We all have lofty goals in life. Following that unsure career path, owning a pig as a pet, deciding to move to some faraway place: they’re all ambitious, they’re all valid. For Kyle, Scooter, Olly, and myself, we’ve done the latter, although owning a pig does sound amazing: we moved to Barcelona.

Five years ago, Kyle and I started talking about our goals for the next decade. Where did we want to be? What ambitions did we want to pursue, individually and together? What does our next adventure look like? After a visit to Paris back in 2015, we decided that we’d move there one day. Not just any day, we’d move there at least a month or so before I turn 40, so I could celebrate a new decade of life in a city we love dearly.

And so, for the past five years, we planned. We took French courses, Duolingo for months, trips back to France to explore more of the country. And then… we had the insanity of a former president, which was compounded with a pandemic, and a lockdown… and we got stir crazy. Should we go somewhere NOW? Who accepts Americans to travel abroad? What happens next? So after months, and then years of planning, our plan began to change. Paris was no longer the move, the challenges of getting a Visa and eventual citizenship seemed so daunting. So we started looking elsewhere, realizing that it does rain a lot in Paris, and it’s perhaps more expensive than LA. Where else makes sense for us?

That’s when we stumbled on the idea Barcelona. I was up for a job there, which didn’t pan out, though it sparked the idea of being a place we could settle down for a while. It’s an international city with incredible food, it’s centrally located in the Mediterranean, and the weather is a lot like Los Angeles. Our revised plan really kicked off in December of 2021, and we’ve been nonstop since. So many appointments, so much logistics, so much cost (Thank god we’ve been saving for five years!) and, after all the hard work, we’ve accomplished our goal.

Now, I write this in my new apartment, in the heart of Dreta de l'Eixample. I keep describing the feeling as “surreal” because I never really imagined something like this being possible. Kyle and I have a tendency to take on big ideas and try things that most others wouldn’t do, I think that’s one of our biggest strengths, and we have lofty goals brewing already for our new life abroad. We can’t wait to make new friends, to learn more about Spain, to travel through Mediterranean, to take long train rides through Europe. If you’re in Barcelona, or happen to be traveling through, drop me a line! Kyle and I (and the pups) are always around for some jamón and cava! And if you’re still wondering, Kyle has already planned us a trip to Paris for my 40th birthday. If you’re around August 21 hit me up, we’ll go get a glass of funky wine at Chambre Noire.

Instead of links this week I wanted to share what I’ve been listening to over the last few months during all my crazy travels. Hope you find something you like!

💿 — Two Shell / Icons - EP - This little album is such a joy of electronic bass music. Glitchy, frenetic, and unexpected, this was on repeat for me during the plane ride to BCN. It’s even got flutes!

💿 — Jacques Greene at Société des Arts Technologiques - A beefy 2.5 hour mix of a set he played back in April. If you’re a JG fan he’s got some new stuff and some classics mixed in.

💿 — HAAi / Baby, We’re Ascending - Read about this album on RA and decided to give it a shot, and was super surprised by this techno journey. I think the second half is a bit stronger though it’s still a great album.

💿 — Young Marco / Welcome to Paradise: Italian Dream House 1989-93 Vol 1 - While sitting outside, soaking in some sun, and sipping some cava, this is the perfect soundtrack. This easy breezy Italian House album is like a refreshing Negroni for your ears (lol) and you can’t go wrong putting this on at any time of the day, any occasion.

💿 — Yu Su / Fact Mix 799 - Kyle turned me onto this mix from Yu Su, an eclectic dance mix that feels dark, grungy, and mysterious.

💿 — Tim Sweeney / Beats in Space 021 - When Tim Sweeney had Kornel Kovacs on Beats in Space a few months ago, Tim put together a great mix of mostly Kompakt artists. Now it’s one of my most listened to mixes.

The Trend Report™ by my partner, Kyle Raymond Fitzpatrick, is a sharp and insightful look at all the things going on in the world, arriving every Sunday to your inbox. Highly recommended, obviously.