WriTtEn bY MELANIA ZILO aRt & LayOut By SERENA BRUNO

What is your daily self-care routine?

How do you prioritize self-care in your busy schedule?

My daily routine is simple; I love prioritizing my skincare routine and cooking homemade meals. It brings me joy! I’m very extroverted, so part of my happiness is spending time with friends. They are truly one of the best things in my routine, whether it’s a quick catch-up via FaceTime or a coffee date. During busy weeks, it’s all about balance. If I don’t have time for the gym, then I’ll go for a walk while doing errands.

How do you believe wellness and fashion intersect, and how do you incorporate this connection into your work?

For me, fashion and wellness intersect in many ways. First, it is about being consumer conscious and knowing that most trends are fads, so buying everything because it is trendy at the moment doesn’t fulfill your well-being but only contributes to overconsumption. Fashion is about self-expression and feeling good; therefore, in my daily life and work, it’s important that I enjoy what I wear. Trends are amazing only if they are aligned with my own personal style.

How do you navigate the pressures of social media and self-promotion as a wellness and fashion creative?

"Some days, it gets to me more than others, but I’ve truly mastered how to manage my time on social media. It is a great space for inspiration for me, so when I feel overwhelmed, I focus on what is real: art, music, and nature. In school, I learned how to make a mood board, and it rarely involved people, more so textures, shapes, colors, etc...

How do you stay current and inspired in both the wellness and fashion industries and what trends are you currently loving? Looking around honestly, get outside, and people-watch! My friends have the best sense of style; it’s wonderful to see how we can all create such unique and amazing outfits. At the moment, I’m into colored tights, ponchos, silver bags, and lace skirts.

You’re on an island and can only take 5 self-care items with you; what are you bringing?

"Caudalie moisturizer, LESSE facial mist, matcha packets, Glossier Balm Dotcom in Fig, and a nail clipper…"

Title:‘AREWETHEMUSICIANSWELISTENTO?

Length: ................................................... 4:46

written by parmis etezady art and layout by melania zilo

Have you ever told someone you listen to a certain musician, only to hear the response: “of course you do?” It may be startling to be told that you are exactly who someone expected you to be. I’ve been told more times than I can count that I am the living stereotype of an “indie girl,” “old soul,” or “rock chick” solely because of the music I listen to and my favorite musicians. However, I’ve come to find as much as I hate to admit it, it’s true. From my observations, most of the music we listen to and the artists we support have to do with how we think of the world and of ourselves– from our thoughts, feelings, and actions to how we express ourselves through our style and hobbies.

We are the musicians that we listen to.

If you’re wondering how I came to this conclusion, let me tell you. I received my Spotify Wrapped stats for 2022 and shared the results on my Insta story. My top artist was The Smiths. Soon messages started flooding in from my friends asking me if I was okay or if I had had a sad year. Whether some of the messages were sarcastic or serious, I started reflecting on my year to see if I was genuinely sad. If you’re not familiar, The Smiths are an ‘80s alternative rock band who have become synonymous with the state of sadness and loneliness on social media– kind of as a joke, kind of not. This led me to think, why was I actually into The Smiths?

Music is a huge dictator of our moods, ideas, and expressions. Think about how often you’ve been in a specific mood and put on a song that fits the vibe. Think about all your playlists, each adhering to an ultra-specific feeling, moment, or scene formed in your mind. We choose which artists, songs, or albums to listen to based on our emotional state. Every single piece of music has its own personality: a combination of what image or feeling the artist intended to create for the listener and the way the listener interprets the music for themselves. Musicians translate their own memories, experiences, and states of mind through their music. Music makes up a significant part of our lives. Much of our experiences are shaped by music. I can name countless songs that transport me to a memory of a specific time, place, or person stored in my head every time I listen. For musicians, music is a vehicle of self-expression and a way of recording their history and emotion.

Music’s messages impact how we view the world.

As I previously mentioned, every song conveys a message. Whether shallow, funny, or serious, every piece of music is a form of communication from an artist to the listener. I don’t know about you, but music has impacted my outlook on the world in countless ways. From music with political messages to songs about love and family, music has always been right beside me in every stage of my life. The ideas developed through an artist’s music impact the way we see and feel our environment. On some level, we become the artist we listen to by absorbing their viewpoint and keeping it in a part of our minds while we live our lives.

Artists’ personalities & styles affect our own.

Music is a method of communication. However, first and foremost, it is a representation of the artist who creates it. Just as the way you spend time with someone, the more their persona and yours merge; the same can be said for a musician and a listener. I gravitate toward musicians I see myself in, whose music inspires me, and who I look up to. Conversely, I find myself embracing ideas and perspectives I find in songs I become obsessed with. Music can teach one a lot, both about the world and themselves. An artist’s personality is shared through their music and can affect the way one presents themselves. I find myself wanting to be like many of the musicians I listen to, expressing myself accordingly through my sense of fashion, the way I behave or speak, or even by picking up an instrument because of them. As much as you could dislike an artist but love their music– that is possible– a part of you appreciates their music because you relate to the musician on some level or in some aspect.

While I absolutely despise Morrissey, the lead singer and lyricist of The Smiths, I can’t argue that I relate to him in some aspects, such as his feelings of nostalgia and the deep desire to find satisfaction in life. Moreover, I simply adore some of the themes, sounds, and ways in which the band expresses commentary on the world and emotion through their music. Everyone has shared experiences, such as finding love, losing someone you care deeply about, or common situations in which we grow and mature. Music is a huge way to bring like-minded people together. You will often naturally find yourself drawn to music that comes from people who share much in common with you, appealing to your sense of empathy and relatability.

Our mindsets and ideologies are influenced by what musicians post and say on social media and in interviews. Music aside, artists heavily influence audiences through what they say in interviews and on their own accord through social media. If you like a musician, you’ve likely followed them on at least one social media platform. Social media is a quick and simple way to express one’s opinions, feelings, and ideas. Worshiping a musician, or even following up with them on a regular basis, can affect our mindsets and ideologies whether we want them to or not. Musicians are variations of celebrities, and their influence is massive.

Listening to music, it’s easy to fall into the world created by an artist’s voice, lyrics, and/or a song’s atmosphere. A musician’s sorrow can quickly become our own sorrow, their anger can make us angry, and their joy can bring us joy. Maybe that explains why The Smiths played such a huge part in my 2022. When an artist’s words and storytelling impact you so greatly– and their sound appeals to your soul– you can’t help but continue indulging in their music. Soon you’re familiar with their entire discography because you ended up relating to and falling in love with the artist’s work due to your own current circumstances and interests. There’s nothing wrong with not wanting to be compared to someone else because of shallow traits like a shared style, haircut, or behavior. But being similar to a musician can be so much more than that. You are human in the end, and you will find yourself connecting to someone (who doesn’t even know you exist) more than you could ever expect.