As the first note echoes, the basement is awash with blue, the song a mix of jazz and electronica, each note a pebble skipping over longing vocals. The floating, psychedelic layers of synth that sculpt this song are what bring me to these spaces. I have always mourned having no Leo placements (the zodiac sign known for beauty and confidence, bordering on vanity) in my astrological chart, but something about a club or rave moves me to pretend I’m a limelight-loving celebrity about to get photographed by paparazzi. When I’m on a dancefloor, I want the glitter of my eyeshadow to catch the glint of the disco ball. Every inch of my skin vibrates to the bass. The song playing is “Neeli Roshni,” which means blue lightin Hindi. Its bouncy reverb has a foggy quality, like walking through neon mist. 

Static River’s voice is sultry with melancholic ...