whatever she wants

so.

i met phoebe bridgers last night.

i signed up to go to her lost weekend pop-up with youtube, got my confirmation email, and booked my way to the east side to an old roller-rink.

i waited out in the california sun until it was time for us to go in. there were photo experiences outside of the venue, and then they took my phone and put it in a yondr pouch. when i walked in, i got a ticket for my skates and headed to the snack bar. i got a soda & icee and found out the tab was on phoebe!!!

i walked around a bit, taking it all in. the roller rink looked like it was frozen in time from the 70s. they had photographers there and a diy keychain station with polaroids. i laced up my skates and got on the rink after probably 15 years of not skating. i was so nervous to skate because i know myself... i am clumsy and lack balance... butttt i would do anything for ms. phoebe.

they hit play on her new album, lost weekend, as we skated round and round. i had taken my skates off halfway through the album and went to grab water and walk around a bit more. as i was walking back to the rink, the doors opened and phoebe came in with her custom black-and-white light-up roller skates.

she got on the rink and took off, saying hi to everyone as she gracefully lapped us. we finished out the album, and everyone was told to gather on the rink. phoebe told us that she had been filming us on a drone throughout the night and that we would be included in her new music video. she sat us down to show us the work in progress.

i’m not sure what song it was, but the music video was honest and raw and genuine, like her entire approach to this album cycle. clips of her life from a tiny bug’s point of view, showcasing things like fireworks, friends, gas station trips, and car rides.

after that, she answered some questions, mostly about the new album, all while she was trying to keep her balance on her skates. a jack of all trades, really.

we then lined up for her to sign custom posters for us, and we got to say a few words to her. i had a feeling she was going to be there, but i had no idea what to say to her. i racked my brain and came up with something silly about a song she had spoke about on a podcast years ago. her reply was “fuck yeah,” and then i told her i loved her and she said it back.

the reoccurring theme that came through last night and this album cycle is how we need to be more present in our lives, something i’ve been really struggling with lately. in the past few months, she plastered small towns with posters, roller-skated with fans, invited people into planetariums, all while remaining offline.

being without my phone was one of the highlights of the experience for me. yes, i am appreciative that i got SOME proof that i didn’t dream last night (the poster, polaroid, etc.) but what i saw when i was skating around was something way more important than anything on our phones.

i saw couples holding hands, a person encouraging their sibling to skate, friends dancing to the new album, my favorite artist being in the crowd WITH us.

i left the venue with a poster, icee, and a reminder to look up more often.

thank you, phoebe. i will remember last night forever.

xo, the girl who’s been wearing her moon song necklace for four years straight

i swear i'm not angry, that's just my face!!!