This week’s mixtape is fairly slow in pace, but still exciting in its own way. I always need a good dose of that during my work day to keep me going, that’s for sure! I quickly realized that Lana Del Rey becomes a staple when the weather gets HOT. She exudes that summer feeling, eh?? Just like that photo up there. I could totally pop this mix in and take a nice + long hot summer drive wherever. Listen below :

♫ spotify | 8tracks

01. “Song For Zula” — Phosphorescent
02. “John The Determinist” — Jeremy Messersmith
03. “In The Wind” — Lord Huron
04. “It’s All The Same To Me” — Late Night Alumni
05. “To See You Smile” — Yuksek
06. “Storm” — Jose Gonzalez
07. “Where The Wild Roses Grow” — Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
08. “Saltkin” — Purity Ring
09. “Cola” — Lana Del Rey
10. “Red Right Hand” — Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
11. “Shake Me” — Matthew Dear

I thought I’d help kick start the beginning of this week with a mixtape for those of you getting back into the work groove. I know most of my previous mixtapes have been on the faster end of things, so I thought I’d slow things down a bit. Good for a Monday, right?? Some of the songs have a little southern taste to them. Stuff you’d hear in your head walking down narrow dirt pathways … or something like that. You can listen and see the track list below. My favorite song from the mix is Taro, hands down.

♫ spotify | 8tracks

01. “Recipe For Disaster” — Morcheeba
02. “Taro” — Alt-J
03. “Salinas” — Laura Marling
04. “Mystic Moods” — Inf
05. “Graveyard” — The Devil Makes Three
06. “Holland Road” — Mumford & Sons
07. “Henry Lee” — Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
08. “Welcome Home, Son” — Radical Face
09. “Slow Slow Tune” — My Morning Jacket

I know I don’t get mixtapes out too regularly anymore, but I promise they’ll be around here & there. This week’s playlist is a mixture of funky cool tunes with pulsing beats. And I don’t know about you, but I prefer more intense music vs soft sounds while I’m working. I guess that’s just how I focus best. What does it for you?? Anyway, as usual, you can listen to this mixtape via the links below OR explore the archive of playlists, too. There are 24 of them now, wow!

♫ spotify | 8tracks

01. “Cards & Quarters” — Local Natives
02. “No Bones” — Yeasayer
03. “Medicine” — Grace Potter & The Nocturnals
04. “This Ladder Is Ours” — The Joy Formidable
05. “Similar but Not the Same” — The Nervous Wreckords
06. “No Church In The Wild” — Jay-Z ( ft. Kanye West, Frank Ocean )
07. “Amber” — Electric Guest
08. “No Rules” — Vacationer
09. “Near Death Experience Experience” — Andrew Bird
10. “Distractions” — Zero 7
11. “White Keys” — Yuksek

Since I’m away this week, I had a good friend of mine, Kristin, make us a playlist to enjoy! She’s really good at picking out music, and pulled out all the stops for this one. I’m serious, folks. Fifteen songs! Dang. Here’s what she had to say :

“Hi guys! Super pumped to be bringing some tune-age for you to enjoy today! I’m a bit of a mixtape making fanatic ( don’t ask me to count how many playlists I have in iTunes ), and I tend to compile my mixes based on a specific feeling or mood from a small moment in time. This particular musical moment comes from a soft, foggy morning and embracing the transition of seasons from end of winter to early, early spring. Subdued yet bright – what I consider the perfect marriage of winter and spring. Happy listening!”

♫ 8tracks

01. “All These Things” — MMoths (feat. Holly Miranda)
02. “Sleep Alone” — Bat For Lashes
03. “It’s Not Up To You” — Björk
04. “Ungirthed” — Purity Ring
05. “Now’s The Only Time I Know” — Fever Ray
06. “The Garden” — Sofia Talvik
07. “In The Morning” — Junior Boys
08. “Hunt” — Goldfrapp
09. “Hazelton” — Bon Iver
10. “Someone Like Me” — Röyksopp
11. “Sleeping In” — The Radio Dept.
12. “Plastic Man” — Alexis Taylor
13. “Ride” — Lana del Rey
14. “Verseau” — Cœur de Pirate
15. “Sinking Friendships” — Jónsi

Man, it’s been AWHILE since my last published mixtape. I have no excuse other than being busy + maybe running out of ideas for a little bit there. I usually have a small handful of playlists that I add to every once in awhile, but nothing felt finished until this week. The tracks in this one are pretty inspirational and make you feel like kicking but for the day. That’s always good, right?? Plus, the Backstreet Boys are in this one. Sorry I’m not sorry. Listen & enjoy below!

♫ spotify | 8tracks

01. “Black Eyes” — Radical Face
02. “Pretender” — Miike Snow
03. “Wake Up Children” — J. Thoven
04. “Give the Love Around” — The Script
05. “Passenger” — OneRepublic
06. “Stop Mary” — Graffiti6
07. “Stars” — Grace Potter & The Nocturnals
08. “Lost The Plot” — Newsboys
09. “Larger Than Life” — Backstreet Boys
10. “No Light, No Light” — Florence + The Machine
11. “Will You Be There” — Conner Youngblood