Joma West’s Twice Lived is a compelling and surreal novel of family and identity.
“West does an admirable job portraying the tug-of-war between individuals as they grapple with issues of family, identity, and friendship… Complete with a shocking yet satisfying ending that showcases West’s cleverness, this is an impressive feat.”
When I was writing the first draft of Twice Lived there was one album I put on repeat: Birds and The Bee9 by Sampa the Great. It drowned out the bustle of the everyday. The album feels both vast and intimate and I wanted that same feeling for Twice Lived.
When I began re-drafting I was open to more music, more distraction, more flow.
Some of the songs on this playlist were things I listened to as I worked. Others either fit the mood of the novel or are songs characters in the story might listen to.
Protect Your Queen – Sampa the Great
This is probably my favourite song from the Birds and The Bee9 album. It’s rhythmic and hypnotic. Gentle and aggressive. There’s a push and pull going on and it’s that feeling – that seesaw – that I wanted to evoke in my story.
You Let Me Down – Billie Holiday
Georgia is perhaps the softest character in the novel. I see her as someone who has been deeply disappointed by a lot in life, but this has served to make her kinder. If she had any free time and she couldn’t sleep she would be staying up late listening to Billie Holiday and drinking gin.
Stick Up – Kelis
By contrast, Cynthia – Georgia’s sort of mirroring figure – has been lucky in life. She’s a much more forceful person, used to being in charge and making things happen. She absolutely listens to ’90s and ’00s RnB all the time.
Dance Dance – Lexie Liu
There is a moment in the novel where Canna and her friends get ready to go out one night. They’re the kind of friends that I imagine have very diverse interests and so their Venn for music is pretty narrow. Because they’re getting ready at Canna’s house she’s the one who picked the music they get ready to. In terms of tempo, beat, and mood this song fits Canna really well, but lyrically it echoes Lily’s personality. I like the thought of Canna putting on a song that encapsulates both of them.
Yearning – Psycada
Canna and co are getting ready to go and see a college band called Apex Prey. I had a lot of fun trying to think of the kind of music Apex Prey might make. The temptation was to make the band a little goofy, but if I’m honest I think they’d actually be good. Samir – the guy they’re really going to the gig to see – strikes me as one of those guys who’s really good at guitar and he knows he is.
Maya – Greentea Peng
There’s something both modern and old-fashioned about this song. It unravels in this relaxed, slouchy manner that lulls you as you listen to it and you stay lulled even as it builds. It grounds me, but also encourages me to daydream. This is what the character Aidha does for Lily. This feels like their song. I can see them collapsed, all comfy on a sofa, cuddled up together, and listening to this.
Oh Sim Sim Sim – Mestre Sombra
I have to include a capoeira song on this playlist. I know little about capoeira beyond the research I did for the novel, but I understand that music is as important as the physical aspects of the art. Oi Sim Sim Sim, is a traditional song and one of the more simple capoeira songs in terms of structure. Its lyrics translate: Oh yes yes yes, Oh no no no. Today we have, but tomorrow no. Today we have, but tomorrow no. There’s balance here, push and pull, uncertainty, and this is all echoed in Canna, Lily, Georgia, and Cynthia’s stories. But then perhaps that’s just everyone’s stories.
Oatmeal – Sudan Archives
I feel like this song sums up how everyone in their lives feels about Canna and Lily. A little off-kilter, a little uncertain about everything, but very certain they love them. And they would make oatmeal for them.
Fade Into You – Mazzy Star
Hope Sandoval has such a gorgeous voice – smooth, soothing, strong, but shot through with such a deep melancholy. It resonates. I like to imagine that this is what it sounds like when Canna and Lily look at each other. These are words they might say to each other.
Para Transcribir (LUNA) – Lido Pimienta
Para Transcribir (LUNA) closes out Lido Pimienta’s Miss Colombia album and it’s such a haunting, beautiful and definitive ending. I want people to feel that when they get to the end of Twice Lived so this song at the end of my playlist is me putting my wish out into the world.
also at Largehearted Boy:
Joma West’s playlist for her novel Face