Wake Up, Willow Smith is the future

https://instagram.com/p/9EvqUPvNq1/ Ever since I can remember, I've lived in a perpetual state of guilty pleasure indulgence. My aesthetic is guilty pleasures, if you will. That being said, my “taste-o-meter” leans closer to ratchet (cc: my love for the Spice Girls Movie, chicken tenders, and reality television). However, recently I have realized that I could do something to better enrich my life. Leaving the Spice Girls and chicken tenders in the past, I went on a journey, well more like a soul-searching expedition. I found myself immersed in music. Though people may still question my taste level, I think I'm finally on to something good.

Enter: Willow Smith.

Now you may think, "Aidan, you’re whack. You’re clearly off your rocker. Willow Smith is like 12 and her last hit was the headache-inducing 'Whip My Hair.’” Yes, that Willow Smith is annoying, but in retrospect, she was basically a fetus when that song came out. Think back to when you were a fetus. You probably did some embarrassing, regrettable shit too.

Since then, Willow has taken a step away from the “Whip My Hair” pop genre nonsense that consistently dominates the Billboard charts. Willow Smith is not the same person as she was 5 years ago. In my opinion, her decision to embrace a new music genre has made for much more fulfilling music. Most pop music is calculated bullshit that makes listeners latch on to it like a bad drug. Put away the toxic music and open up to something new.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMKh0iDBkOE&noredirect=1

Willow has been the North Star in my journey in finding satisfying music. Her breathy, new age, trip-hop sound transcends various moods and helps introduce a larger community of artists who offer innovative sounds and insight to what the future of music could be.

On top of creating soothing sounds and energetic rhymes, she is just insanely cool. At 14-years-old she is infinitely cooler than I was at 14 (or right now for that matter). I mean how many 14-year-olds can say they’re a face of Marc Jacobs? Although she has the advantage and privilege of being the offspring of two famous parents, you can’t be mad at her for it. She isn’t a brat like so many children who grow up with resources and fame at their fingertips. Her parents, Will and Jada Pinkett-Smith, are vocal about their unique parenting style in which they let Willow and her brother Jaden basically make all of their own decisions. Many question and criticize this parenting style, but I beg to differ. Jaden and Willow seem to not have an evil or malicious bone in their body. They smash gender roles, defy societal norms, and are part of a cultural lifestyle known as “Indigo.” What is an Indigo? This summer Willow emerged full of creative energy in a music video with fellow sound creators—together they are DIASPORA—to sing about the new-age way of life—being an Indigo.

Beyond everything else, Willow has a unique voice that grabs you. That being said, Willow isn’t for everyone, much like country music isn’t for everyone. She is simply a music innovator. The world would be nothing without disturbance and defying the norm. That is what exactly what she is doing. During a time where there is an immense pressure for milennials to succeed, have a job and push themselves to unrealistic lengths, Willow is able to take a step back and create music that is all about relaxation, introspection, and enjoying youth. If she can spiritually move me to the point where I bring her up to someone at least once a day, who knows what is in store for her in the future. Do yourself a favor and get to know the new Willow.

Some of my favorite Willow songs include:

[soundcloud url="https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/222225879" params="auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true" width="100%" height="450" iframe="true" /]

[soundcloud url="https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/206498027" params="auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true" width="100%" height="450" iframe="true" /]

[soundcloud url="https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/174582960" params="auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true" width="100%" height="450" iframe="true" /]

[soundcloud url="https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/210690599" params="auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true" width="100%" height="450" iframe="true" /]

[soundcloud url="https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/129388680" params="auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true" width="100%" height="450" iframe="true" /]

[soundcloud url="https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/166249960" params="auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true" width="100%" height="450" iframe="true" /]