HOW TO MIX FIRE PLAYLISTS
The science of sound curation is an art unto itself, an essential component of any musical tradition. In hip-hop, disc jockeys (DJs) are more than party people, they are cultural archivists and sonic storytellers. Starting a playlist is simple, but the process of curating an experience involves an intricate combination of numbers and intuition.
“You wanna know how to rhyme you better learn how to add,” Mos Def on Mathematics (1999).
If you want to know how to mix fire playlists, consider adding these five elements to your creative process.
1. Build a Base
Before you add any songs to your playlist, conceptualize the space you want to create. Ask yourself, why are you sewing these specific songs together? What do they have in common? Pick a theme and only add songs that match.
Pro-tip: Consider more tracks than intended for actual use to sharpen your consolidation process. The more options in your arsenal, the better!
2. Check the Tempo
Your average listener can feel the tempo of a song and hear major changes in beats per minute (BPM) on transitions. For example, a faster track with 140BPM will sound noticeably different than a slower track with 95BPM. For seamless transitions, pair songs according to their tempos.
There are several ways to find the tempo of a song. Measuring out the bars is a great way to practice basic math skills. Simply set a timer for 30 seconds, count 1-2-3-4 on the beat, and multiply that number by 4 (the typical number of beats/bar), then duplicate to discover the BPM.
10 bars per 30 seconds
x=10(4)(2)
x=80BPM
Nowadays, there are plenty of free mixing apps that can connect to your music streaming accounts and automatically detect BPMs (you can toggle between apps to arrange), but knowing how to manually count is still a useful tool!
Pro-tip: One way to switch up the vibe without fumbling on the transition is to utilize “double” or “half” time. In other words, a set of 150BPM and 75BPM songs will synchronize fluidly whereas the actual tempos will vary substantially.
3. Ebb and Flow
Introduce rise-and-fall patterns in your arrangement. For example, start with a slower tempo and create a steady build, then reset (or steady release) after an energy climax. Establish a rhythm and maintain a sense of balance from beginning to end.
Pro-tip: Music is an expression of life, humanize your playlists with realistic pacing.
4. Read the Room
Learn your audience(s). No amount of foresight or planning can account for a lack of common sense behind the boards, plain and simple. Your awareness holds power, channel these perceptions into the mix.
Pro-tip: If you’re playing live, pick a person to watch throughout your set and observe their body language/movements/responses.
5. Use Your Ears
Listen. Identify key elements in each song and weave them together according to their unique sounds. For example, if a track uses a cinematic-type sample, consider playing it before or after a track with a sentimental violin lead.
Pro-tip: Assess the intro and outro sections of any song to gauge where it fits best.
The difference between a fire playlist and a mid-grade mix is in the attention to detail and intention. A great mix should slap before it even touches any equipment, purely off the strength of its organic transitions and sound design!