1. Arthur RussellCalling Out Of Context

I can’t remember if it was the second or third posthumous release, but it’s an understatement to say it changed my music and my life in general. The first instrument I ever learned was the cello, and I’ve always felt my love of music jumped around a lot. When I was younger my music was confusing to people, they didn’t understand if what I was making was genuine, whether it was a dance track, an indie track, or an orchestral piece. Discovering this record as a young person, moving to New York, it didn’t feel weird. And I think the best art does that: it makes you feel seen, like there are others out there like you. Even if it’s not the person making the music, maybe it’s just other people listening.

It’s also just very, very good. Beyond all that, it’s insanely out of this world. I was listening to it last week, and no one sounds like that. I’ve always felt misunderstood, maybe still do, and perhaps that’s a good thing. If you feel fully understood, maybe nothing changes. Discovering him and everything he’s made, it felt like a door into another world. In that sense, it’s monumental for me.