Tunes For The Journey: Curating The Music Mix Collection
by Matthew Paez
Music can have a place in everybody’s life. I know it’s been a core part of my own, and it always will be.
One of my earliest memories with music was during long car rides to Chicago with my family. We lived in central Illinois and would visit Chicago frequently to visit my dad’s Cuban side of the family. We’d usually start driving after my parents got off work, so by the time we passed Peoria and got into southern Chicago it would be pretty dark outside. Sometimes we’d play “I Spy”, catch Pokémon on our Gameboys, or read books from the last Scholastic Book Fair, but by the time it got dark outside we’d usually just stop what we were doing, relax, and listen to the radio. My siblings and I would always look forward to listening to music when it got dark on those 2-3 hour drives. We would normally listen to whatever station our dad (Papa) picked - usually it was 93.3 “The Drive”, which would play a variety of classic rock hits. There were three specific songs that my siblings and I would always listen for, and when they came on Papa would turn up the volume for all of us.
“Electric Avenue” by Eddy Grant
“Lola” by The Kinks
“Hotel California” by The Eagles
These songs were not only objectively phenomenal songs, but they fit the vibe of a long dark car ride to Chicago. When I’d sing “Electric Avenue” I’d always look at the street lights down Interstate 55 and I’d really feel like I was on an electric avenue! When we’d all sing to “Hotel California” I would imagine what it’d be like to road trip to California - a land I had never been to as a kid, but according to the song it was “such a lovely place”. Personally, listening and singing to “Lola” was always my favorite song to hear. The lyrics were fun to sing along with, the story made me laugh, and it was one of the few songs Papa always sang along with too.
Music continued to be instrumental throughout my life, and my taste has evolved a lot over the years thanks to countless influences from friends, family, concerts, records, playlists, etc.. Discovering and sharing new music has always been a passion of mine. That’s why I was so stoked when I was asked to start making the Comp playlists. At first I thought they should all have some similar structure or vibe, but I quickly realized that music should not be limited to structures, vibes, or any other factors. Music is comprehensively malleable and should be given the freedom to be perceived as it is. With that being said, I regularly try to explore new ways of organizing the playlists, exploring new music varieties and genres, challenging the status quo of what “good music” really is, and frequently asking for guest curators to introduce new experiences to the Comp playlist collection.
Music has always been there when I needed it. Music also helps brings people together. It helps them celebrate, helps them cry, and even helps people work through anger. Music helps people recover from trauma, it helps people worship, and it can even help people understand what’s going on in the world. Music is everywhere, and I believe there’s a tune for every person, group, and setting. Sure, sometimes it’s nice to just be present in silence, or to enjoy the sounds of the natural works. But music, like people, silence, and nature, should not be taken for granted.
Check out the Comp Collected playlist featuring songs from Volumes 1-20
