January - “Yes, a heart should always go one step too far.”

For better and for worse, this was a year characterized by trying things. This was a year where attempted to be social and we put ourselves out there and it was terrifying and scary and I’m glad I did it, but goddamn, the cadence was exhausting. The rewards, apparent. The cost, slightly less. But we certain ascribe to this idea of nothing ventured, nothing gained.

February - “Wasted purpose and potential that can make you existential.”

For the absolute worse, this year was also characterized by a continuing struggle against what the news cycle uncritically calls “artificial intelligence” when referring to generative AI and large language models. And it’s not just going to be this year. It’s going to be the next year in all likelihood and maybe even the next decade, and the worst goddamn part of all of it is that I like technology and the promise of artificial sentience, but instead we have glorified autocorrects and plagiarism machines powered by ecologically devastating data centers, and people have the gall, the audacity to ask if I’ve given this shit a chance. Any potential use case is forever tainted by the what is actually happening and I can’t keep stressing the specificity of language without being stressed out myself.

March - “Don’t know the way, but I got this far. I might be wrong, I might be wrong.”

I started going to therapy this year. For the small things that became bigger things because this is what happens when you cast shadows on molehills and make them mountains. For the big things that are actually big and insurmountable, a type of inhospitable environmental pressure that is suffocating in a different way. I learned a lot about myself this year, insofar I learned how to properly parse and perceive. I’ve started being more mindful that I can do things for others, but I also have to do things for me. It’s one of those things y’know?

April - “I was talking at a cigarette. There’s nothing left to say.”

I don’t smoke. I am pretty sure my mother would descend from the heavens and actively haunt me if I ever picked up the habit. But I’d be lying if I said I didn’t get the appeal. This is a year characterized by a burning. I get the want to immolate. I get the sensation of pain and the ephemerality of it all.

May - “Cuz I wanna see fire rise to the sky.”

I haven’t finished the entire back catalog of Dimension 20 content, but I did catch up on the Fantasy High series and particularly enjoyed the fan tributes in the Sophomore year finale. I’m also sure that there is a nontrivial amount of undue influence of this song in my urge to either stab individuals or burn the system down.

June - “Sooner or later, your legs give way, you hit the ground.”

It’s actually kinda wild to think about how The Bear season 4 released this year. I love The Bear. It’s not my favorite show of 2025 (hey The Pitt), but it is still a show I think fondly off and watch with intent. The music backing is also choice every single time.

July - “I wonder what you’re thinking right now.”

I didn’t plan on making monthly mixtapes. And then July happened. Things got better thankfully.

August - “And I’ll be damned if we can make it out of this alive, baby.”

This is apparently my most listened to song of 2025, which is weird because I only started listening to it after I heard RKS in concert in August, but who am I to question the constantly surveilling algorithm.

September - “Keep my arms reaching out towards anyone.”

The Front Bottoms are definitely my favorite new band that I started listening to this year. It’s a very specific flavor of alt rock emo that is utterly hypnotic, and I’m hard pressed to choose one song, but this one has been my go-to as of late.

October - “What if I’m not like the others?”

Getting to see blink in concert (with the original crew. I saw them when Matt Skiba stepped in for a hot minute) was definitely a highlight of my year, and Turpentine is still my favorite track.”

November - “Well, the first thing you learn is how strong you can be if you have to.”

I have alluded to song constantly in my posts, so it is only fitting I include in the finale mixtape of the year.

December - [REDACTED]

The song I’m associating with December is one that is a little embarrassing to cement, so… sorry for the 11 song mixtape for 2025. If you back channel me, I’ll share the 12th song and the story behind it.

Life is weird like that.

Somehow there are five Tuesdays in December, so tune in next week for a Matching Mixed Media and the week after that for… a prospective? I think that’s the word I’m going to use.