A sweet note Freddy Rodriguez left for his moon. Photo provided by Freddy.
In our latest feature titled “The Lullaby List,” where we share the playlist of everyday people, Freddy Rodriguez shares, in his own words, the story behind his one and only playlist created for his one and only “moon”.
Playlist Creator Profile
Born and raised in Harlem, 26-year-old Freddy Rodriguez, is a student at Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC), getting his associate’s degree in Graphic Design. With the hopes of attending the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) in the Fall of 2021 to branch out into studying Illustration, he has many ideas of where he can see his career going. Either in developing art for children’s books or becoming a tattoo artist. Even in his uncertainty, he is confident of one thing. That whatever he decides to do, it will bring a smile to people’s faces.
The Inspiration Behind the Playlist
As shown in the photo I shared, she calls me moron, which sounds mean, but really is not. It is our own inside joke. We have many names for each other. I call her Luna; she calls me Zav. I call her my moon; she calls me Sunshine.
The day I met her, I knew she would be my moon. I was swiping through Hinge, and I came across the most beautiful, smart, and wonderful woman with a caption that read, “I can quote all of the lines in Jim Carrey’s ‘How the Grinch Stole Christmas’”. She had a black and white video of her just fixing her hair that looked like a lion’s mane. So, I asked her, “What was that film for?” and she actually replied.
It was a shock for me the dating atmosphere during the quarantine. I did not know virtual movie dates existed until I was asked by her to go on one. We watched a movie that I cannot remember now because I was too focused on her face and trying not to embarrass myself. I do remember the movie was lagging a lot on my end, but I wanted to be there with her.
It has been six months since then, and I finally saw her in person 67 days ago, and we went to the Botanical Garden in the Bronx. After that, I have seen her every week since then, with each date only getting better. We always talk about music and how it makes us feel. We sent countless songs to each other, exchanging reports on if the songs are good or not. The songs we loved played in the background the first time I got the courage to kiss her. It was “Sunset Lover” by Petit Biscuit, a song she told me to listen to, and lucky for us a sunset was the backdrop of that moment.”
The Assembly of the Playlist
That day was the same day I played songs for her that she never heard of and wanted to add to her library but, instead, I told her I would make her a playlist. I have never made a playlist before, and the thought of this being for her made me excited to start. The song that started off the playlist was “The Great Divide” by The Shins, and it also includes random songs such as “WAP” by Cardi B and Meg Thee Stallion. Funny, I know, but she would not stop singing it since she has developed an obsession with TikTok, and now I have to.
This playlist, although simple, became a core part of our new beginnings together. So much so that we have guidelines associated with it. Whenever we find songs that we love, we add it to the playlist, and every time we do, the title must be changed. This playlist has become a living and breathing thing. I listen to the songs on it and can see us smoking together, dancing together, and singing together. Even when I am alone, the songs make me feel calm because I think of her, and I feel safe in my own head.
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Listen to Freddy’s Playlist on Spotify