Every year, I make a holiday mixtape for friends. It almost didn’t happen this year.
The perfect mixtape isn’t a happy accident. It requires a lot of trial and error before it’s right.
I usually start thinking about it in the fall: a particular song will leave an impression due to its lyrics, melody or context1. This song becomes the soul of the mixtape2, on which the rest of the songs are attached.
In August, it was Washed Out’s “Eyes Be Closed”. Within and Without was my favorite (and most-played) album of the year and everyone loves chillwave.
In October, it was M83’s “Midnight City”. Then the Victoria’s Secret commercials ruined my idea (much like the Kindle robbed Bibio’s “Lover’s Carvings” from me in 2010).
I still didn’t have a song in early December. I briefly considered Thomas Geiger’s remix of Stella’s “Dreams” and Class Actress’ “Keep You”, but both failed to stick3.
I officially had mixtape block and it was less than two weeks before the holidays.
So, I stopped thinking about the mixtape and turned my attention to writing a holiday letter. I thought about the year and wrote down my favorite memories to use as inspiration (I traveled a lot in 2011, so I started with those moments). Suddenly, I had a new soul for the mixtape (James Blake’s “A Case of You”), and I spent a couple of days choosing, arranging, removing and listening to the songs until it sounded just right:
Under the Covers // December 2011
The Civil Wars, Dance Me to the End of Love
Birdy, 1901
Beck and Friends, Never Tear Us Apart
Kelly Dalton, I’m on Fire
James Blake, A Case of You (February; Phoenix)
Sarah Blasko, Don’t Dream It’s Over
The Morning Benders, Dreams (March; Austin)
Kaki King, Close to Me (June; Napa)
Holly Miranda, Hundreds of Sparrows
Nira Diana, Temptation (July; New York)
Bon Iver, I Can’t Make You Love Me / Nick of Time (October; San Francisco)
Memoryhouse, When You Sleep
Rogue Wave, Maps
The Bird and the Bee, One On One (September; San Diego)
The Cardigans, Carnival
It’s not quite what I expected, but I’m happy with the results. During an interview around the time Almost Famous was released, Cameron Crowe mentioned that he preferred making monthly mixtapes instead of writing in a journal, and I’m starting to see (and hear) his logic.
PS. I chose Birdy’s “1901” to include with the post because i can’t get enough of it, and you won’t either.
(1) a moment in the past year, usually involving a late evening drive or a girl, sometimes both.
(2) until I change my mind, which is often
(3) I struggle putting together up-tempo mixes, usually surrendering to ballads.
10 Notes
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