Sounds Like Love

Los Angeles, California, has been a major epicenter of the United States popular music industry since the 1960s. The songs of popular bands like the Beach Boys captured “the essence of coastal living,” and amid the cultural revolution of that decade, LA quickly became “a fertile playground for a musical transformation” (Dahl, Jordan. “How LA Shaped the Sound of Pop Music.” Pointblank Music School’s Blog, 3 Oct. 2023). Over the subsequent decades, the coastal city remained a hub for artistic creation and innovation through the emergence of the Sunset Strip Era and the rise of synth-pop. LA isn’t only a US entertainment capital but is also “home to major record labels, music festivals, recording studios, and iconic venues” (“Is LA Known for Music?” Recording Connection, 13 June 2023). These are all reasons that Joni Lark is drawn to a life in Hollywood. She considers it the best place to establish herself as a lyricist within the music industry. The city is known for cultivating pop stars and music icons. Joni hopes to participate in this rich culture and thereby secure her reputation in the field.

The pop music industry is culturally defined by its glamour, intensity, and verve. In the US, successful musicians’ careers are defined by constant traveling, tours, and performances. As a young woman, Joni craves the energy of this artistic lifestyle and buys into the cultural stereotypes about success, fame, and happiness. She even achieves success, as is evident when Willa Grey, after performing her latest hit song (which Joni wrote), invites her onstage. Over time, however, Joni becomes disillusioned with this world because her demanding and tiring LA lifestyle complicates her sense of self and leaves little time for self-reflection. When her mother’s illness prompts Joni to return home to North Carolina and Sasha follows her there, she discovers a simpler, more balanced, and more deeply fulfilling life without sacrificing her music career.