by Ash Florez
Back in the days before Facebook and mp3s, there used to be only one way to stalk/impress a new potential lover or make a unique, artistic gift for a friend: make ‘em a badass mixtape. You had to use extreme caution with this tactic, considering the consequences were potentially damaging. Based on your choice of tracks, your soon-to-be soul mate would either conclude that you were a complete jabroni with a strange passion for Flock of Seagulls, or his/her next baby daddy/mama, depending on how many times they’ve watched High Fidelity.
A lot of thought goes into the arrangement, subliminal messaging, and tone of the tape. Personally, I have made, given and received many a mixtape in my day and have always been intrigued by them. Mine were usually more casual, made for or by friends. The majority of my friends at the time looked like they stepped out of the movie SLC Punk, so there happened to be a lot of “underground” (as in they made it in their basement) and “raw” (as in they used their little sister’s tape recorder) “totally awesome music” (as in don’t quit your day job). Every now and then I would get a tape with way too many slow jams or an abundance of The Cure on it and would immediately know that this boy (or girl) wanted to “hold my hand” (wink wink, nudge nudge, know what I’m sayin’?)
Out of a combination of curiosity and the confidence I get from drinking whiskey, I asked a few people about their experiences with the elusive mixtape. Most of the youngsters (under 25ish) that I questioned had no clue what I was talking about and thought I was a weirdo (which I reckon might be the truth). Anyway, once I found the right age bracket, conversations started flowing and became interesting. It seems music really is the way into a girl’s heart. And panties. Mark Garrison informed me of a tape cleverly titled “The F**k Tape.” I’m sure you can guess why. “It had Aaron Neville: Tell It Like It Is, Bill Withers: Just The Two of Us, Bob Welch: Sentimental Lady…nobody knew where it came from, but if you brought that tape on a date it was guaranteed to seal the deal.” A pretty blonde lady (age 34, who wished to remain anonymous) lost her virginity to a tape given to her by a crush. A crush she is now married to, thanks to Salt ‘N Pepa. See boys and girls? It’s that easy.
Aside from the lovey-dovey bullhonkey, people STILL listen to tapes! I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Conrad Miller, who actually had a Walkman on him at the time of the “interview.” Apparently they still sell these gems at Target. Conrad makes his mixtapes for his own personal listening pleasure. Brandon Fairbanks did the same because he was sick of everything on the radio. Julie Allen did the opposite of Brandon; she made tapes recorded from the radio and played them at parties. After listening to stories of love and friendship and hook-ups immortalized in some of these tapes, another little query popped in the ol’ noggin: What do you packrats that have collected a thousand-plus tapes over the years do with them now? I consulted my good friend The Google.
The Google blew my mind. These people got crafty. There are sculptures, tapes converted into wallets/coin purses, belt buckles, crocheted goodies, a sa-weeet portrait of Jimi Hendrix, a chair comprised completely of tape cases and…ready for it? A Walkman attached to the side! Amazing, in all of its geeky glory.
My favorite was a lamp, that I now have full intentions of making. You can also buy most of these goodies on etsy.com if you’re not gifted in the art of hot gluing (or if you’re just sort of lazy). 
If you’re more captivated with the human interest, John Cusack-ish aspect of the mixtape, I found some interesting books for you to bury yourself in. With opening sentences such as, “At first I thought she was an alcoholic lesbian,” and “Long ago, in a city I will not name, I loved a woman, and she punished me for it,” the book Cassette From My Ex: Stories and Soundtracks of Lost Loves had me at hello. CFME compiles stories from 60 writers and musicians about being young, in love, and making mixtapes for their crushes. Thurston Moore’s (singer/songwriter from Sonic Youth) Mixtape: The Art of Cassette Culture is another similar collection of stories, essays, art, and other contributions by various artists, musicians and writers. And then there’s Rob Sheffield’s heartbreaking Love Is A Mixtape: Life and Loss, One Song At A Time, a memoir using fifteen mixtapes to frame the story of his courtship and marriage to his wife before her death.
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