Sometimes words do not express our thoughts and feelings to the fullest extent. After all, they can only say so much. In my personal opinion, a mixtape or playlist is a better alternative. There is an art to using another artist's lyrics and sound as our own. On my personal Spotify account, I have dozens of differing playlists for a variety of occasions. These range from the calming nature of a mandolin to the chaotic sound of punk. In my opinion, no genre should be left untouched with a mixtape.
However, a mixtape should not just be a rehash of the top 40 hits of today, but should dig dipper and be off the beaten path. One of my favorite playlists includes a cover of "Moonage Daydream" by St. Paul and the Broken Bones. The song was originally recorded on a limited edition vinyl single that I converted to my laptop. Its rarity adds a special nature to the song, causing me to cherish it even more. The horns blasting while the singer unleashes a soulful belt adds a nice twist to a classic glam rock song.
A perfect mixtape has a beginning, middle, and end. In other words, you are trying to convey an arc that you wish to explore. Whether it be love, joy, sadness, or anger, it transports the listener into your mindset. One of my play sets focuses on varying genres of music. So I included The Clash, The O'Jays, Harry McClintlock, The Beastie Boys, and everything in between. I focused on bands that were not in the same genre as a way of demonstrating the versatility of music.
It takes a while to figure out how a mixtape should flow. Often, I will play songs in the order that I add them. I listen to the disjointed mess as a way of gauging the sound and what placement fits them.
You need a good song to kick off the mixtape. However, it should not overpower the other songs, but grab the listener's attention. Alternate between genres to keep the tape going. It's important to keep it fresh, and have the differing genres fit together. Also, do not extend the length just for the sake of it. It's better to keep it short than have it lagging.
Finally, choose what medium you wish to use. I often use an SD card or my Spotify account to keep track of my mixtapes.
However, there is something special about recording your playlist on a cassette. I got a tape recorder, aux cord, cassettes, and an off-brand Walkman for cheap on Amazon. Each medium has their own advantages. I do prefer cassettes due to the nostalgic aspect of it.
Mix the tape, create a name for it, and you're finished!
