I was telling DJ Michael Rackley that I wanted to make a Pride Month mix - but that somehow I wanted to put a new spin on the concept, a new twist.
From that vague thought and him hearing me out, a week later, I have a new mix.
It starts with a few clouds, but by the third track, they blow away and the sun comes out. I think it is a fundamentally happy mix to help you celebrate this month.
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I'm not sure I can precisely define "pride", but I know that being free is part of it - the knowledge of who you are, the courage and space to express it, as well as the confidence to allow and support others in their freedom.
This mix is about freedom. It starts with struggling to be free. From there, we deal with having to let another be free, and then wishing for freedom. The mood moves up to feeling free, pleading for freedom, and then appreciating it; and rises again to revel in it. It ends with the ultimate - the freedom to spread our wings and take flight.
May you all have the insight and courage this Pride Month to be who you truly are.
This mix is dedicated to Michael Rackley for his friendship, and his support in my learning the craft.
1. Castles - Punctual [feat. World's First Cinema]
2. The One That Got Away (JRMX Club Mix) - Katy Perry
3. Joy (Mark Dedross Extended Mix) - Staxx, Mark Dedross, Markosa
4. Free (Phats & Small Vocal Mix) - Lighthouse Family
5. Happiness Is Alien (Ecotek & James Egbert Club Mix) - Cause and Effect
6. Take Me Away feat. Therese (2018 Extended Remaster) - Stonebridge, Therese
7. Freefallin (Moto Blanco Club Mix) - Zoë Badwi
8. The Music Will Take Care of You (Matt Pop Extended Club Mix) - JLX [feat. LaVance Colley]
9. Freedom (Extended Mix) - Sanich
10. Don't Stop Me Now (Moto Blanco Club Remix) - First Ladies of Disco, Martha Wash, Linda Clifford & Norma Jean Wright
11. Release Me (Moto Blanco Mix) - Agnes
12. Don't Let Me Stop (Moto Blanco Extended Remix) - Ryan Hagan
13. Es Vedra (Holter & Mogyoro Remix) - Gabriel & Castellon
14. Free (Delarox Remix) - Danijel Kostic
15. To Be Free (Pumpin' Dolls To The Top Club Mix) - Mike Oldfield
16. Fill Us With Fire (JRMX Club) - Erasure
Photo by Daniel Hodgkins on Unspash
