On January 14th, Natalia Villafan ‘25 conducted her first interview, interviewing Ava Gammon ‘25 about her student playlist, making the first Playlist Profile interview of the new year, which is an eclectic mix of rock and hip hop music with tastes of reggae.
TUESDAY 8:50 AM JANUARY 14, 2025
NATALIA VILLAFAN: Looking at your playlist, I saw that it was mainly rock and hip hop music. Is that a majority of what you listen to? Or did you want to focus on those genres for this playlist?
AVA GAMMON: Yeah, that’s pretty much all I listen to. I like to dive into all the genres, but those are my favorite.
VILLAFAN: And I noticed that from those genres, it was mostly ‘older’ music. Like, with hip hop music you focused more on the early 2000s, and for rock from 70s to 90s. Do you listen to music from the past decades?
GAMMON: Pretty much, yeah. I grew up around my dad, listening to his music and stuff like that. And I’ve always had a pretty big interest in those kinds of eras. Like when I was a kid, I used to just sit in my room and watch music videos.
VILLAFAN: That’s so real. So your dad’s the one that introduced you to that music?
GAMMON: Pretty much, yeah!
VILLAFAN: Do you still listen to recent releases of these genres, or do you tend to stick with what you know?
GAMMON: There’s some–there’s some newer bands that I like, but it’s hard for me to get that feeling from newer music.
I like to focus on the actual instrumental aspect of it, and I feel a lot of the newer stuff doesn’t really capture that.
But yeah, I got into like Mom Jeans and that kind of stuff, like Midwest emo. I’ve been liking that, it’s pretty new.
VILLAFAN: On that note of newer bands, do you think that there’s still a lot to learn from older bands, or do you think that rock and similar genres like it will carry on pretty well?
GAMMON: Yeah, I think every newer band can learn a lot from the older music. I think it has a big influence on today’s stuff. But I mean, obviously there’s new stuff too. I grew up with older family and stuff, so I’ve always just been into that older generation of music–like my siblings are 15 years older than me. My brother is always playing Led Zeppelin on guitar, you know, that kind of stuff.
VILLAFAN: Do you play any instruments?
GAMMON: Yeah, I’ve been playing pianos since I was a kid. And then I picked up guitar over quarantine, so I was just self-taught. I know some things like picking and stuff.
VILLAFAN: Oh, that’s cool! I mentioned that you have rock and hip hop both on your playlist. What makes each genre stand out to you? Do you think that they’re similar?
GAMMON:
Yeah, I think they both have a lot of expression in them, like, through the voices, through the words, and then the instruments, too. I think there are stand alone things in both of the genres.
VILLAFAN: What are three words that you would use to describe your music taste? I’ll give you a second to think about it.
GAMMON: That’s a good question. Maybe creative, um, emotional. And… What’s a third one? Funky?
VILLAFAN: Funky’s good! Fitting. Speaking of funky music, you had mainly hip hop and rock, like I said, but you also had The Wailers on here, which is more reggae. What made that song stand out to you and worthy to put onto this playlist?
GAMMON: I love Bob Marley and reggae, as well! It’s just like–that’s like my happy music. Along with the 70s yacht rock kind of stuff, it’s just good vibes. I just grew up listening to Bob Marley and other reggae stuff. That’s kind of just like my feel good stuff, you know? And Bob Marley’s such a cool person, like, his lyrics and everything. I’ve always liked his stuff.
VILLAFAN: So, you’re the type of person that gravitates towards lyrics?
GAMMON: Yeah, for sure.
VILLAFAN: What are the top three songs that you included? I can show you the list if you want.
GAMMON: Yeah, what songs did I put on there? Definitely “Going to California,”… Probably these–these are probably my top three. “Don’t Change,” INXS and… maybe not “Sick Love.” I’ll go with “I Shot the Sheriff” at three.
VILLAFAN: So, Bob Marley and The Wailers, is that the only reggae you listen to? Or do you listen to more beyond them?
GAMMON: Definitely one of my favorites, but, I mean, I have ventured into some other stuff. I haven’t really gotten deep into it to be one of my favorite genres, you know? So yeah, pretty much Bob Marley.
VILLAFAN: I feel like everyone can enjoy some Bob Marley, though.
GAMMON: For sure!
VILLAFAN: If you can’t rock to Bob Marley, like…
GAMMON: Exactly!
VILLAFAN: Come on, now!
GAMMON: Everybody likes Bob Marley!
VILLAFAN: From those songs, what’s one song that you would recommend to someone if they hadn’t listened to it before?
GAMMON: Probably “Float On,” it’s kind of funky too! It’s rock, but it’s like– it’s happy! It’s ‘feel good.’
VILLAFAN: Yeah, I had listened to some of these songs and artists before–like Modest Mouse I had heard of–but I hadn’t had the time to really listen to any of their songs. I really liked that one, it stuck out to me. I feel like this is going to be a trend because I’ve talked to a couple of people about him, Frank Ocean keeps being brought up in these conversations. I find it so interesting that he is an artist that continues to reappear on these playlists. Like Kendrick and Kanye, that branch of hip hop and rap music does come up a lot. But even if someone doesn’t have a playlist focusing on those genres, Frank Ocean keeps coming up. I wanted to ask what you think about Frank Ocean in [“Solo”].
GAMMON: I think Frank Ocean is the best artist out there right now.
VILLAFAN: Is he really out there, though?
GAMMON: I know, dude! Like, he’s never seen anywhere, but I think that’s kind of the beauty of it. He’s so chill, like–
VILLAFAN: Mysterious?
GAMMON: –yea, like mysterious! You don’t get to see him ever in concert. It’s just like…I don’t know. Something about his music–I think it just touches a lot of people, especially in this day.
Even when I was in middle school, I would be in my friend’s older sibling’s cars and they would be listening to Frank and I was just like “Wow, I wanna be a highschooler listening to Frank in my car,” you know? I just feel like this generation really resonates with his songs.
VILLAFAN: And Blonde is an acclaimed album and, as I was looking through your songs, I realized and thought it was so crazy that this next year, this song will be coming up on its 10th year anniversary.
GAMMON: Right!
VILLAFAN: The album still holds a place with so many people and it’s likely gonna be cemented as a standard of the genre. You also mentioned how you’re really into lyricism and I feel like he is such a good and powerful lyricist.
GAMMON: “Solo” is definitely one of my favorite songs lyrically and instrumentally. Like, it’s so sad, does he say? “It’s hell on Earth and the city’s on fire” I’m like, damnnn! “Inhale, in hell there’s heaven,” like, damnnn, you ate!
VILLAFAN: That’s really funny that you say that, cause at the end of every interview I ask people to play a lyric game, and I had that written down here for you.
GAMMON: [Laughs] Yeah!
VILLAFAN: I have other ones, if you want to play the game.
GAMMON: Yeah, okay, sure!
VILLAFAN: I won’t tell you the song unless you ask, but it is on your playlist. “She said she want some Marvin Gaye, some Luther Vandross”…
GAMMON: [Instantly] “Slow Jamz”!
VILLAFAN: Yup! Can you finish the lyric?
GAMMON: [Singing the song to herself] “A little Anita will definitely set this party off right”!
VILLAFAN: Yeah! That’s all I have. I was gonna give you the Frank lyric, but [Laughs]
GAMMON: [Laughs]
VILLAFAN: Yeah, you got that one! I didn’t even bring it up! But yeah, that’s all I got. Thank you!
GAMMON: Okay, thanks! That was fun!
The Songs Ava Gammon included in her playlist;
- Led Zeppelin’s “Going to California,” off Led Zeppelin IV, 1971.
- INXS’s “Don’t Change,” off Shabooh Shoobah, 1982.
- Red Hot Chili Peppers’ “Sick Love,” off The Getaway, 2016.
- The Wailers’ “I Shot The Sheriff,” off Burnin’, 1973.
- Eagles’ “One of These Nights,” off One of These Nights, 1975.
- Soundgarden’s “Black Hole Sun,” off Superunknown, 1994.
- Twista’s “Slow Jamz,” with Kanye West and Jamie Foxx off Kamikaze, 2004.
- Ms. Lauryn Hill’s “Superstar,” off The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, 1998.
- Kendrick Lamar’s “Chapter Six,” off Section.80 2011.
- Frank Ocean’s “Solo” off Blonde, 2016.
- Billy Idol’s “Eyes Without a Face” off Rebel Yell, 1983.
- Modest Mouse’s “Float On” off Good News for People Who Love Bad News, 2004.
