i'm in love with the moon (and life)

weekly dispatch #3 ✶ finishing a record, fighting with failure, and feeling awe under the moonrise

Nov 17, 2024

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november 17th, 2024 — los angeles

On Friday night, my good friend Tobias and I walked up the big hill near my house, slipped behind a chain-link fence, and climbed to the top of Occidental College’s “Fiji Hill.” From there, we watched the giant moon rise beside a man flying a mile-long kite, with all of Los Angeles glittering below.

There were a handful of very cool-looking teenagers smoking weed behind a bush, missing the moonrise right behind them. I told them they should come see it, and they did. We all stood there, saying “ooh” and “wow” and laughing while the kite kept whirring. Nobody knew anyone’s name, but we all said, “Goodnight, nice to see you!” as we left.

I felt full of light and excitement about living as we walked down the hill. What a wonder, to see the moon as big as I’ve ever seen it! What a gift, to be with friends so good.

We finished the bones of my record this past Wednesday, and it was genuinely the most fun and smooth recording process I’ve ever experienced. Just the three of us—Adam, Tobias, and me, chipping away at nine songs over five days. I’m so excited about where these songs are landing and the way I’m growing through the process of solidifying them.

I had my less-than-ideal moments, but I did my best to catch myself. It helps to be surrounded by two of my favorite people in the world, who also happen to be incredibly patient. Adam and Tobias constantly teach me how to be a better person and musician by giving me ample space to fail and try again.

I’m learning that failure is just as big a part of any process as success, and I truly feel like the luckiest gal on earth to have such wonderful and talented hands to hold through it all.

In case you missed it on Thursday, I published a piece a few months in the making about birth control called “birth control roulette.”

It took me a long time to figure out what exactly I wanted to say and just how much to say about it. I could’ve gone on longer, but I’m happy with where it ended up. After publishing, I received a handful of stories from women of all ages who shared experiences similar to mine.

It left me feeling less alone, but heartbroken all the same. It was a reminder that sharing our stories matters—not just for ourselves, but because it lets others know they’re not imagining things or “crazy,” as so many of us have been told by doctors, family members, or peers.

Whether you’ve had a f*cked up experience with birth control, you’ve been a big brat in the recording studio, or felt transcendental awe at the moonrise, I hope you know you’re not alone.

That I’m right there with ya, holding your metaphysical hand. Wondering how to do better. High-fiving you as you figure that out. Taking notes for my own journey. Pointing to the little blip in the sky and asking, “Is that Mercury? Or Venus?”

Choosing to believe that rocket ships are comets. Choosing to see a world worth bettering. Choosing to hold you closer, even when we’re scared.

I hope you have a really lovely week! Go look at the moon before it starts waning! Think of me!

⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾⋆⁺₊⋆

— Jo

this week’s roundup of things to come, fun facts, personal recommendations, and more.

👋 upcoming shows

✶ SANTA BARBARA — My big music week of the season is finally here! I’m playing a super sweet little house show in Santa Barbara, CA this Tuesday the 19th. Frail Talk & Cecilia James are joining. Here’s the info!

✶ LOS ANGELES — We play our first full-band LA show on November 20th at Healing Force Records! Frail Talk and Alexander Biggs are also gracing the bill. So, so, so excited for this one. You can grab your tickets here.

🎧 song of the week

Goddamnit, this song and this entire record have been getting me. I’m a super big fan of the 90s-alt-folk-pop-country vibe going on here and taking notes for the Jonie record. Katie Gavin is one helluva songwriter.

☝ did you know…

According to the International Dairy Foods Association, America’s per capita cheese consumption has more than doubled since 1975. The average American consumes about 42 pounds of cheese a year—more than the consumption of butter, ice cream, and yogurt combined. Wowee. Come to think of it, I could really go for some cheese rn. 🧀 (fact courtesy of As Seen On)

🍴 make this for dinner

Sweet Potato Romesco Lentils from Justine Snacks
My friend Katie made this for a big group dinner, and I thought about it for two weeks straight. I finally made it myself (with some off-the-cuff substitutions), and it was glorious. Really filling and really delicious. Also incredibly affordable to make in bulk. 10/10.

🗯 conversation starter

How do you know when a relationship has to end?
Or, better yet: Can you pinpoint the exact moment you realized a relationship was doomed?

This question came up in a recent conversation with my friend and my partner as we traded stories about past relationships that either fizzled or straight-up imploded. Hearing their experiences of what made them hold on or finally let was super fascinating.

📚 recommended reading

✶ millennial-maxing by Princess Babygirl
I keep coming back to the last paragraph of this essay. My most formative years, from thirteen on, were defined by being on Instagram. I’ve struggled with my attachment to my perception of myself and others’ perception of me, juggling various versions of myself fine-tuned for public consumption. This essay hit home for me in a few ways—and beyond that, I’m just a big fan of Princess Babygirl’s fresh writing style and voice.

As I scroll the internet, everyone else’s documented life appears to be imbued with an elegance and charm, floating effortlessly between states of dream and reality. It’s important to remember that indie sleaze and girlhood—and everything else we’re nostalgic about currently that can be encapsulated in a -core, -pilled or -maxing suffix—is simply consumption.

✶ How to start a neighborhood group chat by escape the algorithm
This post contains a guide to do exactly what the title suggests. I’m hoping to do this in my own neighborhood, but I need to work up some courage first. If you feel brave enough to make the leap, do it! And tell me how it goes! I’ll let you know when I stop being such a scaredy-neighbor.

I wrote up a flier inviting people to a WhatsApp group, printed out a stack of copies, and went door-to-door with my toddler dropping them in mailboxes. Forty people eagerly joined, and now we have a thriving culture of grabbing each others’ packages, sharing ingredients, and asking for advice.