20. july's second wind with cynthia
read on for stream links, an interview with cynthia, and our annotated tracklists : )
friends of second wind! i hope summer is treating you well <3 i’m keeping the intro brief here as there are so many gems below, but i am just so grateful to my friend cynthia for joining me for second wind last month! we had fun dancing, laughing, watching soccer, and playing some very special music celebrating summer <3 and the show was extra sweet because we had a very serendipitous overlap with friends and fellow Lot residents Elise and Shabazz in the studio that day, resulting in b2b2b sets that culminated in a very cute hang during second wind.
cynthia returned to london soon after the show, and while there took time to share the most thoughtful answers and annotations to my questions about her life in music, traveling and her trip to nyc, and recent inspirations. scroll on to listen back to july’s show, read cynthia’s interview, and check out our annotated tracklists : ) enjoy, and see you back at the lot this weekend for the next episode of second wind. special guest announcement coming later this week ……
with so much love and gratitude, always!
nazuk
july’s second wind ft. special guest cynthia <3
watch the set here.
listen to it below : )
1) Cynthia! Tell me about your set! What did you have in mind when you were preparing the tracks you wanted to play? What energy were you trying to capture?
I wanted to play some music that I’ve been listening to recently that reflected some songs I was playing all summer. I never really capture one particular sound, so I just did the usual and scrolled through my recent likes, scrolled all the way down, and then just picked a selection. It’s so hard for me to pick particular songs because I love albums as a whole so often.
2) Is there a song in particular that you were super excited to play and why? Anything you wanted to play that you didn’t have time to?
I was really excited to play the Doris track, but also Matt Proxy because I’ve been listening to him quite a lot. I love his new album, Trojan Horse.
I didn’t get to play “Hwy” by Jiangsu, which is one of my favourites. But also “A Ivorie Feeling” from Jeune Morty’s new album.
3) What’s your earliest musical memory? Is there someone/somewhere/something you think of or credit with bringing music into your life?
One of my earliest music memories is waking up on a Saturday morning really early to Nigerian highlife music. Which meant it was time to clean your room.
4) What was the last music experience that really moved you. Why?
My last musical experience that really moved me was seeing Mike’s Band of the Century on the Young World stage. It made me really happy to see how they’ve been able to expand this idea to a whole new level, and to perform in front of thousands of people for free. It’s really inspiring to me.
There is also this girl, Bailey RP, who makes music on her Nintendo. She did this cover of Justin Bieber’s “Baby.” It’s on SoundCloud and it’s sounding so fire.
5) When do you listen to music most? During what activity?
I truly listen to music all the time. Most of the music I listen to is extremely chill and good to work to, to cycle to, or to just sit on the train and do nothing to.
6) If you’re getting in the car with someone, what’s one song you’d throw on right now?
Probably “Seven” by The Crying Nudes or “Samirami’s Dream” by 1010 Benja.
7) What’s your latest interest/obsession, music-related or otherwise?
It’s always animation. I love all types of animation and go back to anime every once in a while. Any of Satoshi Kon’s films or Makoto Shinkai’s.
I also watched this movie, Cool World. The story is super, super bad. But I love the animation so much. It’s a live-action/animation hybrid. Kinda like the a-ha “Take On Me” video, which is so sick.
8) What’s the most recent thing that’s made you feel inspired?
I watched the film Personal Problems by Bill Gunn at the ICA yesterday (8th August.)
I loved the fact that it was so collaborative between a lot of his friends, like Ishmael Reed, whose story it was. I believe it was a play at first and then made into a film, and it featured Sam Waymon, who sang so beautifully in that film and who is also part of Bill’s movie Ganja & Hess, as he was the pastor.
I just love when artists explore ideas over long periods of time. When there’s consistency around their collaborators. And how they just use what they have in that moment to do the best work that they could, even through the most simple means.
It makes me wanna try and make a movie with and about my friends.
9) Speaking of feeling inspired : ) The reference library you’ve created and launched with C-Studios is incredible. I love spending time “in” it — it really is such an inspiring resource, and it feels very alive! What originally sparked the idea for this project? What’s your hope/vision for it? Are there 1-2 items from the library that you’ve added yourself or learned about during the process of developing it that you want to highlight?
The idea was to make ideas traceable, in a way. I have no shame in admitting that I’m extremely inspired by so many things and so many people, and I feel like today people are obsessed with this idea of that one creative genius, and we don’t often recognise how connected all of our ideas—music, art, fashion, all our outputs—are. It’s kind of a methodology around remembering and honouring, but then also, in many ways, I think my job is about the creative combination of a lot of different elements across so many different fields to propose something new to the world, or even an iteration Showing that there is a conscious decision and intentionality behind that process.
And in a way, it was just a way to visualise my way of thinking and to bring people into that world, which has for a long time been quite hidden.
My vision for it is to invite all collaborators and friends of the studio to contribute, and for it to be an ever-evolving resource for people.
10) I know you like to travel! What are some of the things you like to do when you go to a new place? Do you have any routines or practices you like to keep while you’re away from home? And what accessories or essentials are an absolute must to have with you?
Honestly, for the most part, I just walk around and listen to music. I spend a lot of my time discovering certain districts. I often make all those lists and maps of places to go and things to see, but once you’re in there, it’s super nice to just shut down your brain and go wherever the day takes you.
But I also really like visiting homes, like architecture homes or the homes and estates of musicians or artists.I looooooove a hike. And to eat lol.
If I know people in the city or meet new ones, I always want to see if there is a concert somewhere. I’d definitely go by myself too.
11) What’s your favorite place you’ve traveled to so far, and why?
Brasil.
I was there in December and January this year. It’s just the nature. it’s so lush. The people were so lovely, and it was just the pace of the city, which I loved. The fact that you could wake up every day and see colours in the sky I’d never seen before. And, spending time in Bahia was just one of the most beautiful and fascinating experiences. I can’t wait to go back.
12) Lastly, we miss you already here in New York! What were some of the highlights from your trip?
I loved spending time at the 10k office with Mike and Naavin, always. I loved my hang with Abe and Lekha. We had delicious Iranian bread and sat by the park.
I did such a lovely cycle all the way from Washington Heights, by Arts & Letters, down to LES.
I loved the show I curated with Josiane at Arts & Letters. That was so fun.
Also, Samba Jean-Baptiste’s show with Rockie Rode and Izzy Goldbow at Elsewhere was so nice.
I loved the David Hammons show at White Cube, and Pope.L at the Drawing Center too.
I love New York.
annotated tracklists :)
hour 1: nazuk———
birds, shells, rivets, keys - duval timothy + carlos niño
i’m a huge duval timothy fan and loved this one from his new project
i can see - nick hakim
gorgeous and grown and sexy sounding!!!! whole album is beautiful and textured
thinking about you - faye webster
timeless classic and meditative. revisited recently in mexico w my luv!!
song for the messenger - chanel beads
the beads rock my world!!!
real stressor - loukeman
a spring/summer fave to bike to < 3
midnight sun - zara larsson
this is the anthem for the girlies. i fuckin love it lol s/o annie my fellow stan of this song
point blank - kelela
i love driving listening to this!! singalong of my summer < 3
mine - tems
recently had a nite swim listening to this. a vibe as some mite say. lucky to be alive in the time of tems!
femme fatale - 1ldk
cj put me on and i luv this song < 3 all my femme fatales stand up
tf latenitekunk jeremyh kingdom jaws divoli - bobby beethoven
soundclouding again recently and was reminded of this gem from one of my all time fave djs
high speed calm air tn - djbboy + ml buch
another from the cloud of sound, it’s sickeningly good and anything that starts with ambient night crickets i instantly love lol
my people will destroy you - b0ygirl + novagang
this song is from one of my fave projects this year. also saw b0ygirl live in july and it was incredible.
boyz no come back (whatcha say) - lestef kjf + dj luchsiy
was clickin around on the tube one night and was lucky enough to hear this. heater from guadalupe!!
exopa - joey b + odunsi
my song of the summer period lol.
rihanna - joé dwet filé
i love listening to this song when i run
como venga - ezya + pog
another one from internet clicks and listens. my bro was randomly also listening to music from the same collective of amazing new mexican artists and producers. love this whole project.
folded quemix - jacquees
a fandom that has stood the test of time. this is pronounced “queee-mix” like remix btw. < 3
hour 2: cynthia———
grow - inrain
i love ar kane, inrain is another project by rudy who is part of the band. i love going for a walk or hike to this song
take my hand - lee tracy + isaac manning
from one of my favorite albums of all time. “is this what you want”. every song is so good. “i need your love, you can find me” and “is it what you want” are some other favorites.
eczema - mike
my legend. the most kind and talented.
la paix la joie (freestyle version) - st. maurice
experimental african music producer and rapper. very unique sounding.
hommage - st. maurice
his samples and melodies remind me of my childhood
delirious<3 - doris
edward is soooooo talented. i’m so excited everytime he drops something.
how to love - lil wayne
i came across the music video recently, which I’ve never seen before. it’s so sad but beautiful. teenage memories also
legs in the air - tisakorean
first time tapping into tisa was at mike’s young world in 2024. fan since.
ignorance is bliss - kendrick lamar
i don’t feel as strongly about kendrick’s music now. but his early albums had me in a chokehold. overly dedicated is one of them. i love the production here.
i’ve changed (interlude) - missy elliott + lil’ mo
missy, mary j blige and fantasia are my rnb goats. i also have a playlist full of interludes, intros, outros. this was the choice for that day
this is me - fantasia
my love. i find her journey as an artist so inspiring.
int’l players anthem (i choose you) - ugk + outkast
what can I say? it’s just a classic.
shake it down - j dilla
a very high confidence inducing song.
free mind - tems
i’ve loved loved loved this song since it came out in 2020. perfect.
pattern (vip) - dj escrow + dean blunt
i don’t think there has been a set where i haven’t played this song. it’s such a certified banger.
smokebox - hype williams
anything choral, organ sounding. will be added to the mix. no questions asked.
pleasure is everything - mark william lewis
mark is a very talented guy
makeda - les nubians
i loosely tried to follow the summer vibe brief for this show. fell in love with this song when i was in japan 2 summers ago
pissed off - angie stone
bless her. rip
oh yea - yaemulli
this was a discovery from a few years ago. i don’t know much about this artist. but this is such a beautiful song. always happy when it comes up.
5 - matt proxy + fakemink
i honestly love matt proxy. found out about through my friend Pierre. i’m seeing him live in london next week. can’t wait
cold summers - earl sweatshirt
another of my legends. can’t wait to see him and MIKE play in london at the end of the month.
jbl in the fireplace - chanel beads
woahh. one of the best albums of the year.
vivid light - blood orange
my favorite song of the album.
caramel - connan mockasin
good song. matching the summer vibe.
citgo - chief keef
my all time favorite. i had to throw it back.
so inspiring 🥲🥲💓