.
Eddie (@wicked.spins) joins us for the April 28 to May 2 prompts as someone who experiences music differently every time and connects with the songs that soundtrack whatever life is bringing his way. His picks move from an artist he’s long hoped to see live to an album that reshaped how he hears pop, and into songs and records that carry meaning, memory, and a sense of personal timing.
The prompts offer a closer look at how Eddie has connected with music in different moments of his life. One looks ahead to the artist he wants to experience live, defined by previous unaccomplished attempts and shaped by anticipation. Another turns to album artwork, where his answer reflects a shift in perception, finding emotion and stillness in something he once overlooked, the art of black and white covers. A different one explores an album that changed how he hears a genre that go from early assumptions about a genre to full on discovery mode that led to a wider world of artists and sounds. Another focuses on a song with a powerful message, where meaning comes through not just the song’s lyrical content but also the story and performance behind the selection. The final prompt brings it back to an artist whose music has stayed with him across different phases of his life, offering both energy and comfort depending on the moment, even as the artist has tried out many genres as they’ve evolved.
Which artist do you want to see live soon?
Wallows have been my favourite band since they released their debut album “Nothing Happens” in 2019. In recent years I have been trying to see them live, but unfortunately for a range of reasons I haven't been able to attend any of their tours. From watching videos, all of their performances look amazing live. I especially like the fact that they play in medium/smaller venues as it just seems like it would be a special and intimate event.
With them beginning to tease potentially a new album, I am hopeful that they will be going on tour and that I can finally attend. Honestly if I had it my way, I would ideally want a near enough 4 hour concert of all of their songs as personally there isn't a single skip in their discography. For me, if I had to pick 3 of their songs that I would want to see live the most it would be: Do Not Wait, Marvelous and Not Alone.
I've attended a range of live music events, yet I have never been to one of my favourite bands. Experiencing a different vibe is something that interests me a lot. I think when an artist or band has songs that feel so personal for a multitude of reasons, the opportunity to connect with them and other fans while the live performance is happening is just something so memorable.
Which self-titled album cover do you love?
I have always liked Shawn Mendes from radio hits and music videos, but I really became a fan around the time he released ‘Shawn’ in 2024. While as an album, popularity wise, it didn't perform massively in streams and public attention, I loved everything about it, one of those things being the album cover.
I've not always been a fan of black and white album covers as I thought they lacked emotion sometimes. However, this album changed that thought process for me. Just looking at it, the cover already makes you feel the same kind of calm and thoughtfulness as when listening to the songs.
I discovered it while only the singles like “Why Why Why” had been released. I was on holiday, where I was able to take long walks surrounded by trees with just me and my music and it perfectly encapsulated my vibe at that time. Since then it has become one of my most streamed albums and I have multiple vinyl variants of it.
I think it is very interesting that Shawn decided to have the album cover in black and white yet the photoshoots and other media in colour, I like that this draws more attention to the cover itself to represent the album. The theme of the album is very natural, such as being out in the woods, this is shown through photoshoots and videos and most prominently the album cover. It is natural and still, very calm just like the album is.
If you haven’t given this album a listen, I’d personally recommend “Heart of Gold,” “Heavy,” and “The Mountain.”
Which album changed how you hear a genre?
For me, Future Nostalgia by Dua Lipa really affected how I hear and approach pop music. While I have always liked pop music prior to 2020, it was just not nearly as much as I like it today. My main go-to with music was always indie bands such as Wallows or older music from the 70s and 80s like Kate Bush, Bruce Springsteen and Blur.
I guess it didn’t help that I always had it in my head that pop music was a bit generic and all very similar… but I never gave it too much further thought until I heard Future Nostalgia. I think the way she turned samples or versions of old music into a modern pop sound was just genius. “Need You Tonight” by INXS sampled in “Break My Heart” and “Your Woman” by White Town sampled in “Love Again” really stood out as these were songs that I had listened to and enjoyed previously.
I had Future Nostalgia on constant repeat and from that point onwards it helped me discovery my love for modern pop that led me to branch out to other artists that remain some of my favourite to this day such as Lady Gaga, Ariana Grande and Miley Cyrus.
However, something about Dua feels much more special to me. Today anybody who knows me personally will know she is my favorite music artist in every way. I love her approach to life and her positivity that is especially portrayed through the meaning of her last album Radical Optimism. I enjoy how powerful her songwriting is, without it having to be extremely personal and invasive into parts of her life as this feels much easier to relate my personal experiences too when listening to her music. I feel so glad that she released Future Nostalgia, because I think back to all of the music I’ve enjoyed, friends I've made and events I’ve attended that may not have happened if this album wasn't the turning point in my music taste.
What’s a song that carries an important message?
It's widely agreed that music is a great way to portray emotions or messages and for me personally one song that stands out in doing that is Defying Gravity from the Wicked soundtrack. It is such a beautiful song that shows a pivotal moment in Elphaba’s life. She has quickly lost all the support she believed was with her and yet somehow finds the confidence to take the leap into the scary and unknown.
When you're faced with a difficult decision it can be extremely hard to know if you're choosing the correct option, even more so when it feels there is nobody out there that supports or agrees with you. Defying Gravity shows the process of internal conflict followed by believing in yourself.
The way Cynthia took on the meaning of this song and her character was admirable as I believe she helps the message be portrayed as it was meant to be. I love how it gives off an empowering vibe, encouraging listeners to follow their heart.
One lyric that really stands out to me is “Too long I’ve been afraid of losing love, I guess I’ve lost.” Personally I believe the lyric captures the fear of other people’s opinions, and the moment you realise they don’t have to define your choices. Overall, I think that Defying Gravity is an amazing song that carries so many different interpretations and important messages.
Which artist’s work feels most personal to you?
I listen to a range of artists, but I always feel like Miley Cyrus’ work feels personal to me. I am a huge fan of the majority of her records, and in a way as I have discovered each one, it was exactly what I wanted to hear at that time. I think she makes so many beautiful songs such as “Rose Colored Lenses,” “The Most,” and “Give Me Love.” All of which I just cannot get enough of.
She has so many different sounds across her work so there is something for every vibe or emotion. I specifically feel connected to her most recent album which has been essentially on repeat since its release last year. I really connected with the “Something Beautiful” album as it was quite a turbulent and changing time in my life… so from emotional tracks like “More to Lose” and “Give Me Love” to energetic tunes like “Walk of Fame” and “End of the World,” the whole album was almost a soundtrack to my life at that point.
Every time I hear the track “End of the World” it just instantly takes me back to times when that song was first released with people close to me. I find a sense of safety within her confident upbeat songs as well as her ballads and deep cuts. I like how her music can be interpreted in a way that feels personal to me, even when it reflects experiences from her own life that are completely different. Thinking about what's next to come from her, it excites me, whenever that is, I’m certain that it will be exactly what I need to hear.
For Eddie, music tends to arrive alongside whatever life is placing in front of him. For each moment, there’s a different way to consume music, whether through his records, CDs, cassettes or on Spotify. When he’s home, his favorite place to listen to music, it joins him in activities such as gaming, cooking, or simply chilling out. Other times, when he settles by a body of water, artists like Cynthia Erivo, Lana Del Rey, and Laufey help him slow down and stay present in the moment.
But music isn’t only about what is currently playing. Some tracks stay tied to specific memories and people, like the ones that filled long drives after obtaining his driving permit alongside a close friend and boyfriend. Among the songs that accompanied them were “End of The World” by Miley Cyrus and “Handlebars” by Jennie and Dua Lipa. Nowadays, whenever these songs come on, Eddie remembers how the weather was getting warmer, the nights were getting longer, and how they were discovering new places, trying new things, all while singing along.
A listener who lets music follow him through everyday moments, from quiet time at home to walks by the water. Drawn to songs that bring both comfort and clarity, often holding onto the memories they carry.
