Weekly Music: Down To Business Mix
Now that I work from home alone, with Will at his own job all day, and I have the time and energy (and bank account need) to take on more work, I’m constantly seeking ways to stay productive. I can’t stand silence in really any situation, so it’s not surprising that music is my biggest aid. I have albums and particular artists that really do the trick, and while they all don’t have an exact theme, a common one is music that’s upbeat and pumps me up. I took to Twitter to see what music motivated other people, and while a lot of people felt the same about upbeat music, as it was so interesting to hear so many people say that calming, meditative music helped them. I am so the opposite! But I suppose if I was a writer or something similar, dance-y music would be very distracting.
So here’s my mix that I’ve been using this week, Down To Business. A few songs were left off because I used them in other mixes recently.
- Wolf (Bonus Track) First Aid Kit
- Stone Rollin Raphael Saadiq
- Diet Mountain Dew Lana Del Rey
- Logical Song Supertramp
- The Next Messiah Jenny Lewis
- Golden Years David Bowie
- Month Of May Arcade Fire
- Limbo Kimbra
- Save Me Aretha Franklin
- Crash Years The New Pornographers
- In My Eyes Robyn
- I’m Waiting for the Man The Velvet Underground
- Faberge Falls for Shuggie Of Montreal
- Raspberry Beret Prince
- Rip It Up Orange Juice
- Method Man & Buddha Monk – PLO remix Ratatat
- Mind Talking Heads
- Ritual Union Little Dragon
- Maggie May Rod Stewart
- Better Things To Do Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings
- Smoke And Mirrors Gotye
- Behind The Stars Pantha Du Prince
What about you guys? Do you have anything embarrassing that helps you be productive? Because I will totally admit to you that sometimes I listen to Katy Perry for that when I’m in a particular mood. I left that off the mix for your benefit.
image from the NYPL digital gallery
February 16th, 2012 at 12:10 pm
Looks good! I will need to use this! Unfortunately I need to study for a midterm on Monday so it’s more classical music for me these days.
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February 16th, 2012 at 12:26 pm
Hooray! I’ve been desperately looking for music to work to lately – the working at home silence drives me mad too. Usually, when I’m editing books I can’t listen to anything with words in, but as I’m not doing so much of that at the moment, I’m in need of something different! It sounds perfect so far.
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February 16th, 2012 at 1:09 pm
Great mix! I don’t really mind working in silence, but I usually just turn on the radio and listen to some jazz, funk, stuff like that.
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February 16th, 2012 at 1:58 pm
Yes! I use this app on my computer http://visitsteve.com/made/selfcontrol/ You can set it so it blocks all the internet sites of your choosing, then you set the length of time you want those internet sites block and go! Once you start the app there’s absolutely no way of accessing those sites on your computer. :) (unless you use your phone… but that’s another story)
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February 16th, 2012 at 2:42 pm
I listen to some pretty embarrassing stuff here and there while I’m working…but I’ll spare you the details! Totally listening to your mix as I work today — sending productive-fellow-freelancer vibes your way…
xx
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February 16th, 2012 at 7:19 pm
You.Are.Kidding.Me.
I love this! I just started following your blog last week & the fact you have a great mix on your blog is fabulous!!
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February 16th, 2012 at 7:58 pm
I can’t handle lyrics when I’m writing so it’s classical music for me for writing work. But, I love songs when I’m doing other work. I think I’ll use this mix while I clean out my wardrobe this weekend.
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February 17th, 2012 at 8:28 am
Tycho! I’m a graphic and web design student and I find that Tycho is the most consistent music I can listen to.
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February 17th, 2012 at 8:44 am
Perfection! This is just what I needed last night when working on a long overdue project. Listened from start to finish!!
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February 17th, 2012 at 9:45 am
ah yes, i NEED this today! thank you!
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February 17th, 2012 at 6:22 pm
Your weekely music is my favourite category on your blog – hooray for for this one!
And yes, I also do listen to Katy at work at times and usually I throw some Rihanna into the mix.
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February 18th, 2012 at 2:38 am
Ah yeah some great stuff there. It’s impossible not to feel it with that Jenny Lewis song :)
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February 18th, 2012 at 3:03 am
thank you so much! that’s just what i need: i’ve got to write an enormous essay and am a bit fed up with my usual working-music (chopin or debussy). let’s see whether your mix works as well :)
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February 19th, 2012 at 2:13 pm
Wow, that first track is amazing! Eagerly listening to the rest now :) Thanks!
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February 20th, 2012 at 8:11 am
ouch!great playlist!*
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February 20th, 2012 at 2:17 pm
two words: destiny’s child
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February 20th, 2012 at 7:02 pm
This is exactly what I needed to get my apartment cleaning motivation going!
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February 21st, 2012 at 3:28 pm
This is exactly what I needed this week :)
I’m in the middle of finishing my master’s degree dissertation and preparing my last year of architecture diploma, it is a lot of work and it asks for a LOT of motivation :) I was wondering if there was any way for you to put it up for downloading though ? because I tend to cut off the internet when I’m working, it keeps me from the temptation to check facebook and/or blogger every two and a half minute :)
Thanks again for this great mix :)
xx
Stella
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Kate Reply:
February 21st, 2012 at 3:35 pm
Hi Stella – I’d love to, but it’s illegal for me to have mixes available for you to download and I’ve gotten some pretty nasty cease and desist letters when I used to, so I just avoid the whole thing now!
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February 22nd, 2012 at 5:10 am
What a fantastic mix! I gave it a try while working and, sadly, had to stop at Lana Del Rey. I’m a writer, so both lyrics and the unpredictability of a mix distract me easily. I’ve been listening to alot of Sigur Rós lately and it helps me be productive. I’ll definately give this mix another go once I’m “off”, thanks!
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February 24th, 2012 at 3:54 am
I am like that, I can’t work without music. My housemate listens to instrumental and classic music (which sometimes I find kinda perturbing because it’s like those kinda church music that plays along on horror movies) and I listen to more funky things. I just wrote about my current playlist in my blog.
Thanks for sharing those ones, definitely will listen to them.
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February 24th, 2012 at 7:33 am
[...] love Kate’s Down to Business playlist. You know you need it (especially [...]
February 27th, 2012 at 6:31 pm
Wow. I’m only half way through the first song and I am in LOVE. Thank you for putting this together :)
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