Some Playlists for your consideration and events

I love djing. That - I'm well aware - could or should be construed as an obnoxious statement. Especially considering that when I say "dj" I don't mean that I scour old record stores finding lost 70's Motown tracks to loop on my double deck board - adding a new and authentic piece to the complex canvas of musical history. That would be cool! What I like to do is less so. My heights of djing have peaked at high school dances and pro bono work for friends' weddings - well, it actually peaked at a garage party in 2023 (email me for that set if you're interested, it was sick). Anyways, this is all a long preamble to the hope that my innate drive to collate many hours of music into the correct concise combination for a given event or mood is something that might benefit you in some small, vainglorious-for-me way.

I'm working on a library of playlists you can refer to based on what situation you're currently in. The idea is that you'll have a fun playlist from me for everything from setting the mood on wine nights to hosting a bbq with your extended family to the drive to your optometrist appointment.

While that bakes (this will be a fun little web project), please grab a sample of a few new playlists below - they've got 'tasting notes' for each in italics that should help you determine which playlists are for what scenario in your upcoming life.

Aux grab.

When a gathering becomes a party and you need something to throw on fast in the background.

Gatherings of 3 to 12. Weeknight drinks. Charcuterie boards. Dimmed lights. "Do shoes stay off or on at your house?"

BBQ heat.

When the grill is hot and the event is a family affair.

One or more literal uncles are present. Extra wide New Balance sneakers. Coolers filled with ice. Fresh cut grass. Char from an old grill. Strawberry popsicles.

Chilled gin.

Dinner party fodder for anything from weeknight leftovers to a white tablecloth affair.

Second bottle of wine opened with dirty dishes in the sink. Tobacco and sandalwood. Cashmere sweaters. Vintage vinyl.

Fine job.

Flowing effortlessly into your fifteenth email powered by your third cup of coffee.

Mechanical keyboard clacks. Chocolate pastries. Checking Reddit. Ice cold water from an insulated water bottle. Meeting gets canceled on a Friday afternoon.

Nostalgia dance

When the millennials have all gotten babysitters and want to turn up like it's 2007.

Cafetoriums after school hours. Local radio playing "Today's Hits." Trampolines. Popped collars. Hollister. Bikes with pegs on the back wheel. Gatorade and skittles eaten together.

Detroit 2am.

I didn't spell it wrong. When you want to hit the DJ mix on Spotify and have something that brings some swing to the hips.

"This place is sick" followed immediately by "Where are we though?" Overpriced vodka sodas. Sweat and perfume. Late night pizza. Friends who "don't smoke" disappearing for the exact amount of time of a cigarette break.