A calm and kind response to someone else’s malice is my favorite way of dealing with aggression. I’ve noticed that people who are naturally spiteful tend to lose their footing when met with genuine kindness. It’s as if someone has taken away the only weapon they know how to use. For them, this is much harder to swallow than the usual “aggression for aggression.” Even more unsettling is complete silence — a lack of reaction that gives them nothing to latch onto.

This text was a pleasure to read alongside the songs I hadn’t known before, but I’m certain I’ll be coming back to them.