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 mixtape revival
Home taping is back. Remember all those dire pronouncements that “home taping is killing music”? Well it may just be that the humble tape is in fact keeping some of the spirit of music alive. At least that seems to be the case with the International Mixtape Project, the brainchild of Washington DC resident Ryan Goldman. Interested parties send an email to the Project, are given the postal addresses of other members and invited to send a mixtape once a month for one in return. As more members join so more mixtapes do the rounds and more people get the thrill that someone they’ve never met is getting excited by that same Throwing Muses B-side that they couldn’t stop playing in 1992. The Project began with 25 members in 2003 and has subsequently grown to such an extent that Goldman is currently putting a hold on new members for a few months until he can get on top of the already 400-strong membership from over 25 countries. According to Goldman, “It aims to bring together a community. Mixtapes are a one-to-one communication that feels more emotional than an iPod playlist, which isn’t designed to stand the test of time.”  One criticism of MP3 players is that they encourage à la carte listening. In other words you buy an album, rip your favourite tracks and never listen to the rest again. James Kendall, who promoted the iLike iPod DJ nights in Brighton, admits, “iPods make you a DJ in your own head, which is great. But you can also start thinking about music like a DJ – losing patience if it doesn’t grab you straight away and always feeling the need to find new tunes.” As Goldman points out, “Mixtapes create a context by expressing a moment in time conjured by the mixer, as opposed to an iPod [mix] that more or less only serves as an aural match to the time and place when it's heard. With mixtapes I tend to hear it as a whole and try to find a narrative, and the benefit of the Project is that I’ve found people who approach that in unique ways.” So there may always be plenty more fish in the sea with an MP3 player, but if someone’s gone to the effort of dredging through their record collection, thinking about what best defines them as a person, then surely it’ll be a better catch. After all, if you want a serious relationship with music, rather than just a series of casual flings, you really have to put the work in.
Paul Clarke
To join The International Mixtape Project send your name and house address to International.Mixtape.Project@gmail.com with ‘International Mixtape Project’ in the subject line.
 comments
Read members' comments related to this music.
comment by MrokMrok
Dec 23, 2005
Phil Renaud form Windsor, Canada created the website: http://www.mixtaping.com... A beautiful crafted webstandards website about the art of mixtaping, complete with forum, messageboard, discussions etc. A first mix is available, check the forums in the category mixtape reviews: http://mixtaping.com/vanilla/...
comment by kingofthebees
Dec 23, 2005
Well, this morning I recieved not one but two (!) collective mixtapes. Exciting stuff! Unfortunately today was the day to go home for christmas, but the track listings look like I'll enjoy them when I get back in january (especially spinky's).Anyone else been swapping?
comment by kingofthebees
Dec 2, 2005
Hey I haven't lived in surrey for over a year!
comment by londoner
Dec 1, 2005
i reckon $10 over 6 months aint so bad (unless ryan's coining it?!), esp when you (hopefully) get music from all over the world, not just collective users who live in surrey. i'm now paid up and looking forward to getting my first mixtape...
comment by spacedog7
Nov 18, 2005
i think paying for membership is a big deterrent. since the group's so big, i can imagine that administration is some work. which is why i'm looking forward to having a small group.
comment by MixtapeProject
Nov 17, 2005
As the founder of the IMP, I'm really pleased at the continued interest in the compilation format and the International Mixtape Project. So, to celebrate, new membership is now open. In response to a common question, participants may send CD-Rs or cassettes, although CDs are much more common. For more information on joining, please e-mail me at international.mixtape.project@gmail.com. Thanks!, Ryan
comment by Spinky
Nov 17, 2005
I've not paid anything for the IMP - maybe this is a new charge coming in though.
comment by spacedog7
Nov 17, 2005
i just found out to join the IMP it costs $10 US for every 6 months? that seems a bit ridiculous to me. email me if you want to join the collective version of this.
comment by Spinky
Nov 17, 2005
There can still be fun in a mix knocked together in 5 minutes you know, it doesn't have to be a work of art that took 3 days to build - at the end of the day, pop music shouldn't be complicated. What's wrong with a bit of convienience? Itunes even allows you to make your own cover art for it.Incidentally I just received my CD for this month from the International Mixtape Project - it's got loads of hip indie bands on it (Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Animal Collective, Arcade Fire, the National, etc.) - it's really good. Especially as I'd not really heard much of those bands other what was on this site. Must buy that Arcade Fire album one of these days. It was a bit more up to date than what I'd put on mine anyway (Bobby Darin's still hip, right? And you can't go wrong with Elvis...)
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