Making Mixtapes (1980s)

Making mixtapes in the 1980s was an art form, a deeply personal expression crafted with careful consideration. More than just a collection of songs, a mixtape was a message, a mood, a carefully curated journey through sound. The hiss of the cassette deck, the precise timing to avoid cutting off a favorite song, and the handwritten tracklist on the J-card were all integral parts of the experience. Mixtapes were how we shared our musical tastes, wooed crushes, documented friendships, and created soundtracks to our lives. They were the original personalized playlists, physical embodiments of our emotions and connections.