Bridge & Burn

August’s Beats & Burn mix encapsulates everything we’re feeling in the dog days of Summer. With the bounty of sunshine and lazy days, we’re reminded of the imminent changing season when darkness falls earlier in the evenings and a there’s a nip in the air. This weekend’s solar eclipse exemplifies this theme of light and dark, so whether you're luxuriating in the last moments of Summer sun or knee-deep in preparation for a busy Fall, stream this mix and remember that light and dark really can exist in harmony.

Cover Art by Chris Hornbecker.

This is the 20th volume of our monthly Beats & Burn series, a collaboration with Portland's local, independent radio station XRAY.fm.

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Playlist by Tanya Smith / Hot Fudge Sundazzze

“August to me is summertime heat, easy tunes and lazy livin'. This playlist was inspired by "Lazy Livin", a track by the band 'The New Tweedy Brothers' from 1966.  I wanted a playlist that would be easy on the ears, playful, and all around great music. You will hear lightness, psych-ness, and a touch of darkness throughout.”

More about Tanya:

Tanya Smith is the host of Hot Fudge Sundazzze on Sundays from 2-4pm on XRAY.FM. She is a proud founding XRAY DJ who uses this awesome outlet to explore new and old music - then share it with other lovers of music. She was a college DJ back in the day, worked at record stores, played in a bunch of bands, and now she is a mama who's world is in film and animation. She also highly respects weirdness and individuality. 
Twitter: @HotFudgeSundazz

Cover art by Chris Hornbecker / hornbeckerphoto.com / @hornbecker

“This image reminds me of the youthful excitement of adventure. The discovery when you finally get summer in full swing and get to explore and get the most of the long days. This was a great scene, watching young kids cautiously surveying the different rocks to jump off of as they build the courage to go for it. Watching my own kids pick their routes to get the top of the biggest rocks they can find. The growth in all these little steps forward in the constant progression of life and how to enjoy it.”

More about Chris:

“Growing up in Portland (and) obsessed with skateboarding, I began shooting photos with my dad’s camera, capturing my friends skateboarding. I studied photography in a largely organic way, working on set with award winning photographers around the world before launching my own career as a commercial and editorial photographer. I like to find the moments that feel natural and let the viewer connect with the subject in a way that feels like you know them; a small glimpse into their personality.  I like to look for the expected angle then go the opposite direction, find the rough edges, and figure out how to show those in good light.

I've been working on some ongoing personal photo projects, updating images on my site, some fun commercial projects, welding, sewing, building out my van and lots of mountain biking. (I’m most excited about) trying to see old places with new eyes. I think we all have an inherent intuition to go to places that satisfy our curious nature… remember that you need to stop and put the camera down and just enjoy the moment you are in.”

Follow along with Chris’ van adventures on Instagram @maxheadr00m

Click to stream past Beats & Burn playlists.

Summer is at its peak and Vincent Van Whoa hooked us up with a mix of mostly retro tunes that will make you want to get up and out. This playlist is for those of us stuck in the city (by choice or necessity) during the hottest months of the year. Many of us are retreating to shady patios to sip frosty beers, some are shooting hoops in the alleyway, others are drumming up some trouble. Whatever you’re prerogative, this seasonal soundtrack will reinforce Summer’s mandatory to-do: have fun.

Cover Art by Jake Gascoyne.

This is the 19th volume of our monthly Beats & Burn series, a collaboration with Portland's local, independent radio station XRAY.fm.

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Playlist by Vincent Van Whoa / The Funhouse

“Summer music is all about having fun and playing some shit that you aren't embarrassed about blasting with the windows down, or maybe you are but you're too cool to care. Spring flings turn into Summer love and maybe it's dead by Fall but whatever, as long as you had fun. I had the realization while making this playlist that 40 years ago in the Summer they were catching the Son Of Sam killer, so there's a portion that touches on that, I hope some of this has a feel of what it might have been like to be in New York during that time period. There's also some straight up candy in this so there should be a little something for everyone, enjoy!”

More about Vincent:

Vincent Van Whoa is the host of The Funhouse on XRAY.fm, where he plays mostly Punk and New Wave records, but sometime he also plays Post Punk Records. You can catch the show from 1-2 am on Saturdays. Follow Vincent on Twitter: @VVWhoa

Cover Art by Jake Gascoyne / jakegascoyne.com / @gascoyne

“This piece is entitled "Summer League" and is about shooting hoops outside in the sun. I spend a lot of hot days shooting around and playing pickup games with my little brothers on tree-covered Oregonian blacktop. When the summertime's ripe, the palm's get dirty and the socks get sweaty. This image commemorates long days of goofing around with your friends.”

More about Jake:

“I like deliberate asymmetry. Swooping, exaggerated forms, and choppy shapes are a few things that are pretty easy to find in my stuff. I'm really into the visual culture surrounding subjects like skateboarding, design history, and various eras of particular musical acts, and I like to slip in references to those whenever possible. Not being boring is a large motivation for me, and I prefer to be really weird if it means avoiding boredom (that statement applies to life in general as well).

I'm working on a few things at the moment that I'm excited about. I'll try to avoid dropping the "it's top secret, stay tuned" line, and say that one is for a favorite musician of mine, one is skateboard-related, and another is for a couple things to wear on your feet.”

Click to stream past Beats & Burn playlists

Beats & Burn Vol. 18 Road Trip Mix

We’re taking our summer theme of “Search & Enjoy” seriously and hitting the open road for adventures near and far. Strange Babes, an all-girl DJ group, created a mix full of hot tracks, beachy melodies, and surf vibes to kick summer road tripping off right. When you find yourself driving for hours on a long dusty road (feet out the window optional), stream this mix and you’ll soon realize “This Is Where I Belong”.

Cover Art by Brandon Scott Herrell.

This is the 18th volume of our monthly Beats & Burn series, a collaboration with Portland's local, independent radio station XRAY.fm.

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Playlist by Strange Babes / Follow on XRAY.fm / @xrayfm

"This summer road trip mix was made just for Bridge & Burn by long time Portland DJ crew, Strange Babes - Jen Olesen, Kathy Foster and Maggie Vail. This all vinyl scorcher searches for dirty back roads, wild beaches, time under the boardwalk and all the hot feels we crave when the sun comes out to play. Surf from around the world, damaged garage, punks at the beach, and a heavy dose of summer love. Roll the windows down and turn it up! This is where you belong."

More about Strange Babes:

You can catch Strange Babes playing clubs and parties all over Portland this season. See them every 3rd Friday at their Danze Party at Killingsworth Dynasty, and on their XRAY.fm radio show every Tuesday from 4-6pm.
Follow them anywhere: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter.

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Cover Art by Brandon Scott Herrell / brandonscottherrell.com / @brandonscottherrell

"I took this photo standing up through the sunroof on the way back from an impromptu hot springs trip with a very pretty girl I met in Livingston, Montana. One of dozens of special things about Montana is that you can find a scene like this and have the whole thing to yourself. We probably saw two other cars on the hour long drive back to town."

More about Brandon:

I try to think of myself as a documentary photographer. Even when I do commercial and brand work, I approach it with that mindset of depicting things truthfully and accurately, with all of the emotion of the scene intact if possible (it's not possible).

I've been working on a book of road trip images (including this one) that I took over the last year while I was kind of running away from a broken heart. Along with the images will be some stories and snippets I've written about that time too.

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Click to stream past Beats & Burn playlists on mixcloud.