Crucial Tracks 008: Annie Mueller

Let me just start this Crucial Tracks interview out by saying one thing: I love this project more than ever. Each interview to date has been so unique, in terms of stories, musical styles, approach... I'm so fascinated by this and can't wait to share each and every one. I hope you feel the same.

And today's guest is no different. For #8, I bring to you Annie Mueller, blogger and professional writer. If you would have asked me before this site started, which "bloggers" I admire the most – their way with words and storytelling – I'd have picked Patrick Rhone and Annie Mueller. Fast forward to 2025 and both have graciously accepted my invitation to take part in this interview series. I really can't believe it...

Annie, specifically, has a way with sharing personal stories and ways of looking at life situations that are instantly relatable, thought provoking, and emotionally engaging. (The kind of posts you don't want to miss and definitely save.) Such a wise and talented writer, whom I'm very glad to have run into on micro.blog.

Enough of my side rant. I'm taking away the focus from Annie and her wonderful interview... enjoy!

To start out, can you tell us a little about yourself and where people can follow your work?
I’m Annie, a writer by profession and a blogger by hobby. You can find me online at anniemueller.com being wordy about my feelings and what I’m reading and whatever else is getting my attention at the moment. 

How do you listen to music? (albums, playlists, radio?)
I listen to playlists and albums through streaming services.

Digital or physical releases? What service or media (vinyl, CD, tapes, etc)?
I am a very casual listener in terms of music quality or delivery method. I’m just not an audiophile. I want it to sound nice, of course, but that’s about as far as my preferences go. So: digital. A couple of my kids are into vinyls, so that’s fun. I had a CD collection for a while which I kept in my ‘99 Land Cruiser and someone once broke into my car and took the time go through the stack and steal only some of them. I was more insulted by their judgment of my taste than by the fact that they broke into my car. Anyway, I didn’t rebuild my CD collection (I was far too demoralized). When the Cruiser was tragically totaled a few months later I upgraded to a car with bluetooth and have been digital-only since then. 

In terms of picking music, do you stick to your favorites or search for new music or is it a mix?
It’s definitely a mix. I have solid favorites that I return to again and again. But I always want fresh new (to me) infusions. 

If you try to find new music, how do you go about finding new artists or albums?
I get recommendations from friends, I follow a few hashtags on Mastodon, I listen to what my kids are into, I lurk around on Album Whale, I do little rabbit-trail discovery sessions—poking around similar artists, checking out similar 'vibey’ playlists—and I read blogs that give me great recs like Crucial Tracks and Music Notes. 

Annie's Crucial Tracks

What's your earliest song/music memory?

"It Is Well With My Soul"

I grew up in a house filled with music, mostly church music. My earliest music memories are my mom’s voice singing songs like *Hush Little Baby* and *You Are My Sunshine*, but I remember most clearly the hymns and songs she spent hours practicing on our piano. My sister and I would sing with her and that is forever the music of home to me, from the simple choruses to the six-verse hymns. There are dozens of songs I still know by heart, but I’ll share the one that is most vivid because it always made my dad cry when we sang it.

What is an important song from your childhood?

"I Dreamed a Dream" from Les Miserables

One year we went on a family trip to New York, saw a couple of musicals, and I promptly became obsessed. Les Miserables was my favorite. I’ve no idea what in my small, sheltered life led me to connect so deeply with this song in particular but wow did I love it so much. A couple of years later we got to see Les Mis performed in London and it was the peak emotional experience of my young life.   

What's one song that's important to your teenage years?

Il Mio Bel Foco (Quella Fiamma che m'accende)

In high school I began classical vocal training and it opened up a new world of music. I loved these rich, layered, absolutely unintelligible (to me) songs. First of all, I felt so very very sophisticated being able to sing an entire song in Latin or Italian. Quite a change for a girl who spent the first dozen years of her life running around barefoot and riding bikes in small-town Mississippi. Second, they were, and are, gorgeous. This one was a favorite of mine to sing, though I never got close to doing it justice.

What's one song that stands out from your college years (or early adulthood)?

Santana - "Smooth" ft. Rob Thomas

In high school, I was so focused on the performance side of music—musical theatre, classical, church, weddings. In college, I’d decided to pursue writing instead of music. I think I had an idea that writing might pay better. I was also really burned out on music, on performing, and I think I knew instinctively that I really wasn’t good enough to make it professionally, despite what Mom believed. Writing, on the other hand, felt like breathing. Whether I’d do it wasn’t a question; it was essential. Getting paid for it seemed like a bonus. 

In a lot of ways, college was when I started listening to music just to listen to music. I didn’t really explore in depth or with any qualifications on whether it was good or not. I turned on the radio and rolled the windows down. I bought cds I liked and listened to them over and over. There are a lot I loved but none take me back there as viscerally as Supernatural (Listen) by Santana. 

What's a song that stands out from your current/most recent relationship?

Snow Patrol - "Chasing Cars"

Two-for-one deal on this question. My most recent relationship was my now-defunct marriage. Anyway, Chasing Cars was "our" song, which still works as a relationship memorial song because it’s so sad and bittersweet anyway. 

"The Flower Duet" (From "Lakmé")

The other song which is, I’m convinced, the most beautiful song in the world is the one I walked down the aisle to: The Flower Duet (From "Lakmé"). It’s gorgeous and I was sad for a while that it would be ruined, but time has done its magical work and I can listen to it again and just enjoy how pretty it is. Because it is really, really pretty. 

What's your favorite song from the last year?

Lola Young - "Messy"

I really loved Lola Young’s album (Listen), so I’ll choose Messy as representative of the whole thing. 

What song are you listening to on repeat right now? 

This one: Timbaland, Alejandro Aranda - "Love Again"

Listen to this issue of Crucial Tracks

Find this issue’s playlist on Apple Music and Spotify. 

Thanks

Thanks to Annie for sharing her Crucial Tracks! In addition to her blog listed above, Annie can also be followed on micro.blog and mastodon. Annie was also featured in a recent issue of Dense Discovery, one of my favorite email newsletters. Be sure to check that out!