Mar 26, 20132 min read

Mixtape: I Think Very Highly Of You

Old school love letter. (Wikimedia Commons)

Once is an occurrence. Twice is a trend. Three times is proof.

This is the third in our mixtape series, and the first I’ve assembled while we are overseas. It is now a permanent fixture in our lives, to include these pages. This one is for Ray Ray’s 26th birthday, and the title is an inside joke referencing a television show we are currently consuming at an alarming rate.

This mix should serve us well around the house and in the car, which we have affectionately named, Green Monster. He’s got a shiny 6-disc changer, so it’s a good thing I’m keeping these pieces of physical media. I love the local flavor but it’s nice to be able to switch it up here and there.

Before you dive in preview the songs, know that I received a lot of help from KEXP, a Seattle-based radio station that you should definitely check out. They put out a slew of podcasts featuring amazing up-and-coming music. Ray Ray and I listened to one particular podcast over dinner and she told me I could basically make the podcast her next mix. I sprinkled in a few thoughtful tracks of my own and bam: I Think Very Highly of You was born.

This mixtape is choc full of songs that will blend nicely with the island landscape. As you take in them in, visualize palm trees and shorelines and imagine cool ocean breezes coming across your picnic table with an ice-cold beer, or as they say here, “bien fria.”

Happy 26, Ray Ray.

As always, you can find this playlist on our Spotify station.

Fly Moon Royalty -- The Birthday Song

Jesse Dee -- Yet To Come

Bono -- Can’t Help Falling In Love

Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings -- Longer and Stronger

Charles Bradley -- The World Is Going Up In Flames

Naomi Shelton & the Gospel Queens -- Lift Up My Burdens

The Menahan Street Band -- Montego Sunset

Kylie Auldist -- Still Into You

J.D. McPherson -- Northside Gal

Real Big Fish – Good Thing