How to Curate the Perfect Summer Playlist
Ask me which 2024 pop hit has earned the title of “song of summer,” and I’m quick to tell you it’s a toss-up between “Espresso” and “Nasty.” But ask me to take control of the aux cord, and I’m less eager. What is it about sharing music that feels so scary? It’s not that I’m ashamed of my taste, but I have to admit I am worried about creating and maintaining an appropriate shared vibe for others. The last thing I want is to be that annoying person playing bad music just a few blankets away from someone trying to find their bliss at the park.
With the summer fully kicking in this Memorial Day Weekend, I want to be better prepared as the mood setter of my friend group, and that means learning how to curate a playlist that won’t make me anxious. So I decided to reach out to music supervisor Parker Radcliffe. Referred to in my group chat as the “It” boy of music, Radcliffe often collaborates with Sandy Liang for her runway shows and parties. Earlier this year, when Nicki Minaj and Megan Thee Stallion were still openly feuding, Sandy Liang’s Lunar New Year party attendees danced the night away at the Boom Boom Room, and Radcliffe’s set featured a transition from Meg’s “Hiss” to Nicki’s “Big Foot.” The room erupted in a way I had never seen before. Where does one even start to get that same reaction with their own playlist?
According to Jade Croonenberghs, a DJ and head of talent at Les Filles, an agency that represents female musical artists, the most important thing to keep in mind when curating a playlist is your intention. You have to think about why you’re planning to go out with friends before you can even start to plan the perfect sounds to surround yourself with in the summer. “A playlist can hold a range of different genres and tempos; not everything has to be the same, but it’s the intention behind the song selections and pairings that will make a playlist good,” she says. This means paying attention to three obvious things: the time, the place, and the guest list. “Consider the dynamics and preferences of your audience,” says Mei Kwok, a DJ and co-founder of DUNE Suncare. “It’s natural to have moments of doubt or concern about whether others will enjoy the music you’re sharing, but it’s essential to remember that music is subjective. What resonates with one person might not with another, and that’s okay.”
Below, I consulted five experts and asked them to share their knowledge of curating the perfect summer playlist for any sunny location.
At the beach
Ah, the beach: the place we all promise to go to every nice weekend, but never end up visiting enough. The surroundings are sandy. The vibes are chill. And the time of day is everything. “A summer night has a distinctly different feeling than a summer day. Daytime in the summer is sunshine, happiness, and laughter,” says Aida Smith, who DJs under the name Tallboy. “Nighttime in the summer is all of those things, but darker, more emotional, more nostalgic, and pensive.” Figure out if you want to head to the shore early in the day with a small group to swim, read, and chat, or if it’s more ideal to get there in the late afternoon with drinks in your bag for pregaming your night out.
For a more chill, daytime beach playlist, Kwok suggests sticking to lighter, refreshing tracks, and maybe throwing in a casual Dua Lipa song here and there. “I’m not trying to cause a public disturbance if there are people with children around me at the beach,” says Noella Williams, a DJ and writer. “But I’m also not trying to find music that is censoring itself. I’m looking for quieter songs because you still want to have a good time and create a nice vibe.” For a more upbeat nighttime event, consider a higher-energy soundtrack, including more well-known songs and funky rhythms, like bossa nova or samba.
Notable suggestions: “Think Fast,” by Dominic Fike (feat. Weezer); “Yo No Soy Celoso,” by Bad Bunny; “Maria,” by Dua Lipa; “Bags,” by Clairo; “Doin’ Time,” by Lana Del Rey
In the park
This might be the location where you’re the most likely to encounter other random listeners and, in turn, the most daunting place to prepare a playlist for in the summer. You could apply some of Radcliffe’s techniques to make your music stand out to those passing by, cheekily selecting some conversation-starting tracks. He suggests focusing on the transitions, like pairing guitars with guitars, or a similar-sounding voice that ends one song and starts another. He also notes this could be the place to queue up what’s going on in the culture at the moment, like playing songs from the Challengers and Saltburn soundtracks, or throwing in another feud moment with songs by Kendrick Lamar and Drake. “Sandwich what you like in between what they like,” he says. “Do it to introduce something that they may enjoy, but haven’t heard.”
Notable suggestions: “Uncle Ace,” by Blood Orange; “Only Child,” by Tierra Whack; “Can I Kick It?,” by A Tribe Called Quest; “LUNCH,” by Billie Eilish
At a rooftop party
Regardless of the time of day, people will likely want to dance at a rooftop party, so create an eclectic soundtrack that gets everybody moving. “Create a playlist with hot-girl energy in mind,” Radcliffe says. Think Charli XCX’s “360,” Camilla Cabello’s “I LUV IT,” or maybe (depending on the crowd) JoJo Siwa’s “Karma.” Williams agrees. “My parties are for you to shake ass,” she says. “I don’t want people standing around and hugging the wall.”
Every expert I spoke to noted that energy is key in this situation. You want to include current and popular songs that everyone will know and connect over. “A good party playlist should bring people together to a point where everyone feels comfortable letting loose,” Smith says. Electronic, house, and Afrobeats could also be good genres here, especially as transitions between more mainstream songs. And don’t be afraid to edit the songs as you go. “You need to read the room, and that’s a lot easier to do in person,” explains Williams, who notes that several times she’s changed up the lineup to better fit the atmosphere after seeing people respond well to one song or artist. This situation is all about getting people excited for the next song.
Notable suggestions: “YA YA,” by Beyoncé; “Club Classics,” by Charli XCX; “Alter Ego,” by Doechii and JT; “Perfect (Exceeder),” by Mason and Princess Superstars
On a bike ride
“Include songs that make you feel free,” Smith suggests. “My biking playlist is full of songs that make me feel adventurous and limitless to complement the physical feeling of whizzing down the street, wind hitting me in the face.” Radcliffe, who also works as a SoulCycle instructor, notes that there is time here for people to have some introspection and that can be elevated with proper songs. The energy level doesn’t have to be all the way up all the time while biking or walking. Give the soundtrack room to move through different emotions, whether it’s a thoughtful ballad that gets you to shed a tear or a hyperpop song that makes you feel like you’re strutting down a runway.
Notable suggestions: “Is It True,” by Tame Impala; “Ray of Light,” by Madonna; “MILLION DOLLAR BABY,” by Tommy Richman; “La vita nuova,” by Christine and the Queens (feat. Caroline Polacheck)
During a car ride
Similar to going on a bike ride, car rides can be great for introspective solo time. “Gather all your guilty pleasures,” Croonenberghs says. According to Smith, this is not the place to be worried about being obnoxious. “Your car speakers are made to blast your music, so go loud,” she says. “Include all your songs with heavy bass, crazy 808s, and all the songs you wanna sing at the top of your lungs.” I’ll be bugging my friends with cars for the next couple of weeks to put my new car playlist to the test.
Notable suggestions: “jealousy, jealousy,” by Olivia Rodrigo; “Cigarettes Out the Window,” by TV Girl; “Pink Pony Club,” by Chappell Roan; “Dumbest Girl Alive,” by 100 gecs
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