The cassette tape hasn’t exactly been on fire recently. But the mighty mixtape was once a great way to tell someone how you felt about them. While most of us won’t be handing out physical copies to friends and family anymore, creating a digital mixtape (like a private Soundcloud link for a friend) is still a really special personal gift. Here’s how DJs can make digital mixtapes for friends…and promoters.
Guess their favorite songs
Selecting tunes is what DJs do, and it’s the cornerstone of adding personality to a mix (the topic of our advanced DJ Techniques III DJ course). But instead of selecting generic bangers, say something to the person you’re making your mixtape for. Ten or fifteen songs should be plenty. You want the person to be able to listen to the tape without feeling like they need to skip any tracks. Your mixtape should be indicative of their tastes, so don’t feel like you have to include any songs that you don’t really like just to make the mix “balance out”. And include a track listing.
Keep your DJ mixtape varied
Yes, keep it light. But also yes, throw in a couple of variety-providers and classics. If your entire tape is filled with songs that sound like they all came from the same generic playlist of hits, it might feel like a copy paste job instead of something personal. For example, if you have a playlist that’s made up of mostly upbeat disco reissues, also do a couple of the darker tunes from the period. Break format every so often by surprising your friend with something than an algorithm wouldn’t think of.
Pick a theme
Techno is a genre. But “music for fast dog walking” is a theme. A silly one, but we live in a time where weirdly specific wins. Not to be confused for the already done-to-death “Music for Dog Walking” theme. If you really want to make your mixtape special, put some thought into what it’s for. Does your friend walk their dog fast, by any chance? Remember something they once told you and make that the theme. Stick to the theme, even if it means making stuff up, and keep it in an order that flows.
You might not actually be making cassette tapes, but the feeling that goes into a personalized, private Soundcloud mix is the same. Mixtapes are a great way to share your favorite music with others, and also a good way to show that you’re thinking of others. Learn all sorts of industry tips from the pros in the DJ Courses Online DJ Career Tips course.