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I’ve been a diehard K-pop stan since 2018, and even starred in an MTV documentary in 2020 about my experience. Getting others to understand this part of me has been a struggle at times, but I’ve learned that the greatest weapon in my arsenal is the stage mix, a type of fanmade video that compiles multiple live broadcast performances of one song (“comeback stages”) into one seamless and dazzling spectacle. As opposed to music videos, which can sometimes freak people out with their hyperreal overproduction, stage mixes actually convey the energy that makes K-pop so addictive: the passionate chanting of the audience, the (questionably) live vocals, the unmatched professionalism and synergy, the intense eye contact. You get a comprehensive picture of the group’s stage presence and visual identity; it also helps that the trippy match-cut transitions have a very hypnotizing effect. These should be viewed in the highest resolution possible.
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I prefer to work while listening to music, but I get distracted if there are too many lyrics. As a result, I listen to a lot of electronic music, and SoundCloud (and sometimes Mixcloud) is the best platform to hear a DJ set. I made a few mixes during the pandemic, which you can listen to here. I’m not great at physically mixing records — CDJs are easy enough, but beatmatching on wax is a truly difficult craft I respect! — so I often sample a movie quote or YouTube deep cut to transition between tunes. If you want to hear real DJs, below is a collection of sets, mixes, and a couple radio shows I’ve been hitting as of late. Vibe-wise, they lean towards 303s, Drexciya-era electro, early UK dubstep/bass, and film score gems — in other words, downright slappers left and right.
Sep 8, 2022
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I love to create a long ass list of mixes to listen to on YouTube (and pray that an angel has put the tracklist in the comments)
One thing I have noticed in the comments of DJ mixes, is people's pure amazement that a DJ has mixed a wide range of genres together.
I picked up DJ'ing two years ago and with that, a keen interest in the history of genres and where they originated. To be fr, the majority of music we listen to today was created by black people who were innovative against all odds. I truly believe that rhythm is intrinsic to that creative process and the reason why a lot of these genres blend so well is because of common drum patterns and melodies.
For example, I went to a salsa night and felt moved by the drum patterns of the songs being played, as they were reminiscent of the music I grew up on (Highlife, Ghana). This can be traced back to the slave trade, where Africans were enslaved and transported from Africa across to the Caribbean, taking those rhythms with them and creating new sounds that established this tangible sonic connection.
So when we witness DJ's mix Jersey Club, with Reggaeton, to Baltimore Club to Grime, to Jungle, Baile funk and back again... that's lightwork! Black people pioneered all these genres, infusing those intrinsic rhythms and unknowingly creating a formula that makes all these musical genres blend so perfectly.
So the next time you listen to a multi-genre DJ set (I'd recommend Zack Fox's Boiler Room to start) just know you are getting schooled in BLACK HISTORY!
Sep 17, 2024
I had to lock in and this set helped me finish my hw. It had all my music tastes flowed together into this insane mix! I LOVE THIS SET SM‼️‼️
Apr 5, 2025
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Invented by Japanese graphics editor Non Ishida in 1987, Nonograms are addictively elegant visual logic puzzles and IMO the perfect bedtime wind-down activity. They’re kind of like a cross between Sudoku and a paint-by-number. I do them every night on my Nintendo Switch via a game called “Pic-a-Pix Deluxe,” but nonograms.org is also a good entry point. Start small and work your way up— you can even print them out or hand-copy them onto grid paper if you want to go really trad.
Mar 27, 2023
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A very special app, kind of like Co-Star but with personality tests instead of astrology. The last personality test you’ll ever have to take! I’m very much a skeptic and usually highly resistant to downloading new apps, but Dimensional’s stylish approach to psychometrics is deeply satisfying, and I’m always stimulated by their insights. Using this has actually improved my understanding of myself and others— it’s more fun with friends!
Mar 27, 2023
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The Secret History of Home Economics by Danielle Dreilinger is a fantastic book which makes a compelling argument for the revival of home economics (or “family and consumer sciences” as it was later called in a flop rebranding attempt). I now feel very passionate about improving home life through art and science, and thus improving society. I had a lot of fun taking these archived home economics high school exams from the 1950s and 60s, which really give you a sense of how the field encompassed so many areas of expertise: fashion and interior design, medicine, child psychology, chemistry, etiquette, and more. From identifying period furniture styles to caring for a bedridden person, the test questions are a good measure for general well-roundedness and can be an entertaining group activity for a dinner party or pregame.
Mar 27, 2023