Remember when people used to compliment you on your music taste at parties? Now, when you host or help out with events, you find yourself falling back on generic, pre-made playlists or just throwing tracks a few tracks together without much thought. Sure, it works, but what happened to that buzz when people talked about how great your tunes were, rather than just the usual grown-up stuff like what you’ve done with your lounge or career advice? Even worse, it feels like the same club classics are on repeat. (Seriously, how many times have you heard Robin S’s “Show Me Love”?)
I used to find that for something that was once such a big part of my life, music had slipped into the background. The problem wasn’t just the playlists—it’s that I did’t make the time for my music like you used to. And every time I would put on the same old tracks on Spotify (with vinyl in the cupboard), it was a reminder of how I’d drifted from what used to be part of what people knew me for. It’s easy to throw together a “musical wallpaper,” but deep down, you always hanker for that hit where someone recognises you know your stuff.
But don’t worry—getting at least a bit of that old feeling back is easier than you think. Here are three techniques I actually still use when prepping for gigs that I built up when feeling my way back:
- Exploit the “second track” phenomenon: For every classic like Robin S’s “Show Me Love”, there’s a lesser-known follow-up like “Luv 4 Luv”. These tracks are similar but different enough to keep people interested. If you’re thinking of a classic, dig a little deeper into the artist’s catalog. Find something from the same era that people might not expect, whether it’s a follow-up single or an album track. It’s the perfect way to keep the nostalgia while surprising your guests.
- Mix up the genres: No one wants a constant stream of 125 BPM house tracks all night. Balance it out. For a ’90s throwback, weave in some R&B (think Fugees, Aaliyah) or even dip into late ‘80s soul. Not only does this give people some breathing room, but it also makes your playlist feel more dynamic and actually the light and shade creates some different moods for your event.
- Think of the event as having a story arc: Imagine it’s an evening event. A birthday, say. Picture the evening unfolding. Your guests arrive at 7:30pm—do you really want to hit them with Underworld’s “Born Slippy” right away? Probably not. Ease into the night, build the energy gradually, and then unleash the bangers when the mood is right. Imagine it like a film score, with tracks moving through different genres and tempos, building a narrative arc for the night. As well as for gigs, I actually use the story arcs of famous movies as fuel for compiling my shows.
Want to hear how this works in practice? Check out my podcast where I use these exact techniques to create a smooth, soulful vibe. I try and make every episode like a story, blending classics with fresh new tracks and spanning multiple house genres like deep, latin, soulful, disco, and funky to create the moods. I do the digging so you don’t have to.
Even better, I share the playlists, so you can grab the tracks you like, build your own list, and get back in touch with what made you love music in the first place.
Martin Gale 