natalie angiuli

the happenings of an indie song rescuer, rescuing little melodies and words in the air from the dark fatal depths of this too vast universe. Image and video hosting by TinyPic

7 Steps to Making the Perfect Mix and How to Avoid Crowded Malls This Holiday Season

Starbucks has brought out the red holiday cups, the clocks have turned back one hour (bless you, Mother Nature, for that extra hour of sleep), and the daytime temperature in Los Angeles has dropped to an arctic-like 62 degrees. This rapid turn of events can only signify one thing: the season of giving is just around the corner, and it’s time to embark on the thoughtful gift idea brainstorm of 2011!  

 

But wait! You don’t really feel like going around collecting the sweater sizes of your loved ones, you don’t even know if they’re into sweaters anymore, and you’re also kind of broke.

 

And then, from the dark depths of your blank stack of CD’s….

 

… the mix CD comes to the rescue! Where to start? While mix CD’s are certainly great gifts for the holidays, they are also perfect gifts for almost any occasion. They are a thoughtful, fun, and affordable way to say “I like you” or “I’m sorry for eating your last slice of pizza without permission” or “please come back.” With the right songs in the right order, you can say you’re sorry, send secret messages, keep that someone guessing, or pretty much say anything your lovely little heart desires. The music we listen to says a lot about us, and exploring our shared musical preferences via mix CD opens windows of opportunity to highlight how much we have in common with someone important to us.

I’ve received many-a-mixes in my day that have shaped my taste in music. Some of my favorite songs of all time were mix CD discoveries. A special few mix CD’s are now staples in my music library; however, the others could’ve used a little revision before their final destination in my car. Dear friends, take heed: mix making is a dying art. A great mix, like a fine wine, requires time and patience (but no grapes! Don’t worry. Purple stains: circumvented). Having been on both the giving and receiving end of mix exchanges, I’ve assembled some basic guidelines for making a mix that will surely be the treasure of some lucky someone in your life. Whether your mix is an anniversary present or a survival weapon for a zombie apocalypse, there is a simple formula you can follow to ensure its awesomeness. Below are seven easy steps that you can take to make a truly magnificent mix.

 

1) Determine the theme/occasion

So, who’s the lucky one? Is it a love interest, an old friend, a new friend, a sibling, a stranger, a dog? What are you trying to achieve through this mix tape? Are you trying to win this person’s heart, or just supply some quality car entertainment? Are you trying to win him back through song? Maybe you are just trying to cheer up your best friend. Maybe this mix is a quest to draw the attention of that boy in your class who may/may not be a vampire.  Whatever it is, take a moment to figure out what you want to say with these songs. Settle on a theme, and keep it in mind when you go song scouting in step 2!

 

2) Song Selection

First things first, create a playlist on your music software. Then, browse your music library A-Z, and pull out all potential songs. This part is a little time consuming, but in this first phase of song selection, the more the merrier.

Song Choice Ideas:

◆               Pick a song that reminds you of the person

◆               Pick a song that you love

◆               Pick a song that you both love

◆               Pick a song that you know he/she knows

◆               Pick a song that you know he/she does NOT know

◆               Pick a song from your childhood

◆               Pick a song about a place/city that you both know and love

◆               Pick an oldie (everyone loves the classics!)

◆               Pick a song from a local band/from your hometown that you love (indie points)

◆               Pick a Beatles song (whatever you want to say, chances are the Beatles have already said it, and oh so poetically!)

 

3) Song Elimination

After you’ve pulled out all possible songs from your library that you think might “fit” this mix, it’s time to see which ones actually make the cut. If you are having a hard time figuring out which songs to ditch, consider the following points/questions:

◆               More than 2 songs by the same artist can be risky! If he/she isn’t digging your first two pitches for whatever reason, zoning outage may occur.

◆               Don’t put too many brand spanking new songs on your mix! As many impulsive shoppers regret their purchases, you may regret including a new song that you have not lived with long enough. Save yourself the return trip- live with it a bit longer, and if you still like it when mix #2 comes around, give it another chance!

◆               Beware of songs with heavy subject matter- listening to your mix should be a pleasant and positive experience.  Not every song needs to be happy-go-lucky, but it’s generally advisable to stay away from any content that could potentially cause the listener stress.

◆               On that note, limit the sap. You can be sweet and sentimental without being too sappy!

◆               Strive for an overall balanced mix of upbeat songs and slower songs

◆               Your mix should never exceed 15 songs. Consider that the listener will be new to many of the songs. You should aim for 10-15 songs, perfect for a ride home from school or work.

◆               Imagine that you have to listen to this mix together.  Do you think you would both enjoy it?

 

So you’re down to 13 songs! Time to move on to the next step

 

4) Determine the sequence and test the flow

After you narrow down your songs, don’t just throw all the songs on a blank CD! Remember that songs are statements, and the order of your statements influences the overall message of your mix. Move songs around in your playlist, and embrace the non-destructive editing capabilities of 21st century music software. After you have sequenced the songs, make yourself a copy of the mix. Put it in your car, jam out, and decide what works and what doesn’t. Go back; make changes where necessary, and repeat until you’re completely satisfied with your sequencing and transitions.

 

Tips for sequencing:

◆               Upbeat is a good way to go for the opening track. First impressions are lasting impressions, and a positive first impression is key.  

◆               First song/Last song is a good method to follow if you’re stuck. Determine the first song and the last song, and figure how you can get from Point A to Point B.

◆               Does your mix have an arch to it? Is there a shape? Can you find a connection between the first and last songs? These connections can be subtle, but you should be able to connect all the dots in your head.

◆               Do the songs transition well? Avoid extremely abrupt transitions, major shifts in volume between tracks, and any lack of continuity in general.

 

5) Give it a name

Give your mix a clever title! It can be an inside joke, a Harry Potter reference, a song title or lyric, a line from a movie, etc. The title not only helps give the mix a direction, but it’s inclusion also yields an opportunity for you to showcase your sense of humor and your creativity.  Don’t be afraid to be hilarious/adorable.


6) Design the cover art

It’s time for arts and crafts! Whip out the Elmer’s glue!

 In our beloved digital world of MP3dom, the visual component of a mix CD is often neglected… But accompanying visuals are so important in this day and age. We both know too many people who struggle to sit through a song that doesn’t have a corresponding LOLcats picture montage on YouTube. In any case, presentation matters! Show that you put time into this mix as you would with any other gift. As jewel cases and CD-ROMs join the ranks of antiques and dinosaur bones in the wake of digital media, it is infinitely refreshing to receive a physical disc with beautiful, personalized artwork. 

Decorate your CD sleeve or case with construction paper, markers, photographs, magazine cutouts, stickers, and other art supplies for your cover art. If you really feel your artistic skills extend only to identifying each of the Crayola scented markers (a desirable skill in it’s own rite, give yourself some credit), print a picture off your computer instead. Simple and thoughtful is a fine way to go. Be sure to include your magnificently witty title on the cover! 

7) Include the track list on the back

Let the recipient know what he/she is listening to. Chances are he/she will want to check out more songs by these artists (since you have such awesome taste in music). In addition, I sometimes like to write super short handwritten memos about why I included each track (what it means to me, why I think the listener will enjoy it, what it reminds me of, etc). Should you choose to include explanations like this, keep them brief and let the listener focus on all the other wonderfully thought-out aspects of your hard work! 

***

 

There you have it! Use these seven steps to create a piece of homemade modern art. Burn a copy for yourself, because you deserve it after all your hard work… and that hard work will pay off- grand efforts do not go unnoticed! Your exquisite taste in music and admirable attentiveness to detail will earn you a permanent spot in the heart of some lucky listener. 

  1. thegoodnoise reblogged this from alittlenatmusic
  2. arijose reblogged this from alittlenatmusic
  3. whatsername reblogged this from alittlenatmusic
  4. alittlenatmusic posted this