5 min read
How to make a road trip playlist
Songs for every stretch of the drive, from the first singalong to the last hour in the dark, plus how to share the music fairly and keep the driver happy.
notes from the Mixtape Mood shelf
Guides
Short reads about music and how it makes us feel, and how to get the most out of a mixtape.
5 min read
How to describe your mood for a better mixtape
A few words can say a lot. How to put a feeling into words so the songs you get actually sound like it, with examples.
6 min read
How music changes how you feel
Why a song can lift you up or let you be sad, what “energy” and “brightness” mean in music, and how to use that when you pick songs.
6 min read
The art of the mixtape: a short history and how to make a good one
From the 1963 compact cassette to playlists today: where mixtapes came from, and the old rules for making one that still work.
5 min read
How to make a dinner party playlist
Music for an evening with friends: how loud, how long, which songs to skip, and how to shape the night from first drinks to dancing.
5 min read
Music for studying and focus: what helps and what doesn’t
Lyrics or no lyrics, what tempo, how loud, and whether the “Mozart effect” is real. Practical tips for working with music on.
4 min read
What makes a song feel like a rainy day
Slow tempos, soft voices, acoustic guitars and piano: the sounds that match grey weather, and how to make a rainy day playlist that feels cosy, not sad.
6 min read
Greek, Russian and Hebrew songs: a short guide to asking for them
Laïko, éntekhno and rebetiko; Russian rock and bard songs; Israeli rock, Mizrahi and songs of the Land of Israel. What each style is, and how to ask for it.