In 2016, I was in college in Indiana. Random, I know. Studying media studies, surrounded by people who seemed to fit in perfectly - and there I was, the sort of alt girl from Texas with a nose ring and a overly colorful wardrobe.

I didn’t fit there, so I did what any girl with a car, a phone, and a mild sense of main character syndrome would do: I escaped into music. All day. Every day.

At that point in my life, I was convinced I was going to work in the music industry. I grew up playing guitar and singing opera. At my college, I had a radio show and I aggressively read music blogs. I lived on Twitter, refreshing timelines like my life depended on it, just to find new songs before anyone else did.

My car was basically my temple. Windows down, volume up, Indiana cornfields flying by. Sometimes I would literally stop and sing to the cows. There are so many moments from that year where it felt like time just… stopped. Like all my worries politely exited my brain and left me alone with whatever song was playing.

The music I loved back then was optimistic. Grand. Unafraid of being a little dramatic. It wasn’t trying to be cool, it was trying to feel huge. It was meant to be listened to with a massive, slightly embarrassing smile on your face.

I recently went back and combined a few of my old 2016 playlists into one big one. It feels like opening a time capsule I forgot I buried. Same girl, same dreams, just with a clothing brand instead of a record label.

So here it is. My 2016, in song form.

Put it on. Roll the windows down. Let your brain go quiet for a minute.

Enjoy.