The lost art of making the Mix Tape.

How did we lose the Mix Tape? How could we let this happen?! Possibly due to the fact we stopped using cassette a number of years ago or maybe just because we can all make a CD whenever we want with whatever we want on it. The wonderful age of technology we live in leaves a plethora of doors open for us to wander freely into realms of gadgety fun and opportunities on a Galactic scale to acquire any song by any band or artist and put them onto (or turn them into?) virtually any form of media conceivable!

The point everyone seems to lose is that the idea of making a Mix Tape wasn't for personal use but more as a gift. It's a really thoughtful thing to give to a person, especially when they're worth your time and effort. In times long past, people had vinyl. You couldn't just start up a computer and throw a bunch of songs together then click "burn"! You had to sit and methodically think of music important to you and to the other person. If it was soulless then there's no point, eh?

We could all learn a lesson from "High Fidelity". Audiophiles, be seated. I'll come back to you at a later date. I'm referring to the book (also adapted to a great movie!) and there's a great deal to take from it. Making a Mix Tape isn't as simple as taking a selection of songs you like and filling a CD-R...

"The making of a great compilation tape, like breaking up, is hard to do and takes ages longer than it might seem."

You have to consider who your intended audience is. I mean, is it for a friend? Someone you like? Someone you love? It could even be for a relative. It's important to think first before you dive right in. Your mother wouldn't appreciate 60 minutes of Norway's most grimmest; the person you're dating or you'd like to extend an invitation to do such a thing wouldn't want to hear "I Cum Blood" nor "Fucked With A Knife" and I'm almost positive your Pop Punk-loving friend wouldn't like to hear and certainly wouldn't understand the flamboyant brass assault lead by John Coltrane.

"First of all you're using someone else's poetry to express how you feel. This is a delicate thing."

Pick songs you know the person will enjoy and even throw in some tunes with sentimental value. It must have feeling! IT MUST HAVE SOUL! Soul as in from the heart. We don't want to get confused, here. Make choices based around what you like as well, of course, but be reasonable. AND be careful. You wouldn't want to come across in a way which would completely undermine your compilation! Think about the songs you're selecting from the artist or bands point of view as well. Some songs aren't quite what they seem. (see, The Police - Every Breath You Take)

It's good to have a theme or to stick to a specific "style". You know the person well enough and there shouldn't be a problem with selecting songs. No obscurities and never pick songs that are horribly long (unless of course the person digs stuff like GY!BE). Placing songs of a polar nature next to one another can be entirely distracting and the probability of the disc running smoothly from start to finish is very, very low. Keep to a theme and you can't go far wrong. You should also think long and hard about the arrangement of the songs you're choosing.

Another important point to consider is that you could always try and relate your Mix to a certain time or period that, when you go to listen to the CD in the future, you'll be reminded of.

"You gotta kick off with a killer, to grab attention."

Start big! You want the first couple of tracks to take hold of the person and refuse to let go. Starting off with a personal favourite or a song you love and you know the other person will love is imperative. First impressions are always the most important and you won't want to lose your audience within the opening few minutes. Be sure to make your selection based on the mood you want to convey. The intro to your disc will more than likely set the mood for the rest of the compilation.

"Then you got to take it up a notch, but you don't wanna blow your wad, so then you got to cool it off a notch."

Like I've said, keep the pace at the start of your mix punchy but you have a whole CD to fill so don't go over the top. If you choose to add in some calmer or softer or sadder tracks make sure you don't derail yourself. Keep them grouped and do not let the point you're trying to make or the listener drift away. You can always build back gradually with more upbeat tracks so that you have a smooth progression. Being erratic throughout your mix will put anyone off so it'd be wise to think about the arrangement as much as possible.

Finally, the most important part bar none other is the finale. You have to go out on a high note and you have to make sure it has impact. You've set out a full Mix and you want it to progress safely to a devastatingly wondrous end! Select a couple of songs or maybe just one to round off your compilation. It's the message you leave the listener with that's important. Impact doesn't necessarily mean going out with a bang, too. You could choose to slowly fade out the disc with softer songs. It really all depends on the theme you're going for. The importance is in the power of the last tracks. You have to close off the CD on the same page as you started it.

"Now, the making of a good compilation tape is a very subtle art. Many do's and don'ts."

Of course, there are one thousand and one unwritten rules too. You know, never have more than one song by any given band especially one after another! There's always so much to consider. Hopefully this little entry can shine light on a long forgotten practice and help some people to realise the struggle in making and the true potential of a good Mix Tape.

And there it is! It's not as simple as you'd expect but the outcome can be fantastic. There really isn't anything quite as cheaply done or as thoughtful as taking a night out of your life to kick back with some music, a pen, paper and embarking on the awesome journey of compiling a Mix Tape for somebody special. Hopefully the next time you go to put a selection of songs on to a CD-R you'll think about what I've said and maybe you'll make someone happy.