My Soundtrack

Growing up in Beverly Hills, surrounded by private screenings and red carpet rushes, my life has often felt like a movie montage in search of the right soundtrack. I’ve always believed music isn’t just background noise – it’s the emotional undercurrent that affects how you feel, how you move through the world, and yes, even how you love.

Some songs remind me of sun-soaked drives down Pacific Coast Highway, others of awkward firsts. First school dance. First fight with my sister over a boy. First tear-filled Shabbat dinner post-coming-of-age heartbreak (public shoutout to my mom’s brisket for providing vital emotional support). So, let’s hit play. Here’s the mixtape of my life so far – not some polished Spotify playlist, but a collection of stories, memories, and truths about the messy, beautiful soundtrack that’s shaped me.

Track 1: “Tiny Dancer” – Elton John (aka My Coming-of-Age Anthem)

Whenever I hear this song, I’m 13 again, scrunched in the backseat of my dad’s BMW, watching as palm trees whiz by on our way to another over-the-top Bat Mitzvah party. “Hold me closer, Tiny Dancer,” Elton croons, and I’d mentally assign it to the cute boy in my Hebrew school class – you know, the one who once handed me a plastic dreidel with a kind of “you’re special” vibe. It was my fantasy: I was Audrey Hepburn in his epically unscripted rom-com, minus the requisite happy ending. He ended up slow dancing with Sarah Goldstein, no relation.

But those early fumblings of attraction? They were exhilarating and embarrassing all at once, much like the song itself – half stadium ballad, half tender ode to fragile dreams. It wasn’t until years later, after watching Almost Famous, that I realized the layers of this song: longing, hope, and the bittersweet acknowledgment that sometimes, life’s greatest connections are fleeting. Want to soundtrack your own coming-of-age movie montage? Stick to Elton.

Track 2: “All Too Well (10 Minute Version)” – Taylor Swift (Breakup Overture)

Listen, if you’ve never ugly cried in a parked car to Taylor Swift's soulful dissections of doomed relationships, you’re either lying or superhuman. For me, this song was played on repeat after my post-college relationship imploded. Let me set the scene: I’m 24, barefoot in my studio apartment, surrounded by takeout containers and visions of our shattered brunch-centric future. He had writer ambitions. I had writer ambitions. We had shared jokes about raising our future (hypothetical) dog, a golden retriever named Spielberg. But the thing about dating “artsy types” in LA? Turns out ambition makes for a terrible co-pilot when jealousy sneaks into the back seat.

Cue Taylor, telling a story that wasn’t my story but sure felt like my story. The scarf that no one can stop hypothesizing about? For me, it was a vintage hoodie he left behind. The red flags? Oh, I ignored those for months while convincing myself our love was somehow different. But as Taylor stretched that song to cinematic proportions, I gave myself permission to mourn, wallow, and eventually move on. And honestly, if someone hasn’t ruined a song for you yet, have you even been in love?

Track 3: “Dancing Queen” – ABBA (Shabbat Shindigs and Sisterhood)

If you ever get invited to one of my family’s Shabbat dinners, there’s a stronger-than-average chance it will randomly end with Dancing Queen playing on someone’s Bluetooth speaker. (No, this isn’t strictly traditional, but trust me, it works.) My sister and I discovered this gem when we were about 10 and 12 – two awkward pre-teens with terrible haircuts, rehearsing cheesy choreography to distract ourselves from the family debates about whether brisket or roast chicken was the superior main course.

There’s something so universal about ABBA – it’s over-the-top joy with a hint of wistfulness, just like any long-haul relationship. Whether that relationship is romantic or familial, this song reminds me that sometimes, you just need to let loose, belt it out, and claim your rightful role as “young and sweet, only seventeen” – even if you’re actually 27 and stressing over rent. Plus, there’s no better icebreaker at weddings, especially when your uncle starts flossing (badly).

Track 4: “Bohemian Rhapsody” – Queen (My LA Love Letter)

Every LA native has their moment of existential crisis: Am I really an artist? Am I just hustling for parking validation and free appetizers at Sundance panels? For me, this moment played out during my first screenwriting internship in college. I was surviving on caffeine and optimism, schlepping my tote bag to meetings where I was often the youngest (and quietest) person in the room. Whenever I needed a pick-me-up, I’d play Bohemian Rhapsody. From that opening piano tinkling to the shattering guitar solo, the song was my reminder that breaking the rules could lead to magic.

Also, Queen’s epic non-conformity reflects the LA dating scene too accurately. One minute, you’re melting into harmonies with someone who seems perfect; the next, you’re in a five-minute rock opera of misunderstandings, debatably led by a guy named Jared wearing vintage sunglasses indoors. But for those transcendent moments when the melody aligns? Oh, it’s electric.

Track 5: “Señorita” – Shawn Mendes & Camila Cabello (Guilty-Pleasure Crush)

Every great playlist needs its indulgence track. For me, that’s Señorita, aka the song you listen to when you want to rekindle your flirty side – the soundtrack to rooftop bars, shared mezcal margaritas, and just enough spicy chemistry to make it memorable.

I first played it during a summer in New York City, interning at a film agency and, for the briefest of moments, imagining I was Carrie Bradshaw without the shoe budget. There was this guy – not quite leading-man material, but he knew all the best dumpling spots and had that nonchalant Lower East Side cool I could never replicate. Our whirlwind dinners could’ve doubled as a rom-com subplot. But like the song itself, the whole thing was fleeting: catchy, sweet, and impossible to resist. Over time, Señorita became a reminder to laugh at romantic mishaps—and to always dance like no one’s watching (except maybe your roommate).

Making Your Own Soundtrack

To anyone curating their personal soundtrack, remember: it’s not about perfection. It’s about reflecting your highs and lows, the messiness of love and life, and those tiny moments of joy that feel too good not to memorialize. Here are a few of my tried-and-true tips for making your own playlist to live by:

  • Mix It Up: Combine genres! From jazz standards to bubblegum pop, your playlist should be as multidimensional as you.
  • Choose Songs With Stories: Playlists are better when they’ve got depth. Pick tracks that remind you of something: a person, a place, a feeling, even a great plate of fries.
  • Change It Over Time: Your tastes – and your life – will evolve. Treat your soundtrack like your favorite jacket: classic, but adjustable for your mood.

The Final Encore

Your soundtrack isn’t just background noise – it’s a time capsule of who you were, who you are, and who you’re becoming. Whether it’s soundtracking small wins (hello, perfect parallel parking job) or giant heartbreaks, music has this uncanny way of stitching memories into melody. And the best part? There’s always room for more tracks, fresher remixes, and yes, even guilty pleasures like Señorita. So go ahead, press play – and let your story sing.