Introducing Reflect & Relax Cafe

Your Spotify and YouTube playlists

Reflect & Relax Cafe is a series of playlists on Spotify and YouTube, updated biweekly with a blend of Indie, Folk, Americana, Singer-songwriter, Alt/Country and everything in-between, mostly relaxed and acoustic tunes. It started as a challenge, a New Year’s resolution to listen to more and different music.

Why Reflect & Relax Cafe?

Music has always had an important place in my life. I'm one of those who thinks that every tale has it's melody and that behind each tune there's always a great story.

The playlist is intended to be listened as an Album, as a set of intertwined stories, with their ups and downs, in which the main characters reflect on topics as diverse as, for example, fears, desires, acceptance or will.

A selection of songs to accompany you on your way, to help you to get motivation and inspiration. It’s also music to relax, get perspective and see your stuff from different views.

Reflect

I use to listen to the playlist at least twice a day. The first one, in the morning, to take off. It helps to put me in the appropriate mindset, to reflect on who I am, what's the most important for me and, accordingly, how should I face the day. It usually happens while I commute to work, generally by train.

Relax

I give the playlist another play, back home from work, to unwind. That's the moment when I try to relax and make the transition after a working day. Again, this music puts me in the proper mood to get perspective and inspiration. Same thing during the weekends.

Cafe

That refers mainly to the environment. For me, a Cafe is a nice place to be, a beautiful view, a moment to have a break, to take a deep breath or sip a warm coffee (or even a cold beer). Alone or with good company, as a choice.

These elements, along with the style and format, are the ones I consider when choosing songs for the playlists. My wish is also to bring them to you.

Playlist Editions

Spotify

1. Dynamic Playlist

   This is the main playlist. Every two weeks I completely overwrite it with songs that replace the old ones. It is the most convenient way to follow the playlist, since it is enough to save it once and it is updated every fortnight.

2. All editions

   Each edition also has a static link that can be accessed from my Spotify profile, so if you want to keep a certain version, you can also save it as a favorite without the need to mess around making duplicates.

YouTube

You can access to all editions of the playlists in the YouTube Channel. Note that this is fairly new, starting with version #30 of the playlist, although older versions are being added as well.

About this substack

My intention is to make at least one publication every two weeks, in which announce the update of the playlist, listing the songs that make it up and leaving space for you to comment on what you think of the selection, which songs you liked the most, which song according to the format would you suggest it be included, etc.

I am also open to suggestions as to what other types of posts or sections you would like to see.

To end

As a final note to this presentation I can only hope that you enjoy the playlist and that you join me by subscribing to this Substack.

Being aware that other people may be enjoying the same playlist, and even listening to the same song at the same time, amplifies its effect and it's a great source of energy.