Before leaving home, I tried to think of creative ways to stay in touch with the friends and family I wished I could bring with me, but knew I wouldn't actually email often / ever. This blog was one way. Another was by sharing Seasonal Mixtapes via Dropbox (if you want to join the Mixtape folder, download Dropbox, then hit me up with an email).
Making mixtapes is one of my very favourite things in the world (guess who I inherited that from). I put way too much thought and effort into them, but rarely regret it. They're a great form of second hand self expression.
Here is my first mixtape from New York (although it's half from South Africa too): it is both for Summer (down South) and Winter (up North). More specifically, I guess it is about leaving South Africa and coming to New York. It is the music that has marked our cross-continental transition so far, for better or worse. Sometimes for no other reason than the fact that I couldn't stop listening to Emmylou while packing.
Yes, I listen to a bizarre amount of Lorde and Beyonce on the subway. Yes, the bonkers Heuwels / Mandoza collaboration makes me proud to be an Afrikaan. Yes, The National knows my heart. Yes, it ends on quite a bit of sadness and melancholy, with only grace notes of hopefulness. Moving is hard. But fret not - winter did end and Spring (with its compilation) is already taking root.
I'll leave it to you to piece the story together, if you wish.
Summer Down South:
- I Need My Girl - The National
- XO - Beyonce
- Rose Quartz - Toro Y Moi
- Falling - HAIM
- Flashbulb Eyes - Arcade Fire
- Afrikaan - Die Heuwels Fantasties & Mandoza
- Pyramids - Frank Ocean
- This Place - Vampire9000
- Emmylou - First Aid Kit
- Goodbye, Goodbye - Billy Bragg
Winter Up North:
- Outside Digging - James Vincent McMorrow
- New York - Cat Power
- Step - Vampire Weekend
- Age of Adz - Sufjan Stevens
- Retrograde - James Blake
- Don't Swallow the Cap - The National
- Close Watch - Agnes Obel
- A World Alone - Lorde
- Victory - Janelle Monae
- I'll Be Glad - Shannon Stephens
- Hou Aan - Die Heuwels Fantasties
