Well there it is lads. The roadmap is out in the open… something to look forward to I suppose. As vague as those dates might be!
The problem with having chosen Mondays to write this new batch of mixtapes is that I’m always mildly miserable (because Monday). I pick the music as the week goes on though so hopefully it won’t be reflected in the tunes.
So let’s take our minds OFF how much longer we’ve got cooped up and instead get groovy. As always the playlist for ‘The Third Lockdown’ can be found here while ‘Emily’s Lock Down Mix Tapes: compiled’ (ie the OG lockdown mixtape) lives here. They’re kept separate because I’m not the same person I was this time last year. Sounds deep… it is. I doubt anybody is the same person they were.
- Monday night grump
Footsteps – Kokey Radical (Tom Grennan)
I came across this song in a bizarre podcast where James Acaster goes through albums released in 2016. The podcast is the gradual formation of his argument that 2016 was the best ever year for music… I can’t comment on that claim but this song is so full of power – it’s kind of dark and light at the same time. I find it quite haunting.
- Getting your sass on to your physio exercises
Anseo – Denise Chaila
This is gold. ‘Anseo’ means ‘here’ in Irish. Denise Chaila is originally from Limerick and this is her showing up. She’s not a queen she’s a Pharaoh – deal with it. I love her silky sexy voice with her self assured lyrics – she also has a song called ‘Chaila’ on the same album about pronouncing her name wrong. It’s also definitely worth checking out. You can’t help but get a bit strutty and sassy listening to her.
- Saturday morning, cooking up ya post workout eggs
Cowboy Song – Thin Lizzy
On the theme of Ireland… oh how we love Thin Lizzy. This is just a happy rock tune to enjoy life to. Maybe the sun’s out, you’ve got cocktails planned for later that evening but right now it’s just you, your eggs and your adrenaline from your workout. Is this the perfect rock song? Maybe.
- Insomnia but you’re fine with it
Crystal Rain – Redlight
Well obviously we all know and love Redlight (9Ts Baby!) but we don’t usually know him to be this chill. I find this so atmospheric. At times when I feel a bit lonely it kind of makes me ok with it – as though it’s an adventure. Which it is… even in lockdown.
- Refolding all your clothes
Red Light Spells Danger – Billy Ocean
From one Redlight to another – gosh I’ve got a great structure this week. This is a track for when you’re feeling pretty neg but you are determined to feel pos. I can’t remember what reminded me of this song but I’ve been really enjoying its presence on this week’s playlist.
- Writing your existential diary entry, wondering if you’ll make it out this life alive
Back to You – Benjamin Gordon
I don’t know where I found this. Maybe it came up on a Spotify playlist? It’s so incredibly heart warming… it feels a little bit hopeful but also quite sad with his rustic voice and lovely piano.
- Balcony Workout
Ecstasy (Over & Over)
Well, there’s always at least one crude transition in these mix tapes and it’s always from something serious to something outrageously cheesy. Is this a Tik Tok song? I feel like it’s something like that but I just LOVE it. It just makes me smile and feel like I’m back in the 90s or something.
- Sobbing at your new cluster of greys
When We Were Young – Adele
I’m finishing with some pretty high emotions. Can we call this one of the best albums of all time yet? This song gives me shivers all over… remembering your youth does feel just like a movie doesn’t it? Hell, remembering 2019 feels like a damn movie and I want to live it again!