A Soundtrack of My Bros

Robbie Howard

Music Director

International Men’s Day is here, and in celebration, I wanted to showcase what I think is the most important part of being a man… Hanging with the bros! There’s something special about the dumb inside jokes, questionable decisions, relentless roasting and the moments when we put each other on to new music.

As I’ve grown older, I’ve realized that friendships are one of the most important parts of being human. I used to shelter myself in my own head, but every time I was with my friends, they pulled me out of that space. Being around them reminded me that I don’t have to carry everything alone.

And honestly, a big part of how we connect is through music. Someone plays a song, and suddenly we’re bopping our heads, critiquing or arguing why that song is “not heat”. Over time, all those songs landed in one place, our shared Apple music playlist. What started as random song drops slowly turned into a soundtrack of our friendship, with each track representing a piece of our taste, memory or an argument.

Robbie

To start it off, I remember putting my friends on to Devon Hendryx while we were all hanging out at the designated house spot. We were passing the phone around to build a queue, and this was right when I had just started getting into his catalog. I played “Generation Y 1989” from the album Rockwood Escape Plan, and the second it started, the whole room shifted.

The song has this euphoric, spacey beat that feels like you are floating through the universe while Devon raps with a raw and aggressive tone. He sounds like he is trying to escape everything in his head, talking about pressure, confusion and the weight of growing up. That mix is what grabbed me. The sound feels freeing, but the lyrics feel heavy, almost like someone fighting for clarity.

Ethan

My good friend Ethan added the song “III. Telegraph Ave. (“Oakland” by Lloyd)” to our shared playlist. This song is from one of my favorite albums of all time, and I will always connect it to one specific night with him.

We were waiting for another friend to get off work so we could all hang out. He kept telling us he was almost done, then said he was going to do 30 minutes of cardio, and somehow that turned into him showing up at three in the morning. By the time he arrived we were all tired, but we still made our way to Whataburger.

At the Whataburger drive through, which somehow took forever for three milkshakes, this song started playing. I remember hearing every instrument clearly, almost like the entire track opened up. The warm production mixed with the quiet of that late night turned the moment into something simple and perfect. It was one of those times where nothing special had to happen for it to feel like a core memory.

That is why this song will always remind me of Ethan. It captures the calm side of our friendship, the nights that were not planned but still ended up being exactly what we needed.

Nathan

Nathan is the guy that you want to be around. He’s energetic, real, and will have your stomach hurt after making you laugh. There is never a quiet moment with him, and somehow, he always finds a way to lift the room the second he walks in.

The song that he added, and I feel like fits him best, is “Grace” by Lil Baby. Every time we are on the game or playing sports in person, he is the one motivating us like we are in a pregame huddle.

There is a certain way he hypes people up, but it never feels forced. It is the type of energy that makes everyone want to play better and be better, simply because he believes in us. That is what makes “Grace” perfect for him.

When this song comes on, it feels like a reminder of how important he is to our group. Nathan is the spark, the voice in the room that keeps us going, and the friend who can turn a regular day into something fun just by showing up.

Eli

The last friend in this playlist is Eli. He is the chiller in the group, the calm and nonchalant guy who never seems stressed. He is funny without trying, always dropping quiet jokes that get everyone laughing. He brings a relaxed energy that balances out the rest of us.

The song that fits him best is “Kingston” by Faye Webster. It matches the easy, peaceful vibe he brings every time he shows up. The track feels calm and warm in the same way he does, and it always reminds me of how he keeps our group grounded.

This playlist started as something random, but it grew into a soundtrack of our friendship. Every song carries a moment with the people who make my life lighter. That is what makes this group special, and why this playlist will always mean something to me.

Link to playlist: https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/1250-w-shirley/pl.u-6mo44a4sBeyMk8A