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Anatomy of the Mix Tape
I love mix tapes.
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I grew up in Chicago and the mix tape was the bond that held most high school relationships together, such time and energy, hours of pondering and pontification, toiling and trauma. Into each cassette classic was a plagiarized journal of a million random artists who happened to be the right track at the right time. We balanced ourselves through the lines of lyrics, in the length of composition, the accuracy or individual ownership of a cover song. We found our strength in the power of song and the humbling but calming feeling that we were not alone in our joy, our pain, our confusion.
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Where I came from, a mix tape meant the world. When communication was awkward, we could let Patty Smith or Jeff Buckley help to bare our souls. It was the one chance for the nerd with great audio taste to whoo the pom poms off a varsity cheerleader. It was once explained to me that there is a solid template to which mix tapes need adhere. Remember, a mix tape was a statement, a plea… a last resort. Since this was our most naked moment, it needed to perfectly reflect the overwhelming (and most probably overstated) message in out heart and head.
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The parameters of the mix tape.
1) Before ever hitting record, it was important to list off the songs in an emotional order. This will take some time. The collage needs to share a theme. You have to imagine the recipient, what you want of that recipient, focus on what the first note might be that could control their attention.
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2) All the songs must flow into and out each other seamlessly. It seems self defeating to make a “break up” mix tape consisting of Peter Murphy, The Cure and This Mortal Coil but then add Cinderella into the mix. Its faux pas to make a Party mix that had The Sex Pistols, the Damned and the Dead Kennedy’s but then add the Carpenters half way through it. Think like a “DJ to an audience of one” and not like an “agenda to THE CAUSE”.
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3) NEVER SPEAK INTO THE RECORDER FOR ANY REASON!!!! No explaining. Vague is your precision - interpretation your box of candy.
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4) While recording the mix tape but sure to draft cover art that is unique to your vision. Collages of Rolling Stone images, National Geographic and other prime pictorial work very well, just keep the images ambiguous. Never send a girl a “I want to get to know you” mix tape with collaged images that include anything semi or totally naked. (Unless you’re courting THAT girl..) Also, never include images with anything phallic, like bananas, cucumbers, Dutch Fire hydrants or singular skyscrapers. Sometimes a banana is just a banana, but never in high school.
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5) Also, draft a catchy name for the mix tape and a well written catalog for the songs. Add your name somewhere so that credit is given correctly.
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I know there are many out there who were creators and recipients Mix Tapes. Everyone has a tale about one in particular. I am comfortable saying that my virginity was lost to a girl who made a mix tape as the soundtrack to the entire fumbled experience. She actually halted our special moment until Peter Gabriel’s “In your eyes”, graced the speakers of her mom’s Taurus. Yep… true story.
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Got a Mix tape story..?
