From Mixtapes to Playlists: The Art of Choosing What Comes Next

There was a time when making someone a playlist required a blank cassette, a stack of records or CDs, a radio and a considerable amount of patience.

You couldn't simply search for a song, add it to a playlist and move on.

You had to choose.

And somehow, that made the music feel even more personal.

Before playlists, there were mixtapes

For anyone who grew up making mixtapes, you'll remember the ritual.

You'd spend ages deciding which songs deserved a place.

The order mattered.

The opening song had to be right. There were songs you absolutely couldn't leave off. There were songs that were included because they reminded you of someone.

And then there were the songs that only made sense because of the song that came before them.

A mixtape wasn't just a collection of music.

It was a message.

Sometimes it said I like you.

Sometimes it said these songs remind me of us.

Sometimes it simply said I think you'll like these.

And sometimes, of course, it was just a collection of your favourite songs recorded from the radio.

Then came the CD

The arrival of writable CDs changed everything.

Suddenly, you could make a compilation without worrying about the tape running out or accidentally recording over something.

You could burn your favourite songs onto one disc and give it a handwritten title.

There was still something wonderfully physical about it.

You had a CD case.

You had a track list.

You had to decide what made the final cut.

And you had to sit there while your computer took what felt like an eternity to burn the thing.

Then everything changed

MP3s arrived.

Then iPods.

Then phones.

Then streaming.

Suddenly, almost every song ever recorded was available at the tap of a screen.

The technology became incredibly convenient.

But something changed along the way.

We went from making a collection to having access to almost everything.

And when you can listen to almost anything at any time, choosing what comes next becomes a completely different experience.

The playlist became the new mixtape

The playlist brought some of that personal curation back.

Instead of physically recording songs, we could arrange them digitally.

We could make a playlist for a road trip.

One for a breakup.

One for a summer holiday.

One for getting ready to go out.

One for Sunday mornings.

One that contained every song from our teenage years.

And one that was simply called something ridiculous that made sense only to us.

The technology changed.

The idea didn't.

We're still creating collections of songs that tell a story.

It's not just about the songs

Anyone can make a playlist.

But making a great playlist is different.

It's about the journey.

What should the first song be?

When should things slow down?

When is it time to change the energy?

Which song creates the perfect transition?

And perhaps most importantly:

What comes next?

That's the part we often don't think about.

A great playlist makes you want to hear the next song.

Then the next one.

Then the next.

Before you know it, you've listened to the entire thing without skipping a track.

The art of the unexpected song

One of the best things about a good playlist is discovering something you didn't know you needed.

Maybe there's an artist you've never heard before.

Maybe there's a song from 20 years ago that somehow passed you by.

Maybe it's something completely unexpected sitting between two familiar favourites.

That's where playlist curation becomes interesting.

You don't necessarily want 20 songs that all sound exactly the same.

You want a little bit of surprise.

You want the unexpected track that makes you stop and think:

“Wait… I love this.”

Why we still curate

Technology has made listening to music easier than ever.

But it hasn't taken away our desire to choose.

We still make playlists for birthdays.

For weddings.

For road trips.

For parties.

For workouts.

For quiet nights at home.

For people we love.

Because choosing music is a way of saying something without necessarily using words.

It's a little glimpse into who we are.

And that's where Now Spinning comes in

The idea behind Now Spinning started with something incredibly simple:

What if a candle came with a soundtrack?

Not just a QR code linking to a random playlist.

A properly curated collection of songs designed specifically for that candle.

Something with a beginning, a middle and an end.

Something that feels like a mixtape.

Something that gives you the same little thrill of wondering:

What comes next?

Every Now Spinning candle has its own playlist, waiting to be discovered.

You choose your candle.

You light it.

You scan the QR code.

And then the soundtrack begins.

It's a modern version of something we've been doing for decades — choosing songs, creating collections and sharing music with other people.

The cassette tape may have disappeared (although they are on their way back)

The CD wallet might be sitting in a box somewhere.

And the iPod may have become a piece of nostalgia.

But the joy of finding the perfect song?

That isn't going anywhere.

So, what's on your soundtrack?

Maybe it's the songs you grew up with.

Maybe it's something completely new.

Maybe it's a playlist you've been adding to for years.

Or maybe it's a soundtrack you haven't discovered yet.

Because sometimes the best part of listening to music isn't knowing exactly what's coming.

It's wondering what comes next.