Magic of mixtapes

Just watched Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) and it totally took me back to the days of Walkmans and mixtapes. I remember the rush of heading to the local music shop after school, hunting for the latest singles from our favorite artists, and the thrill of adding them to my newest mixtape. 

Money was tight back then, so we had to be smart about spending since music cassettes weren’t exactly cheap. We could record songs off the radio, but let’s be real—the quality was hit or miss. I can still picture myself sitting by the stereo, just waiting for that one song to come on. The moment it did, I’d slam the record button, praying the radio host wouldn’t talk over the song! Sometimes, I’d be there for hours, especially for the popular songs. If that didn’t work out, we’d just buy some blank cassettes and order the music store to record our own mixes.

Each tape was more than just a bunch of songs; it was a handmade gift of time.

There was something really special about creating mixtapes back then—a mix of creativity, patience, and a whole lot of love. Each tape was more than just a collection of songs; it was like a handmade gift, a tribute to the artists we adored, and a snapshot of how we felt at that time. The whole process was super satisfying. It taught us to be patient and made us appreciate the music even more. We’d trade tapes with friends, discovering new bands and genres through each other’s picks. There was something magical about sharing a mixtape, knowing that someone else might vibe with a song just as much as you did.

Now that we have streaming services, torrent downloads, and YouTube playlists at our fingertips, I can’t help but feel a little nostalgic for the days when making a mixtape was truly an art form.