Wouldn’t it be great if someone created a guide on how to make the perfect mixtape for yourself, someone you love or just about anyone really? Well we’ve done just that. 

“A curated collection of music from a variety of different sources that has been hand-picked and copied onto some form of audio recording media”, or at least that’s one definition of a mixtape.  Mixtapes are fun and can come in a variety of media, for example, cassettes, CDs, MP3s, or a more modern take would be making a Spotify playlist.  A mixtape usually (but not always) follows a theme, like a specific genre of music or themes conveyed through the music; they are a fun and inventive way to share music with someone you care about.

Firstly, you’ll have to decide how you want to make the mixtape, do you want a CD or cassette to give someone? Or maybe a playlist that you can share the link with someone? iTunes offers a great CD burning option where you can create your mixtape as a playlist and burn it to a disc directly. But if you wanted to make a cassette mixtape it might take a bit more expertise and time.

Next you should decide on a theme, what do you want to convey through this collection of songs? Don’t forget to be as creative as possible; include different styles of music and don’t be afraid to push the boundaries a little.  A good idea would be to include some familiar songs and some new tracks to create a real mixed bag of songs; however, make sure the songs flow though because nobody wants to listen to a clunky mixtape that flows like bricks down a waterfall.

Finally you’ll have to create some artwork or imagery of some kind. Although this isn’t crucial it is a nice personal touch that would really finish off the mixtape perfectly.  You don’t have to draw though, cut bits out of magazines or print pictures out.  Find coloured pens and doodle on a cassette or a CD if you wanted, or find the perfect image to sum up the mixtape. Now you should be able to give the mixtape to the recipient.  The perfect mix of songs.  Music is like art; the beauty is in the ear of the beholder, so give someone that beautiful gift.