Illustrations by Kaleemah Morse.

Illustrations by Kaleemah Morse.

We all go through bouts of fixation, whether it’s on a lover, a friend, certain expectations we have for ourselves, feelings of loneliness or fear—the obsession gets real, and it’s hard to see our way out of it. It’s not always dark, though; there can be a thrill in the captivation. There’s excitement in knowing how hard you go for someone, or something. However, we often end up focusing on our allegiances to these things and people and forget to go hard for ourselves. Sometimes we just need that dose of realness to learn how to recognize our own strengths. It’s like, Word? I’m going through it, but I’m also moving through it. You’re rising up despite having felt small. This playlist is for those moments of clarity.

Ladin Awad is a Sudanese multimedia producer based in Brooklyn by way of Cali. She talks her shit and makes mundane updates about her life here.