The Art of Curating Music

Thank you Internet for everything you make possible. 

Before the word MOOD became a meme, before DJ's started to be looked at as mindless button pressers, before Soundcloud and Youtube made collecting and organizing music easier, there were people that had a natural drive to curate sounds. 

At some point the talent of curating became looked at as "unimpressive" and it hurt everyone from the DJ to the music enthusiast. We all started to overlook the talent it takes to either control a crowds mood, or bring someone to a particular mind state with a playlist of cohesive music. This isn't to say that anyone who makes a solid playlist is as talented as a great DJ but rather to bring light to the fact that a DJ that doesn't cohesively put together a set is as uninspired as a person who throws together a NOW THATS WHAT I CALL MUSIC compilation. 

Here are some curators, large and small, that I feel "get it." Be sure to follow all of them on everything. 

Soulection

Soulection forever, man. Curating the sounds of the future, Joe Kay is an absolute genius. I talk about them enough. Lets leave it at that. If you find yourself feeling "BLAH" go play one of the Soulection Radio Shows. 

▶ Soulection ~ The Sound of Tomorrow ▶ Watch our Interview Sessions: youtube.com/soulection ▶ http://facebook.com/soulection | http://twitter.com/soulection ▶ Discover: @joekay ▶ Show #204 Track List: http://bit.ly/Show204TrackList The last 72+ hours have been a movie. From Dubai to Cape Town, South Africa, here we are at Red Bull Studios blooming off the energy of the city and people around us. Carmack stole the night yesterday at the Cape Town Electronic Music Festival hosted by RBMA and we're here celebrating Dilla's life just as we do every month. Soulection wouldn't be here if it weren't for J Dilla. That man has given us so much inspiration and this show is for him. If you're in South Africa come out to one of our shows -- hit soulection.com for more info. Red Bull Studios Cape Town http://www.redbullstudios.com/capetown Shouts to Richard Rumney for being a great engineer and special thanks to: Ritalin Thieves, Ruckus, Uppercut, Ama-Kings, Maramza, & CTEMF. Find us on Instagram to see what goes on behind the scenes: http://instagram.com/soulection Photo by http://instagram.com/joekay & Design by @Sangobeats We want you to get involved with the Soulection Radio Cover designs. If you have a dope photo or design that you think fits us, find us on IG and hashtag: 'SoulectionRadio' Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use. ****Track Lists are now at the top of this description in a Bitly PDF file****

▶ Soulection ~ The Sound of Tomorrow 
▶ Watch our Interview Sessions: http://youtube.com/soulection
 ▶ http://facebook.com/soulection | http://twitter.com/soulection
 ➜ Show #231 Track List: http://bit.ly/Show231TrackList 
▶ Discover: @damfunk @joekay With the legend, one of the realest in the game, representing Pasadena, CA, the real ambassador of modern funk ~ Dam-Funk. Enjoy. ** Soulection Radio Shows on Beats 1 are archived here 6 days after they air live on Saturday from 7pm-9pm Pacific** ****Track Lists are now at the top of this description in a Bitly PDF link**** → If you are interested in hearing all of our recent shows go here: http://soundcloud.com/soulection/sets/soulection-radio-sessions → If you are looking to download the show go here: http://soulectionradio.com → Stay tuned to our site for more info on tour dates, releases, and much more via http://soulection.com → Find us on Instagram to see what goes on behind the scenes: http://instagram.com/soulection → Photo by http://instagram.com/illbrill Design by @Sangobeats → We want you to get involved with the Soulection Radio Cover designs. If you have a dope photo or design that you think fits us, find us on IG and hashtag: 'SoulectionRadio'

Mr. Playlist

I use to visit my little brother at school and one of his friends was noticeably more passionate about art and music than anyone else. At that time he was streaming himself on Twitch play Banjo Kazooie, and making music that kinda sounded like trippy whale sounds. Right up my ally. Now he creates playlists that not only connect through sound but also their themes or titles at times. He has them on Youtube and Spotify so I put one of each. Try to guess what the theme is and hit up @Mr_Playlist on twitter with your thoughts. 

ILLFRESH

I talked to ILLFRESH at La Marina after a set of his. I opened the conversation with a relatively lame question "Do you produce?" We only spoke for a second but he responded so honestly that I was forced to realize how silly the question was. After explaining his appreciation for production, something he plans on eventually picking up, he explained his enjoyment right now was in the control of the party. Moving the crowd. The pressure of being what dictates a great function compared to an "ok" function. Noted. Streets of Rage 3 will blow your face off, Fresh Vibes will dance. Artwork and Titles all part of the curation. 

Mix begins at the 10 second mark.

 

If you have other curators you'd like to share with me please send em over to @Merrymanly on Twitter. Here is the COE playlist of Producers of the Future. Lets all have a fun weekend. 

I cant remember who the artist is for this photo if someone knows please tell me

DAILY REMINDER: If you haven't listened to the Anderson Paak album...go do that.