mix CDs and neurochemistry
Ahhh yes. You know, I never made a mix tape, back in the day. I've always been a late bloomer, I guess. But here it is the '00s and I'm making mix CDs. I like to think I'm fairly good at it too, to someone who knows how to listen. I do know the power of music and I'm not afraid to use it!
Anyway, making a mix CD is indeed an art. I usually start with a goal: a feeling I want to evoke, a statement I want to express, or just a theme I want to share. Most of the times I will have at least one or two songs in mind when I begin. Then I go through my iTunes collection and start dumping everything into a bucket playlist. Once I have enough ideas, I go through the playlist, think more carefully about lyrics of each, weed out ones that don't fit. When I have roughly 15-20 songs, I start listening. My first pass is to listen to transitions (end of one song, beginning of another song) to get a first draft of the order. I also use the lyrics to shape the "story" I'm trying to tell.
A good mix CD might take just hours (if I have hours to devote) or it might take days. I generally try to listen to the whole thing in the car, that's the best. The logical brain has something to do (drive) and you are free to focus on the feelings, the journey.
Oh yeah, and when I really go all out (and when I don't get impatient) I design tray inserts :) Which is what I'm doing now. I did a little photo shoot for this particular CD, out near the Sutro baths. The sunset was incredible, the light was magical. I am SO GLAD I live here! 45 minutes and I'm at the ocean. If only I were closer (but I musn't be greedy ;)
Speaking of the power of the mix tape and music in general...
I just bought this book at the Lawrence Hall of Science gift store called "This Is Your Brain on Music: The Science of a Human Obsession". I took Skyler there (with my sister and nephew) on Saturday to see their "Wild Music" (initially I typed Wilde - ha!) exhibit. I enjoyed the exhibit overall. My favorite part was a jam room with intruments to play. Too bad the boys didn't want to stay there! I think the they were feeding off each other's kinetic energy. We bounced around from sstation to station like pinballs.
Anyway, the book. I'm such a geek, I see something like this and I immediately snatch it up. I'm so excited to find out what it is in our brains that is so susceptible to manipulation through music. Fascinating!
Anyway, making a mix CD is indeed an art. I usually start with a goal: a feeling I want to evoke, a statement I want to express, or just a theme I want to share. Most of the times I will have at least one or two songs in mind when I begin. Then I go through my iTunes collection and start dumping everything into a bucket playlist. Once I have enough ideas, I go through the playlist, think more carefully about lyrics of each, weed out ones that don't fit. When I have roughly 15-20 songs, I start listening. My first pass is to listen to transitions (end of one song, beginning of another song) to get a first draft of the order. I also use the lyrics to shape the "story" I'm trying to tell.
A good mix CD might take just hours (if I have hours to devote) or it might take days. I generally try to listen to the whole thing in the car, that's the best. The logical brain has something to do (drive) and you are free to focus on the feelings, the journey.
Oh yeah, and when I really go all out (and when I don't get impatient) I design tray inserts :) Which is what I'm doing now. I did a little photo shoot for this particular CD, out near the Sutro baths. The sunset was incredible, the light was magical. I am SO GLAD I live here! 45 minutes and I'm at the ocean. If only I were closer (but I musn't be greedy ;)
Speaking of the power of the mix tape and music in general...
I just bought this book at the Lawrence Hall of Science gift store called "This Is Your Brain on Music: The Science of a Human Obsession". I took Skyler there (with my sister and nephew) on Saturday to see their "Wild Music" (initially I typed Wilde - ha!) exhibit. I enjoyed the exhibit overall. My favorite part was a jam room with intruments to play. Too bad the boys didn't want to stay there! I think the they were feeding off each other's kinetic energy. We bounced around from sstation to station like pinballs.
Anyway, the book. I'm such a geek, I see something like this and I immediately snatch it up. I'm so excited to find out what it is in our brains that is so susceptible to manipulation through music. Fascinating!
posted by jennifer at
7:54 PM
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