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PASSION PROJECT: Handmade Mixes
HOW IT STARTED
I made a lot of mixes in high school. Bluetooth and aux were already available in cars at the time, however, there's something special about receiving a physical CD. The CDs were a big hit for birthday presents and break-up consolation gifts, but I didn't think too much of it at the time.
I hadn't made any CDs since 2016 until April of this year, when a close friend posted a story on Instagram with a mix I had made for her years ago. The requests came flooding in and I saw it as an opportunity to bring people a little bit of joy during the weird early season of quarantine.
HOW IT'S GOING
With the excitement about this new round of mixes, I decided delivering them in folded-up computer paper, like I used to, would be a little anti-climactic. Instead, I decided to put use to my collection of vintage magazines and art books, and made the covers by hand.
THE UPGRADE
UNANTICIPATED BONUS
When I got bored of my materials and needed to stock up on more, I ended up finding a lot of antique and book stores around Utah. Many of these small, local businesses were hit hard in March. I enjoyed getting to know several owners and made sure to suggest their shops to friends as well. (My favorites were Ken Sanders Rare Books in SLC and Picker's Club in Ogden!)
THE BEST PART
As much as I enjoy making the playlists and covers, my favorite part of this project is seeing people's reactions. There's the initial excitement of receiving the CD in the first place--they admire the cover, spot the songs that they already know, etc. Then, after they've finished listening to the whole thing, you get the text thanking you for thinking of them. I love that part.
SO, ANYWAY
Even though a passion for music isn't particularly unique, it has a huge influence on all of the work that I create. Music, combined with images, invokes powerful emotions. I want to keep creating things that help people feel seen and loved.
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