Dakota Kahler is a dedicated member of SCOPE Productions and was last year's General Manager. Even in a pandemic, Dakota was cool enough to bring us amazing virtual shows like Black Pumas and Tank & The Bangas, Beach Bunny with Claud, and a Samia show surrounding mental health. If this list of artists doesn't convince you to listen to his serene, fall song picks, we don't know what will.
Name: Dakota Kahler (he/him/his)
Hometown: Adel, IA
Year: Senior
Field(s) of Study: Economics (B.B.A) with a minor in Philosophy, Pre-Law
SCOPE Position: General Committee
Top 3 Albums:
- A Farewell To Kings by Rush
- Reachin’ (A New Refutation Of Time And Space) by Digable Planets
- Wildflowers by Tom Petty
Listen to SCOPE Selects: Dakota Kahler on Spotify- Check out Dakota's killer playlist!
Favorite Concert Experience:
My all-time favorite concert is undoubtedly the last Rush show I attended in 2015. They were on their R40 tour, which turned out to be their last. It was my 3rd time seeing them, and I went with my dad and brother. It was a very emotional show, even more so now that it was my last, but I remember it very clearly. A close second is my most recent: The Rolling Stones in St. Louis. I bought tickets last minute and made the journey to the Gateway City. Upon arrival, my ticket was upgraded for free once, and then accidentally upgraded again. My final ticket ended up being a $500 pit ticket, and I got second row. It was incredible seeing the legends that close, and they sounded like they were at the top of their game. It was overall a phenomenal experience.
Hobbies/Interests/Fun Facts/Campus Involvement:
Music drives most of my interests and passions, so I derive a lot of my happiness from concerts, listening to music, and collecting records. I have been collecting records for about eight years now, which seems crazy to think about. I spend a lot of time not only listening to them, but studying the artwork, liner notes, history of the record, and searching for the next addition to my collection. I put a lot of active thought into it, so it blurs the line between a hobby and passion, I guess? Follow my record IG account! It tracks my journey through the hobby - @_analog_kid
The Music:
Listen up! I wish to bring you complete aural indulgence with my folky-fall-goodness. It is the time of year when the leaves change color, the temperatures begin to drop, the wind picks up, and the sun hides for longer periods. For me, this means that my music preferences shift considerably. I find myself retreating from metal, classic rock, and hip/hop to find solace in soul, jazz, and blues. Something about those specific genres just lends itself to autumn. Inside this playlist, you will find some of my favorite fall tunes -- my intention is not to make you a sad listener, although that may occur. Continue reading to hear some more in-depth reasoning behind a few tracks! Enjoy.
When making this playlist, I wanted to evoke certain feelings and emotions that are common with fall. This time of year, things start slowing down, days get shorter, and the air becomes brisk and refreshing. I often find myself listening to more folk & singer-songwriter music. I kept this in mind; I want this playlist to be the perfect autumn companion.
I started it off with two tracks special to Iowa, one by the great, Good Morning Midnight and the other by the legendary Arthur Russell. I think this sets a great pace for the rest of the playlist. I would argue that there is no better place to be in the fall than Iowa. I continued with some more modern masterpieces by skillful songwriters, such as Jeff Buckley, Tom Petty, and Bob Dylan. The Petty track is essential; Wildflowers is one of my all-time favorite records, and it is surely my favorite fall record.
After Dylan, from Portishead to The Beta Band, is one of my favorite sections of the playlist. “Strangers” by Portishead is my go-to song on the jukebox at Dave’s Fox Head. “I Don’t Know” is a beautiful track by Beastie Boys and Miho Hatori, and “Moonlight Mile” by The Rolling Stones may just be my favorite tune on this entire playlist. While listening to “Dry the Rain,” try to place yourself in a cozy record store with the setting sun shining through the windows.
The next distinct section of the playlist runs from Nina Simone to Baby Huey. What fall playlist is complete without the beautiful presence of Nina, Ella, and Billie? “Autumn Serenade” by John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman competes with any Sinatra standard, and Johnnie Frierson reminds you to take care of yourself in these trying times. It gets soulfully funky with Eugene McDaniels and the iconic Baby Huey; this is a two-song dance break to get your blood moving!
The last section, from Jawbreaker to Daniel Johnston, is pretty random. These are tracks I wanted to include in the playlist but didn’t know where exactly to place them. Oddly enough, I think it works really well. “Accident Prone” is one of my favorite Jawbreaker tracks and was the soundtrack to my freshman year of college. “Jerome” by Jim Sullivan is mysterious, Karen Dalton blesses us with her beautiful voice on “In the Evening,” and Daniel Johnston leaves us feeling hopeful with “True Love Will Find You in the End.” Overall, despite being the most unsystematic selection of tracks, I think this section of the playlist is the perfect wrap-up.
This playlist is long -- I did this on purpose. I find myself wanting more out of playlists, and I do not think I could narrow this three-hour list to anything less. Each track plays a significant role and acts as glue, holding the entire concept together. With that being said, it is by no means comprehensive. It is also very subjective; what I think to be good is not what others think to be good. Listen with an open mind and welcome the idea of listening to something you don’t normally listen to. I think this is how we grow as individuals and music lovers. Now, go listen to the playlist and let me know how you like it! I would love to hear feedback from you all -- I have so much to learn and so much music to discover. Message me on IG @dakotakahler2112 and give me some recommendations!