Minted December 6th, 2024
Minted for Friday December 6th, 2024
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Listen to the playlist on Spotify
Minted is a decades-long weekly playlist (with various iterative names), updated every Friday. It’s a weekly audio journal of found sounds—slow-down vibes, dancefloor grooves, funk-rock rhythms, vintage pop, dubby cumbias, film & life soundtracks. Guilty and not-so-guilty pleasures—a cohesive, eclectic aural whip to drive into your weekend sunset.
This week, the mix took shape around the opening, genre-blurring gospel-inflected track "Once in a Lifetime" by Joshua Idehen & The Social Singing Choir. A little surprise tip of the hat to Talking Heads. Its raw, joyful energy sent me down a rabbit hole of other moments of cinematic, dreamy, or funky moods across the playlist. From Roy Orbison’s haunting “In Dreams” or the Brazilian heat of Trio Mocotó’s “Não Adianta.”
Below is an embedded version of the playlist, but note that because this playlist changes every week, it may differ from the songs listed below. I've added links to the individual songs below.
Songs Featured
- "Once in a Lifetime" by Joshua Idehen & The Social Singing Choir
Album: Mum Does the Washing EP
Joshua Idehen, a British-Nigerian poet and musician, channels existential wonder into this reimagining of Talking Heads' classic. Blending spoken word with gospel harmonies, the track exudes joy and transcendence. It’s always fun to open with a crowd-pleasing cover. I just hope you’re ready for the plant-and-payoff at the end of this playlist.
Listen on Spotify - "Stalking to a Stranger (Planets Collide Remix)" by The Avalanches
Album: Crucible - The Songs of Hunters & Collectors
The Avalanches, an Australian electronic music collective known for their sampling artistry, reinterpret Hunters & Collectors with atmospheric textures and layered rhythms. The lo-fi disco breaks to dance remix production here always remind me of De La Soul’s "A Roller Skating Jam Named ‘Saturdays’," and this track gives me the same urge to start breakdancing—or maybe just pop-locking. My body is old and hurts. Shut up.
Listen on Spotify - "In the Morning" by Junior Boys
Album: So This Is Goodbye
Junior Boys, a Canadian electronic pop duo, craft this synth-heavy, introspective track that showcases their signature blend of sleek production and melancholy. We’re going into the “in the morning” theme with two songs in a row that share similar titles. I’ve been meeting friends lately for dawn patrol surfing, and this week this song popped into my head during that not-quite-awake, shocked-by-cold-winter-water trance.
Listen on Spotify - "In the Morning (feat. Andreya Triana)" by Natural Self
Album: The Art of Vibration
British producer Natural Self delivers a downtempo gem enriched by Andreya Triana’s soulful vocals. This song faded away from my heavy rotation but always reminds me of the Ace Hotel Palm Springs—a lifetime ago. I imagined I might have heard it played by the poolside resident DJs.
Listen on Spotify - "In Dreams" by Roy Orbison
Album: In Dreams
Known for his operatic voice and dramatic ballads, Roy Orbison creates a timeless masterpiece with "In Dreams," a poignant and otherworldly love song. For the last five years or so, I’ve admired a piece of art on a friend’s wall that features the opening line of the song’s lyrics. It wasn’t until last week that I decided to search for the lyrics—and here we are now, listening to Roy Orbison.
Listen on Spotify - "LOST SEASONS" by Miami Horror & RAC
Album: LOST SEASONS
Miami Horror, a synth-pop group, teams up with RAC for a reflective track that layers shimmering synths and lush vocals. Every time I hear an RAC song, it just feels right. He has a certain je ne sais quoi about his production; his melodies and songwriting hit my heart perfectly.
Listen on Spotify - "C.R.E.A.M. - Live Instrumental" by OMA
Album: C.R.E.A.M. (Live Instrumental)
OMA transforms Wu-Tang Clan’s classic "C.R.E.A.M." into a lush live instrumental performance, layering jazzy piano chords, dynamic drum grooves, and soulful melodies. There is, what I would deem, a better sitar version that OMA did that's not currently available on Spotify, but here it is on YouTube.
Listen on Spotify - "Pluto’s Lament" by The Olympians
Album: The Olympians
Brooklyn-based soul ensemble The Olympians create this cinematic instrumental track steeped in nostalgic ’60s soul, with lush horns and evocative strings. I’ve taken up a little bit of computer coding lately and fallen into the cliché of using instrumental music to focus. Most EDM playlists just don’t do it for me anymore, but artists like The Olympians absolutely do.
Listen on Spotify - "Forever and Ever and Ever and Ever" by Homer & Hether
Album: Ensatina
Homer and Hether collaborate on this dreamy, genre-bending track, blending ethereal production with experimental, melancholic vocals. Dreamy soul is the genre you didn’t know you needed more of in your life. You’re welcome.
Listen on Spotify - "If u know u know" by Cari Cari
Album: If u know u know
Austrian duo Cari Cari offers a fuzzy, desert-tinged alt-rock anthem, blending gritty guitars with hypnotic vocal harmonies. IYKYN' (If You Know, You Know) has long been snarky internet slang, and I had to recently drop the phrase on someone on social media. I’m not proud of this moment. You might be familiar with the feeling of being slightly anonymously rude. If you know, you know.
Listen on Spotify - "Gonna Be" by Rosie Lowe & Duval Timothy
Album: Son
Rosie Lowe’s emotive vocals and Duval Timothy’s delicate piano create an intimate, minimalist exploration of resilience and hope. My phone photo app decided to secure my heart by sending me a video of my beloved Charlie dog, who passed away recently. It was a short video of her sitting in the passenger seat, and I had chosen this song to score the moment. It’s a sweet song, and I think deep down I knew her time was coming.
Listen on Spotify - "Mood to Make Love" by Rosie Lowe
Album: Lover, Other
Two Rosie's in a row. It's my party, get over it. A sultry, jazz-inflected track that melds intimate vocals with sophisticated grooves, highlighting Rosie Lowe’s dynamic artistry. A couple of weeks ago, I curated a playlist made up primarily of tiki-inspired jazz and electronic tracks. I feel like this Rosie Lowe song would have fit perfectly in there. Oh well—nothing I can do about it now.
Listen on Spotify - "I’m an Actor" by Phoenix
Album: Alphabetical
French indie-pop pioneers Phoenix bring their signature upbeat sound and clever lyricism to this playful, groovy tune. I have a dear friend who hates actors. This song always angers her. Apologies to all the actors.
Listen on Spotify - "Josh Tillman and the Accidental Dose" by Father John Misty
Album: Mahashmashana
Father John Misty reflects on existential themes with this poetic ballad, offering introspection wrapped in lush instrumentation. I read a fun article recently about how many people are dealing with the cognitive dissonance of both loving and hating Father John Misty. In honor of that halarious read, here’s some Father John Misty.
Listen on Spotify - "Juana La Cubana" by LA LOM
Album: Juana La Cubana
LA LOM brings an energetic Latin vibe with this dance-ready track, combining traditional rhythms with a modern twist. In the late ’80s, I used to accompany my parents to their friends’ backyard barbecues in South Pomona. This was my introduction to grittier cumbia music. LA LOM crafts a fun rendition of this Latin classic. If you know, you know.
Listen on Spotify - "Não Adianta" by Trio Mocotó
Album: Trio Mocotó
Brazilian samba-rock legends Trio Mocotó deliver a vibrant track full of rhythm and soul, celebrating the infectious joy of samba music. I’ve been around the Portuguese language for 20 years through my practice and involvement in Los Angeles Capoeira communities. It’s upsetting that I still don’t understand a lick of the language, but I will always be a sucker for good, classic samba rock.
Listen on Spotify - "Back It Up" by Neal Francis
Album: Back It Up
Neal Francis channels vintage soul and funk with this foot-stomping track, infused with infectious grooves and charismatic vocals. Neal Francis is one of those artists who constantly ends up in my rotation, yet I’ve somehow managed to know nearly nothing about him. At first glance, this song sounds like a standard disco classic, but there are elements of beautifully gritty electronic production woven in.
Listen on Spotify - "Once in a Lifetime - 2005 Remaster" by Talking Heads
Album: Remain in Light (Deluxe Version)
And finally, the payoff. I often like to bookend these sets with a reference to where we began. Here’s the original "Once in a Lifetime" by Talking Heads, taking you back to Joshua Idehen’s version if you’re looping. This seminal art-rock track combines existential lyricism with polyrhythmic grooves, making it a genre-defining masterpiece.
Listen on Spotify
If you're enjoying these tracks, don't forget to subscribe to the playlist on Spotify to stay updated with the latest weekly vibes. Happy listening! 🎶
