37 Comments

Carpe Diem, Carpe Noctis, all the time. I could quote Thoreau about living deep but you said it: The time is always now. Looking forward to those tunes!

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Carpe noctis - I like that! I thought of doing a Kate Bush medley. And I also wrote a few songs a while back. Shall be fun. Mercy buckets for stopping by!

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Heh, I'm taking this as my new phrase: carpe noctis.

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When I read "the elusiveness of life" I'm reminded of how often the most important things in our lives are contingent on chance events. The trajectory of our lives is so delicate, so easily changed. It's a daunting realisation, terrifying even. But all we can do in the face of it, like you say, is be ruthlessly ourselves and offer ourselves up to chance. I really enjoyed this piece Nadia. Very glad I found your newsletter.

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Yes, exactly. It is terrifying, which is why we have to, absolutely have to, savor life and be with those we love and follow what feels right for us. Thank you so much for such a lovely comment. I adore your Substack. You are a stellar storyteller.

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Beautifully put, Wil.

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Oh Summertime Sadness was a good one - sometimes that one song makes you love an artist - Young and Beautiful is that one with me and Lana - Will Bianca XZ be releasing another single, do you think???

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Wooooooooooooo! I love that song too. We'll see ;-). But I do plan on recording a Kate Bush medley when I'll re-learn the piano! That shall be a long ride though lol.

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Oh this letter hit! Your comment on getting a keyboard prompted me to share our little keyboard on Charlene Storey's weekly "everyday magic" Notes thread. Cheers!

https://substack.com/@grizzlypear/note/c-17144113?utm_source=notes-share-action

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Aww, sweet! That is lovely!

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Got that same energy as “On The Road” by Jack Kerouac

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That is so kind, thank you!

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What a haunting and hypnotic rendition of your poem into music! Keep exploring that part of yourself, for sure.

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Thanks so much, Wendy! I'm excited!

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Fantastic work Nadia, you just keep getting better and better 👌🏽

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Thank you so much, my dear! 😭

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BTW Nadia, just noticed an interesting detail in the "Young and Beautiful" video: there's a backlit conductor and orchestra playing her music which exactly matches the same shot in the Disney movie "Fantasia" (1940 version). Knew I'd seen that somewhere before... :)

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Wow wow wow. Good eye ;-).

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Nadia, I do enjoy all your stuff. For a couple of years now I have been reading the Marginalian written by Maria Popova. Here's what she sent me today. https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#inbox/FMfcgzGsnBfNrVltspjSqcpjNHBkrPTp

She was the spirit of Substack 15 years before there was Substack. Let me know what you think. Wes

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Hi Weston! Could you send me the link to Maria's site link with the mail? I do know of her! I have read some of her stuff, which is all so wonderful. I'm not able to access this link as it leads to your email I believe?

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It still leads to your email. Can you tell me the title? I'll try to find it online if she posted it.

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Nadia, Did you have success on the Marginalian?

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I didn't! Is it the email that was sent on June 7?

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No just today or yesterday. Try this address. www.themarginalian.org

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My sister brought me Lana. Even living in Venice I didn't quite get her. Now that I've found more of the heart and hope and hardship her music is really soothing to me. Loved her recent song Paris Texas! And of course her older tracks. Always finding new ones for me to enjoy like White mustang! Love your poem, you should make it into a poster designed as the Trainspotting poster ;)

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Aww, thank you Rebecca! That is interesting she didn't appeal to you at first. I can see how she can be alluring to those going through rough times.

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Lana's style, to me, is ethereal. It does uncommon things to me. She makes me pause every time to take honest accounts of my affairs. I look forward to your soul's songs! Your style is as honest and distinct as your soul. Your poems don't lie. Nor their lines. For a fact, "Siren with the soft sign" can't stop resurfacing in my mind. Coming across your newsletter, like someone noted earlier, for me, has been a great, fantastic accident -- life's unusual blessing. And I am glad I engaged! It's all been worth it. Your positivity is viral! You rock. You possess sisu. Maybe that's your sisu 😂 Happy keyboarding, Nadia!

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Thank you for sharing your experience with Lana, Obed. And much gratitude to you for such lovely comments. I'm so glad to have connected with you. Your thoughts are always so eye-opening and thoughtful. Hahaha. Maybe that is my sisu.

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Inspirational ending lines there, Nadia 👌🤗

Love the poem, but love it even more that you turned it into those beats. Great collab.

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Thank you so much, dear Nathan! :D

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This was a great read. Honoring our calling is so important. Have a great weekend, Nadia!

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Thanks so much for popping by, Priya! You have a lovely weekend too!

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You’re so welcome love 💕

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Lana recently performed here at the Glastonbury festival. It was an odd day on which I was celebrating heart-fever, tuning into the live-stream, refreshing the screen, wondering why she wasn't there (yet). She turned up about half an hour late and had to skip a few songs from the set but they turned off the lights at midnight and she continued, as she said she would, heading down to greet the crowds before heading off. The whole thing was magical and invigorating.

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