Paloma Sandoval has never been one to gatekeep her music taste—not even her love for One Direction. Almost anything can become source material for one of her perfectly curated playlists, whether its a walk through her Vancouver neighborhood, a bad date, or an afternoon at the aquarium. It’s the same instinct that shapes everything she shares, from road trip photodumps to TikToks with her bestie Sabrina Carpenter to Palomarad.io, her Internet radio series documenting her 20s one mix at a time. For this month's PRESS PLAY, Sandoval plugs us into the songs soundtracking her walks, whims, and everything in between.

What’s the first playlist you ever made?

Oh god, I used to make playlists on 8Tracks, if anyone remembers what that is. It was the first social media account I ever had in middle school—my friends and I used to send playlists to each other on there, and it was always secretly a competition to see who had the most indie music taste. I remember making one called “Knee socks,” with all the usual Tumblr suspects on it. I secretly still love One Direction more than Arctic Monkeys.

What made you want to start Palomaradi.o?

Well, it’s been a while since I made one, which totally opposes why I made it, but I wanted to document my voice, my taste, my life in my 20s in a more “Paloma way.” I’ve been making playlists for specific moods or places since I was probably 10, so a radio situation felt like the natural successor to that. I haven’t documented much, admittedly, as I got pretty lazy about it soon after I started, but maybe I’ll bring it back after this.

Do you have friends you send songs back-and-forth with? If so, what’s an example?

Honestly, I mostly just put songs I like on my Instagram. I’m the opposite of a gatekeeper in that sense. If a song really reminds me of someone, I’ll share it with them, but you gotta be careful with that because if the song is shit, it’s pretty offensive on the receiving end. That’s happened to me a few times where someone will send a song to me like “this is so you” and the song is about wanting to off yourself or about feeling super ugly and it’s like…what does that say about me?

You were born in Vancouver, British Columbia. Describe its sound.

Vancouver sounds like water crashing, crunching leaves beneath a Birkenstock, Arc’teryx jackets rubbing against each other.

What’s your earliest memory of music?

Being obsessed with K-OS’s song “Crabbuckit.” A bit of a Canadian deep cut, but I used to cry until I heard it.

“Finding music on TikTok is okay. As long as you actually like it.”

What artist changed how you hear everything? How so?

Probably Cake. “Short Skirt, Long Jacket” was one of the songs of my childhood that I remember thinking was so cool and different. I became obsessed with doing it on Rockband on my Wii so that was, albeit accidentally, the first song I ever dissected. From then on, I started to hear songs in a new way. I guess that was more due to Rockband than Cake, but their album Comfort Eagle opened my eyes to the different ways music could be constructed.

What song feels like it was written about you, but wasn’t?

“I Love You Too Much.” I just want Stevie Wonder to love me that much.

A lyric that lives rent-free in your head?

“There’s me looking for someone to blame, only to find that we’re all the same” in the song “Cherry Cola.” Andy Bell is all knowing to me. He has a lot of the answers.

What’s your hidden talent?

Breaking the silence.

Favorite place to listen to music?

In my neighborhood in Vancouver. I’m walking around without anything in my hands, no coffee, no purse. The sun is out but I’m walking on shaded streets and the breeze is running through my hair (which I just washed).

Headphones or speakers?

Headphones.

Best concert you went to this year?

Sabrina at Coachella. That show completely blew my mind.

What’s one thing you’ll wear all summer long?

DEODORANT.

What’s your favorite way to spend a day off?

I love getting my nails done. That’s another place I love listening to music cause you can’t really use your phone. Often I find myself listening to a song I would usually skip because I can’t physically skip it, and it breathes new life into the song.

What’s a hill you’ll die on?

Finding music on TikTok is okay. As long as you actually like it.

Press Play: Paloma Sandoval