Enjoy the Messy Mixes of 2024, once again telling stories through sound and music. This is an onging mixtape project - from music lovers for music lovers, curated by @burnout-sumner along with friends and admired artists. ♥

Meant as an alternative to the fast-paced, algorithm-driven age of playlists this is an in-depth journey into hand-picked music and sound-driven storytelling. ♫

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2024 Messy Mixes

Oh sweet, sweet technical evolution. A bliss yet also a burden, isn’t it? And it’s affecting us all in our daily life with music being no exception at all. Audiovisual artist JJ Weihl knows a thing or two about that. Her work - whether it is in the fabulous indie band Fenster or under her solo moniker DISCOVERY ZONE is often addressing the relationship with technology. So, it’s no surprise that her Messy Mix was also inspired by her own musical and creative process in relation to how she use and interacts with different types of technology. 

Or in her own words:

“I wanted to put together a collection of songs and sounds addressing the presence of 
technology in our daily lives and especially in regards to the way it shapes our experience of making and consuming music.  It has become so ubiquitous that it's almost invisible. 

Some of the songs on the mix are about technology thematically.  I chose a variety of material highlighting the use of different types of technology - from some of the earliest computer music compositions to some of the latest uses of AI in songwriting techniques.

Where do we draw the line? How does it affect our perception of what we're listening to? What does the past show us about the present and future?

I hope that the mix serves as a conversation starter about the implications of technology in music and in our daily lives.” 

As a longtime fan of JJ’s work I’m extremely thrilled and honoured to have her on board for this tremendous musical journey that’s called "Technology Mythology", named after a song by Gary Blanchard which is also on this mix. Plug in and enjoy the ride with me!

Messy Mix 14 | Technology Mythology (by Discovery Zone)

While I consider myself to be a quite okay music curator, I bow down before a man like @propjoemusicforears because this guy remains a true expert when it comes to selecting proper tunes, surprising the audience and creating very cohesive vibes with his DJ sets. After being recently invited to be part of his legendary “Music For Ears” series (https://soundcloud.com/propjoemusicforears/music-for-ears-32-burnout-sumner-the-messy-mix) I’m now more than happy to return the favour by having the man from Sydney over for his very own edition of my “Messy Mix” series.

His one-hour set is less about big musical storytelling but more about creating a very specific vibe which he fittingly labelled “Irrational International”. This set is also a little different than Prop Joe’s usual style, being more European, Arabic & Caribbean. Usually he’s always up for strolling down the hip hop, street soul / reggae path but avoided that inherent temptation in favour of something more surprising. However, the mix keeps that vibrant smooth 80s/90s retro character which I come to love about his sets and the whole “Music For Ears” series. It’s a celebration of music, especially the one that’s harder to find. And I think that’s what the job of a good curator/ DJ should be - finding those treasures, putting them in a great setting and giving the audience a good time. And let me tell you - this set is definitely giving me a good time.

It’s the perfect soundtrack for hot summer days, pool parties and other social hangouts with your loved ones these days. Please give it a spin. The Messy Mix series is now taking a well deserved break before it’ll return in the fall. Until then, please enjoy the existing sets so far.

Messy Mix 17 | Irrational International (by Prop Joe)

I’m thrilled to have one of my favourite new artists from the past years on board for this new Messy Mix. Emily Underhill aka https://soundcloud.com/tusks has been releasing wonderful albums full of sinister, sensual and soulful songs throughout the past seven years. Her most recent album “Gold” from earlier this year is a wonderful meditative experience and Tusks is also dropping a few alternative versions of songs from it in the form of the “Gold For Synths And Strings” EP on November 1st via @onelittleindierecords.

Emily’s music is quite emotional, so it makes sense that her Messy Mix is dedicated to these emotions and feelings as she also explains to me: “This is my feels mix - it includes tracks that deeply move, inspire and relax me on a day to day basis and make life just feel that extra bit more beautiful and intense. I always find myself gravitating towards really emotive music with a lot of texture and a certain feeling of darkness; which I think all these tracks have in common.” 

It’s a perfect soundtrack as the days are getting shorter, delivering 50 meditative minutes that not only include songs by Tusks but also ones from Sassy_009, Chanel Beads and Shida Shahabi whose album “Living Circle” Tusks is completely obsessed at the moment. That’s a fitting closing track of this sweet set and you should not miss the journey towards it. Tusks is also on tour soon and that’s an experience I can strongly recommend as well.

Messy Mix 18 | The Feels Mix (by Tusks)

As some of you might have guessed by now I’m a dedicated fan of all things that you could label as “Balearic house”. There’s just something about those delicate tropical grooves that really resonates with me. That plays a huge part of my Burnout Sumner DJ alias and as a fan of that sub-genre I got in touch with a few fellow lovers of that paradisiac sound. Attila and Szilard from Budapest are such brothers in spirit and as @pleasurevoyage they’ve been delivering wonderful sets, remixes and own productions throughout the past years. You’ll have probably spotted tunes by them in some of my sets. Now, it’s time to shed an even brighter light on them.

Usually, Pleasure Voyage's feel-good music draws inspiration from their seaside journeys, but for Messy Mix, the guys decided to take a different route. Here’s how their “Mystical Forest Mix” came to be: 

“Szilard was gazing out of his window at the misty autumn forest and felt inspired by the scene. He suggested to Attila to use this as the theme for the mix. Attila, who’s also a talented photographer, then dove into his archives to find some fitting photos that support the vibe. The mix is an ethereal, floating journey that captures the mood of the changing seasons.”

I can confirm that there is a sweet late summer mood that runs throughout this one hour of blissful sounds. But the mix also feels like a distant memory to the warm season now that we’re approaching cold winter days. There’s some wonderful musical selections in there.  The opening track comes from Körút, a Hungarian project Pleasure Voyage recently co-produced. Its dreamy lyrics capture the bittersweet feeling of summer slipping away. So, what are you waiting for - join me and two gentlemen for this lovely fantasy trip.

Messy Mix 19 | The Mystical Forest Mix (by Pleasure Voyage)

It’s (almost) the end of the year and uff… what a wild one it has been. I mean it still is and you never really know what horrifying news is already waiting around the corner, right? Needless, to say - modern life can be quite exhausting and it surely has been for me personally throughout these past months. How do you keep your head up during these times? How do you remain hopeful? For me the sun plays a crucial part here. Because no matter how hard things are I know for sure that it will rise again the next day. And that also gives us the chance for a new beginning. And that’s the purest, simplest form of optimism one can have.

And since this is the 20th edition of my Messy Mix series I thought I’ve come up with a special set for this little milestone instead of another end-of-the-year-party-nux. This anniversary arrives in the form of a two-parted mixtape… One hour dedicated to the sunset, one hour to the sunrise. You can also enjoy them both together as one directly leads into the other, bound together by a shared soothing, calming and hopeful character.

There are plenty of personal favourites in both mixes, songs that really mean a lot to me. As we travel from the setting sun into the night we’re accompanied by The Antlers, DJ Koze, Metronomy, Jóhann Jóhannsson, Devendra Banhart, Der Assistent, Will Samson, Odd Beholder and a few more.

Find the sunrise part right here: https://soundcloud.com/messymix/the-sun-is-rising

And in the end… it will be alright. I still like to believe that and I hope these two hours of sweet music will comfort you in troubled times. Thank you for not just enjoying these two new mixes but also for following my little Messy Mix project throughout the years. It’s such a wonderful little thing and I’m happy about all the artists that are part of it. I’ll surely continue this adventure in 2025 and I hope you’ll join me on this ride as well.

Messy Mix 20 (A) | The Sun Is Setting (... And It'll Be Okay)

It’s (almost) the end of the year and uff… what a wild one it has been. I mean it still is and you never really know what horrifying news is already waiting around the corner, right? Needless, to say - modern life can be quite exhausting and it surely has been for me personally throughout these past months. How do you keep your head up during these times? How do you remain hopeful? For me the sun plays a crucial part here. Because no matter how hard things are I know for sure that it will rise again the next day. And that also gives us the chance for a new beginning. And that’s the purest, simplest form of optimism one can have.

And since this is the 20th edition of my Messy Mix series I thought I’ve come up with a special set for this little milestone instead of another end-of-the-year-party-nux. This anniversary arrives in the form of a two-parted mixtape… One hour dedicated to the sunset, one hour to the sunrise. You can also enjoy them both together as one directly leads into the other, bound together by a shared soothing, calming and hopeful character.

The dawn breaks gently in the second part which features music from Jon Hopkins, Kelly Lee Owens, Let’s Eat Grandma, Southern Shores, The Avalanche and Doves.

Find the sunset part right here: https://soundcloud.com/messymix/the-sun-is-setting

And in the end… it will be alright. I still like to believe that and I hope these two hours of sweet music will comfort you in troubled times. Thank you for not just enjoying these two new mixes but also for following my little Messy Mix project throughout the years. It’s such a wonderful little thing and I’m happy about all the artists that are part of it. I’ll surely continue this adventure in 2025 and I hope you’ll join me on this ride as well.

Messy Mix 20 (B) | The Sun Is Rising (... And It'll Be Okay)

Telling stories through sound and music. This is an onging mixtape project - from music lovers for music lovers, curated by https://soundcloud.com/burnout-sumner along with friends and admired artists. ♥

Meant as an alternative to the fast-paced, algorithm-driven age of playlists this is an in-depth journey into hand-picked music and sound-driven storytelling. ♫