Hello there, lovelies!

Did you miss me? Did you notice I was gone? Well, you don’t need to answer, just let me tell you: I surely missed you.

The funny thing about missing someone or something is, though, sometimes you don’t even realize it until you accidentally run into them on a Sunday afternoon and remember how they always forget neglect to comb their hair, smell like coffee and say something that resonates with you deeply and for days to come.

So here’s me running into you on a Sunday afternoon and, holy hell, you’re still looking good.

A confession: I have thought about entirely deleting this precious, little blog more than once these past months. I haven’t posted in ages and thought, maybe it’s time to move and let go why not free up some of that internet space for someone who’s actually going to use it.

And then – as you do – I started looking through all my pieces of (blog) writing until I hit the very first post: 8 years ago (seriously?). Some made me cringe, some made me laugh out loud and, surprisingly, some made me think: hey, I still agree/I’d still share this!

So then I thought to myself: I’m not ready to let go free up any internet space just yet. I’m simply going to take my writing into a slightly different direction. Which makes sense, because who has ever ended up exactly where they started out, in the very same way they started out?

Bowie, for example, recorded this song in 1967:

Love You Till Tuesday

It sure is kind of catchy, but I’m pretty sure we can all agree on the fact that we’re happy he didn’t think to himself after recording this gem: Heck, that’s exactly my sound and I’m going to stick with it for the next twenty years at least! Also, I hate space and all space related things such as space oddities, the concept of life on Mars, and who could ever love the alien? Not me.

But I digress.

What’s that different direction of writing, you ask? Well, this post is called With a side of mixtape for a reason. Making mixtapes has been one of my favorite things to do ever since I made a birthday mix for my Mom about 20 (yikes …) years ago. It was called “at the car wash” because it was meant to be played, you probably guessed as much, in her car. Not only at the car wash, of course, but there’s no song that’s called “in the car at all times”, is there? If there is, please let me know, and I’ll update the tape.

Another one of my favorite things to do – at least before the invention of Spotify etc. – is/was reading music blogs and listening to and reading about other people’s mixtapes and random music recommendations. Here’s the link to my all time favorite blog: I am fuel, you are friends. It isn’t updated anymore but you can find the author on Spotify and she still makes the best mixes (that is, next to my friend Anna, who makes the best-est mixes). HANDS DOWN.

And guess who else is on Spotify AND who is eager to share super awesome sometimes nerdy new old random well-known music with you? It’s me, Mario Lisa! Are you excited? Again, you don’t have to answer, just let me tell you: I am! I’m so excited, it’s enough for you and me – even enough for the guy/girl that’s been reading along with you while sitting next to you on the subway (why don’t you follow and read for yourself? It’ll be fun!).

Here’s today’s playlist for you: With a side of mixtape.

If you’re still unsure if this is worth your time, I give you three reasons why you should have a listen:

1) Joasihno: Grounds

Don’t just listen to the song, watch the video – you won’t regret it. These two guys know how to work their instruments. If you can call it that. Maybe they know how to work their tools. I also don’t know if you can call it that. They surely know how to work whatever it is that produces these weirdly mesmerizing sounds.

2) Grandbrothers: Bloodflow

Another two guys making beautiful music using a traditional instrument in a not quite traditional way. What’s that instrument, you’re wondering? I’ll give you a hint: while they might well be called Grandbrothers because that’s how I’d describe their music, the more probable reason is that it’s got something to do with that instrument.

3) MAITA: A Beast And Her Sores

Okay, Lisa, another song by two random dudes? No! This one’s a classic singer-songwriter piece by a wonderful … well … singer-songwriter. Duh. I’m stupidly in love with her voice and her honest but also poetic lyrics.

Enjoy and have a wonderful Sunday,

XOXO,

Lisa