Our newest mix is reflective of the contradictions of the first month of the year: fresh and familiar, fast and slow, loud and quiet. At times ambient, rhythmic, and melodic, it’s punctuated by bold ballads and classic jams to keep you on your toes. We’ll be streaming these tunes while some of us spend January getting out to stretch our legs and others hibernate until the sun shines again.
Cover art by Jason Sturgill.
This is the 24th volume of our monthly Beats & Burn series, a collaboration with Portland's local, independent radio station XRAY.fm.
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Playlist by DJ Ben Hubbird / Host of Forever Now
“I bookended this playlist with two songs from Dave Depper's haunting & intimate Utrecht Suite (available from Jealous Butcher Records) which has been on repeat for me this winter. From there, I let each song tell me where to go next, dipping into some of my favorites from the last year (including lots of music from Portland) as well as some songs I haven't been able to get out of my head for the last 20 years.”
More about Ben:
Ben Hubbird hosts Forever Now on XRAY.fm every Friday from 3-4pm. The show follows a similar format to this playlist, mixing new local music with those undeniable classic songs we never stop loving.
Follow Ben on Twitter @hubbird.
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Cover art by Jason Sturgill / jasonsturgill.com / @jgspdx
About the art:
“This image was inspired by my vintage matchbook collection. Several years ago I found a gigantic matchbook collection at an estate sale which has continued to be a great source of inspiration and happiness.”
More about Jason:
“I started illustrating later in my career so I always feel like I’m trying to define what my style is. I am really inspired by folk art and vintage ephemera. I collect and hunt for things at estate sales and junk shops, so I think I’m always trying to create something that will be found by someone like me in 50 years.
I try to draw every day regardless if I have a client project or not. I’m always trying to find new ways of working that excite me. I’m the Art Director for the farmhouse brewery Wolves and People in Newberg, Oregon, I’m constantly creating new beer labels, and I view them as individual art pieces. Another recent project I’ve been working on that I’ve been excited about is for Nissin, the Japanese company behind Cup Noodle and Top Ramen.”
Follow Jason’s creations on Instagram @JGSPDX, Twitter @sturgill, and Facebook.
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Click to stream past Beats & Burn playlists on Mixcloud.