My aging parents are moving and we're clearing out their home. I found an entire plastic milk crate of my mixtapes and old Dead shows in their basement. If you’re Gen X like me, you can already picture the crate itself (literally one I first took to college in 1990) filled with not just piles of dust, but with Maxell 90 cassette tapes with carefully perfected handwriting across everything. I had no idea these survived all these years. Of course they came home with me. I’m really excited to dive into all of them. It’s brought back such fond memories of my old boom box and my very carefully curated mix tapes. 

There was an art to making the perfect mixtape. If you're of a certain age, you probably know exactly what I'm talking about. It wasn't as simple as throwing a bunch of songs together and pressing play. A good mixtape took time, patience, and more than a little thought. You had to decide what song would open Side A because first impressions mattered. You had to figure out what belonged at the end because everyone remembered the last song. And if you were recording songs off the radio, you knew the frustration of waiting all afternoon with your finger hovering over the Record button, only to have the DJ talk right over the intro. 

Making a mixtape was never convenient, but maybe that's what made it special.

I can still picture myself sitting on the floor with cassette tapes scattered everywhere, trying to decide which songs belonged together. I'd rewrite the track list if my handwriting looked messy, decorate the cover with little doodles or lyrics, and think way too long about the order of the songs. Every tape told a story, even if I didn't realize it at the time.

The funny thing is, I don't remember every song I ever put on a mixtape. What I do remember is who I made them for. Some were for friends. Some were for long drives. Some were simply because I couldn't wait for someone else to hear a song that had completely captured my heart. Looking back, I don't think I was just sharing music. I was sharing a little piece of myself.

The cassette tapes have been replaced by Spotify, but the feeling hasn't changed. I still get excited introducing someone to a song they've never heard before. I still spend way too much time deciding which songs belong together. Old habits die hard, I guess. The only difference is that now I get to share those collections with everybody instead of handing someone a Maxell cassette with my best handwriting on the cover.

Creating the Spotify playlists for Lyrical Sunshine reminded me just how much I loved making mixtapes. Every playlist has its own personality. Some are full of songs that make me roll the windows down and sing at the top of my lungs. Others are for quiet mornings, long walks, healing hearts, or those days when you simply need a little encouragement. They aren't meant to be perfect. They're meant to keep you company.

If you've been reading along for a while, you already know that music has always helped me make sense of life. Sometimes I hear a lyric that makes me laugh. Sometimes it's exactly what I need on a hard day. Sometimes a song simply reminds me of someone I love. Those are the songs that find their way into my playlists, and eventually, into this blog.

So if you're looking for your next favorite song, or maybe one you haven't thought about in years, I hope you'll spend a little time with the Lyrical Sunshine Playlists on Spotify. Who knows? You might discover a new favorite, reconnect with an old one, or find the perfect soundtrack for whatever chapter you're living right now.

I have a feeling the best playlists, just like the best mixtapes, aren't really about the music. They're about the memories we attach to it and the people we're hoping will listen along with us.

Now if you'll excuse me, I think it's time to make another playlist. 🎶☀️

Lindsey