Because publishing a book is a good excuse to make a mixtape, here’s “Every Song Has a Place,” a playlist inspired by my book, Everything Has a Place, which will find itself in people’s hands tonight. I’ll have a few extra copies on hand at the release show.

1. Onra and Quetzal – In My Place
2. Monsters of Folk – The Right Place
3. David Ruffin – Rode By the Place (Where We Used to Stay)
4. Diana Ross & the Supremes – Baby Love
5. Beyonce – Love on Top
6. Al Green – Tired of Being Alone
7. Adele – Send My Love (To Your New Lover)
8. Beauty and the Beast – Gaston Song
9. Drake – Marvin’s Room
10. Holly Maxwell – Only When You’re Lonely
11. Otis Redding – Pain in My Heart (Live at the Whisky a Go Go)
12. Earth, Wind & Fire – September
13. Coco O – Where the Wind Blows
14. scoop x on planets – Too
15. Akon – Locked Up (or Exile – Fly feat. Blu, depending on your copy)
16. The Sylvers – High School Dance
17. Clarence “Frogman” Henry – Ain’t Got No Home
18. Donny Hathaway – Magnificent Sanctuary Band
19. Freddie Scott – (You) Got What I Need
20. Lester Bowie Brass Fantasy – Two Become One
21. Etta James – I Got You Bab (JR Dynamite’s Back to Funk Edit)
22. Objectiv One – This Is How We Do It (South Central Jazz Festival Mash Up) (Montell Jordan Vs. Hubert Laws)
23. Kirk Franklin – I Smile (New Orleans Bounce Mix)

Flyer by Kyle Sheehan.
Photo by Paul Punzo.

Hello Friends! It’s been over a year since my last post, so right (write?) about now seems like a good time for an update: I’m planning a new show for January 16th! I can’t divulge too many details yet, but I can tell you it’s happening in New Orleans and it will be recorded. I’ve spent the last year writing and testing new poems at various readings, and I’m excited to share this collection of my newest, most personal work in January. More details to come.