In Pursuit of the Perfect Mixtape

Sans crunchy hair and neon leg-warmers, the end of the ‘80s said goodbye to many trends — the art of the mixtape wasn't one of them

Written by Srija Reddy
Illustrated by Paola Flores

When I think of the word “mixtape,” I see a lovestruck teen painstakingly burning a 90 minute cassette tape to give to the love of their life. Hours go into creating a mood, choosing songs, determining flow, and finally picking the perfect moment to pass it along … only for her to listen to ten minutes of it and throw it into the back of her closet.

Illustrated in the TV show adaptation of Nick Hornby’s “High Fidelity,” a good compilation (like so many things in life), is hard to do. In season one episode two, wisps of “Lovin’ You” trail in the background as protagonist Robyn Brooks (Zoë Kravitz) starts to lay out the rules:

“Making a playlist is a delicate art.
It’s like writing a love letter but better in a way.
You get to say what you want to say without actually saying it.
You get to use someone else’s poetry to express how you feel.
And then there are the rules.”

Just because the way we listen to music has changed in the age of new media, it doesn’t mean the art of the mixtape is dead. It’s simply transformed from burning songs onto a cassette to pressing the plus button on Spotify or Apple Music. The difficulties of creating the perfect playlist have been lowered, so I urge you to create your own — with a few rules to follow of course.

Rule #1: Have a Rousing Middle Track

Determining order is vital in creating a playlist, and most assume that the most important track is number one. Yes, the first track should be familiar and unexpected, but don’t lay all your cards on the table at once. Whether it be an hour or 90 minutes, the midpoint is a vital transition. It marks the moment when someone chooses to stop listening or keep going to the end. To push them to continue, find a midpoint track that will force someone to stop passively listening but actively follow along. Save the track that you’re most passionate about, the one that brings you to your feet, to surprise and motivate listeners through that midpoint slump.

Rule #2: Don’t Sleep on the Transitions

The flow between songs is just as important as the song itself. When deciding an order, think about how the final seconds on one song morph into the next. You can choose to create a mellow transition where beats flow seamlessly together; or you can surprise listeners with a jarring change by placing tracks with contrasting emotions back to back. Vary your transitions by varying your song choices: either in genre, artist, album, length, or beat. Create those beautiful ebbs and flows that will continue to excite your listener throughout the entire mixtape.

Rule #3: Focus on a Moment, Not a Theme

The difference between a theme and moment is subtle, but important! Themes are generic, while moments are specific. Take a look at a road trip themed playlists for example. In reality, road trips can span from hours to days cramped inside a vehicle. And on that trip, there are times when people are sleeping, singing, on their phone, watching a movie, or staring aimlessly into the sunset. There are many shared moments, and to help contextualize your playlist, choose a specific one. Instead of the generic “roadtrip,” go with “riding with the windows down into the sunset.” Or what about a breakup? Was this your first relationship, was the feeling mutual, were you blindsided and heartbroken? Instead of a standard breakup playlist, try “I am running to you in the rain because we belong together!!!” Use the feelings behind that moment to drive your song selection.

Rule #4: Put Thought Into Your Name and Cover

Say you decide to make a playlist for the love of your life. You spend hours scouring through artists, albums, and genres to create the perfect compilation. Your heart has been translated into song, and your breath quickens as you send your playlist over text. You may feel exhilaration and nervousness, but they may be met with confusion upon reading the title. “‘My playlist #11’.. What the f-ck?!” And so they heart the message and go back to watching YouTube videos while in the tub. Avoid this outcome. Spend 10 minutes on your name and cover. Call your playlist an inside joke, a punny nickname, or an emotional appeal. Edit your cover! Do not let Spotify stick the first four song album covers and call it a day! Either create your own cover or change the cover to showcase the albums that would pique their interest. Those little details can make the difference between a first date or a lonely Saturday night.

Rule #5: Your Mixtape Should Change with You

We’re not stagnant beings — take me for example. I had a big Bruno Mars phase in middle school, and now I can’t stop listening to Willie Nelson. Our music preferences evolve over time, shouldn’t our mixtapes reflect that? Before the streaming age, once you burned your songs onto a cassette, they were set forever. But now, we live in an age where adding and deleting can be achieved with a single swipe. Even if you decide that you would like to preserve a playlist, that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t revisit a moment. You can have two versions of the same playlist; create an updated one, or simply add to the original. That’s the power of the digital age: the ability to revise. Savor the nostalgia, but don’t be afraid to update.

And so, here are my top five rules for you to follow ... or not. The choice is up to you. But regardless of what you decide, I hope you journey into the pursuit of your own perfect playlist.