Volume #18 | A fiery workout playlist, a must-hear Australian indie-rock album, and let’s chat about Triple J's Hottest 100 for 2024.
Mixtape. Hot and sweaty.
This will come as a surprise.
I’ve been exercising. Who am I?
This is quite a big step for me (pun intended), and I have no shame in admitting that it’s about time I prioritised a form of daily self care. Exercise for me has only ever come in the form of sports or recreation. Throw me a ball and I’ll catch it. But anything outside the realm of a team sport or a hard court is a completely different ball game that I don’t particularly want to partake in (okay okay, I’ll stop with the puns now).
After I had my babies, my day-to-day movement stopped, and by ‘movement’ I mean the kind that goes beyond lugging a little person around and chasing them as they take off on fast feet in the supermarket.
Rightfully, I’m taking back the time for myself these days. I’m stepping up with my thick thighs and noisy knee caps as much as I can.
Is it fun? Meh. I’m not the biggest fan of feeling sweat trickle down my back, waiting for my rosy flushed cheeks to fade and worrying that my rock hard glutes will never loosen up. But, health is wealth.
To be honest, the only thing that is keeping me motivated is knowing I can crank the tunes as I workout.
There she goes again, incorporating her love of music into everyday life.
It started as a way of burning school holiday energy with my seven-year-old. We embraced dance workouts in the living room when it was 39 degrees outside (hello hot Australian Summer). Together, we had a bit of fun, and before I knew it my post-holiday bloat was starting to feel a little less obvious. Winning.
I also wear bike shorts now. Are they the most comfortable piece of activewear ever? Thick thighs are now happy thighs.
In the spirit of my “new year, new me” vibe, I’ve created a high energy Mixtape to listen to while we all (yes, you!) sweat it out and *hopefully* kick those blah feelings to the curb.
How to listen to my recommendations and add them to your Spotify
Time for some housekeeping! In every Mixtape newsletter, you’ll see Spotify banners linking songs, albums or playlists. To listen or add to Your Library in Spotify, simply tap the round icon in the top right corner and the music will open in your Spotify app. It’s as easy as that! Also, take note of the song titles underlined throughout Mixtape, which are clickable links taking you straight to Spotify to listen. You’re welcome!
Playlist |
It’s A Workout Mixtape
Length: 1hr
When To Listen: During whatever workout you choose, the goal is to simply keep moving and enjoy the music.
What To Expect: Dance / electronic. High energy, fast tempo. Some new and some old tracks. Go hard or go home.
Highlights: I’ve done the work for you (on the music that is!) Allow the intentional order of this playlist to unfold. Smash it out with current hits like ‘Rhyme Dust’ by Dom Dolla, a nostalgic rework of Christina Aguilera ‘Ain’t No Other Man’ and a fun flashback in Modjo ‘Lady - Hear Me Tonight’. Kygo closes out the playlist with ‘Chasing Paradise’, a fresh release, and ‘Hold On Me’, the addictive track on repeat in my house. Both are great for a little stretch at the end of your workout.
Review | Triple J’s Hottest 100 of 2024
It’s time for a subtle brag.
If you read Mixtape Volume #17, you can back me up when I say…
I predicted the number one song in Triple J’s Hottest 100 of 2024 countdown!
I’m sure I’m not the only one who had a hunch Chappell Roan ‘Good Luck, Babe’ would win the top spot. Boasting 1 billion streams on Spotify, millions of views on her Comic Sans saturated music video and just as many audio plays on Tik Tok - it’s hard to deny. The facts speak for themselves. ‘Good Luck, Babe’ is an anthemic pop hit with a compelling narrative that resonates with a generation - just as Roan intended.
She’s a creative trailblazer. Vocally outstanding with an intriguing style I simply cannot take my eyes (or ears) off of.
It’s as if Cyndi Lauper and Liza Minelli had a baby. Let that sink in…
She seems fearlessly expressive, and that’s what makes her a unique songwriter. She’s got flair, charisma, and talent in spades.
I recently watched Chappell Roan feature on Apple TV+ in Zane Rowe’s A Carpool Karaoke Christmas. She is a sweetheart, and very family orientated. I walked away listening to her song ‘Pink Pony Club’ over and over again, with upmost respect for the way she romanticizes life and says what so many of us feel, women in particular. What a gem.
WATCH A CARPOOL KARAOKE CHRISTMAS WITH CHAPPELL ROAN
Back to the Hottest 100!
The Good….
Did I mention I predicted #1?!
I really enjoyed the top ten, it truly reflected where youthful listeners are at. Girly Pop (is that a genre? It is now) reigns right now, especially when 62% of voters were female this year.
Immense pride for local lads Royel Otis coming in at #2 with their Like A Version ‘Murder On The Dancefloor’. I wrote about them in Mixtape Volume #4
Gracie Abrams, Billie Eilish, Charlie xcx can do no wrong. They saturated the countdown and I’m here for it.
Numbers 80 - 100 featured a lot of rap, more of an observation than anything. I’m keen to explore this more.
The Not So Good…
The Kid Laroi did not feature nearly enough. ‘GIRLS’ was #23.
Disappointed there weren’t more bands featured.
There’s no denying it was a highly competitive year, yet the significant absence of Australian music in the countdown is a tell tale sign that artists from the land down under need and deserve more attention. I can only hope that my little space here on Substack shines a light on this.
Speaking of bands and Australian music…
Album Spotlight |
Artist: Slowly Slowly
Album: Forgiving Spree (2025)
Genre: Indie Rock / Punk Band
Sounds Like: A cross between Eskimo Joe and 5 Seconds of Summer
Top Tracks: ‘Gimme the Wrench’, ‘Hurricane’, ‘Meltdown Masquerade’
First Thing That Comes To Mind: Slowly Slowly have to be one of the most underated acts right now, or maybe I’m late to the party. End to end, ‘Forgiving Spree’ is catchy and will have you coming back for more.
The best part is, they’re an Australian band! You little ripper.
In Case You Haven’t Heard |
• Netflix is set to release a documentary on Nirvana frontman, Kurt Cobain. Documentaries are my favourite thing to watch. I’ll let you know when it drops!
• The Grammy’s are coming! Next Monday 3rd Feb, I’ll be busy soaking it all up. Let’s debrief next week.
• The Super Bowl Half Time Show will be headlined by Kendrick Lamar featuring special guest SZA. Tune in on Monday 10th February (10am ACST).
• Beyoncé postponed a major announcement after the tragic LA fires, despite teasing something huge for January 14th. Likely a world tour, but we won’t know until she says so. Pausing was the right move, but two weeks later, we’re still waiting! Just give us something, Bey. I need to plan my life around this!
Have a great weekend!
Thanks for reading Mixtape. You can like this newsletter by tapping the love heart button below or leaving a comment.
Please subscribe and share Mixtape with your loved ones. It means the world to me.
Subscribe to get full access to Mixtape and publication archives.