The Starting Block 31
Starting Block Reflecting on this issue’s theme: sound and music.
The perfect mixtape is a portable universe where every track holds meaning and every transition matters. British-born Filipino and Copenhagen-based selector and DJ Mark Wingco breaks down the anatomy of a soulful, seamless mix. Follow these steps to create your own (and scan the QR code to sample his flow).
BY AISLING GOGAN
ILLUSTRATION BY AISLING GOGAN
1. Who’s Listening
“Who the mix is for is important; essentially, your mixtape is there to set the tone and vibe. I tend to draw from nostalgia and what moves me.”
2. Open Strong
“The beauty of an opening track is that it can and should lead you to all possibilities, sonically. Everything flows from here.”
3. The Build
“Finding cadence is important for a sense of rhythm. Choosing tracks based on BPMs [beats per minute], even keys, helps give each song time to breathe. I like things to go in waves.”
4. A High Note
“The last track needs to bring a sense of emotion that ties everything together. What do you want your final song to say? Is it a big, extravagant, epic floor-filler or something that levels you out?”
5. A High Note
“Making a mixtape isn’t a science. Everyone has their own sound that’s true to them. Like any journey, how you navigate it is the key.”
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