With the sudden warmth of spring and the blossoming of flowers comes an urge I often feel around this time of year. It’s an urge so impossible to resist that I spend sleepless nights thinking about it, planning for it and racking my brain for the perfect execution. For me spring is all about mix tapes.

There is nothing more satisfying than finishing a mix tape and playing it over and over. Perhaps I will take it on a bike ride or a picnic, a park to play or a dance party, the possibilities- endless. Mix tapes fit in perfectly in your pocket and will make even the grouchiest of grouches smile. It is the ultimate spring/summer accessory and a lovely conversation starter.

For my ultimate mix tap this year I wanted to have a musical selection that wouldn’t just make me dance and feel like summer will last forever; I wanted a mix tape that could take me on an adventure. Being a stay at home mama may mean no more wild adventuring but that doesn’t mean I can’t have a musical a trip around the world.

If you could make your ultimate mix tape, what would be on it? Dream a little dream and pull out your records because it is officially mix tape season. Check out these amazing bands I chose for my 2011 summer soundtrack to commemorate my ultimate staycation- an indie music trip around the globe!

America– Rondelles– Mission irresistible

The Rondelles are a New Mexico band that is no more, unfortunately. With a 50’s rebel style about them listening to their music made me want to buy a leather jacket and make out at the drive in.

France- Madjo – Le nid des 100 Soucis

Colorful beautiful madjo! Her sultry voice and jazzy delicate melodies leave me in a puddle on the floor from pure awe. She has so much power in her voice, a voice that could make me cry or create. She is pure magic.

Germany- Stereo Total– Relax baby be cool

Sometimes I can get a bit fussy and this song always puts me back in check. Stereo total is a French/German combo with witty and sometimes hilarious songs about everything from love to terrorists and from selling dirty panties to death.

Korea- Neon Bunny– Common Ave

This Korean  indie pop singer is just the perfect blend of girlie and fierce. Her song common ave has an 80’s pop song feel about it and i kind of love it for that. I stumbled upon this song by accident and have yet to find anything by this artist but if the rest of the album is like this I’m sold.

Mexico- Hello Seahorse –Criminal

A little bit eerie a little bit dance and a hell of a lot of beautiful. With any mix tape there must be one song that makes you think. A song you all sit silently and listen to with your hands out the window riding the wind. You sit and you feel grateful for everything you have. You sit and think, “I am lucky”. You absorb the moment and store it in you memory for safe keeping forever.

Japan- Swinging Popsicle- サテツの塔-

This Japanese indie pop trio has successfully captured all that I love about 90’s indie girl bands and anime sound tracks and combined them into a perfect summer song サテツの塔 is a perfect song for picnics, laying by a pool and of course falling hopelessly in love with a stranger.

Ireland- Stoat– Acunamanacana

I have to bow down to a band creative enough to invent their own language like Stoat did In their song Acunamanacana. Listening to this band makes it impossible to be sad, there is nothing left to do but smile so much it hurts, shake your head and say “screw it! Life is too short!”.

Brazil- Pale Sunday– Before i found you

Indie pop at its finest- love stricken but danceable, kind of sad but you still want to smile. Pale Sunday has been around since the 90’s perfecting their sound and doing it so effortlessly.

Canada- Malajube – Montreal 40 degrees

I admit i have a special place in my heart set aside just for songs in French and Malajube’s ‘montreal 40 degrees’ is no exception. This song moves me in all the right ways and it’s impossible for me to sit down when i hear it. No matter how hard i try i find my self dancing across the floor clapping my hands wildly like a child wanting it to never end.

Finland- Artisokka– They go away

Artisokka hails from Finland and has a jazzy retro vibe about them. They go away is a song that should be played during mischevous dealings. I thinks its necessary to use this part of the mix tape for shenanigans; doesn’t it just ooze cartoon black cat playing tricks?

Australia- Mexican Spitfires– You cant run

To bring you down from your danger zone you have to be reminded of the reality of it all, you can’t run forever. Put that roll of toilet paper and that spray paint down and get ready for the end of your adventure. It doesn’t have to be over forever though as there are plenty more mix tape adventures to create.

And back to America with The Raconteurs – Steady as she goes

Nothing says American like a cow mooing on a song. The Raconteurs song steady as she goes has a surprisingly sexy sound despite the somber lyrics but i still think its the perfect ending. Thank you for joining me on this mix tape adventure. Be sure to take a peek at the bands and try out some of their music. Create, explore and have fun on you next wild adventure!

Words: Mikaela

Mikaela can be read pretty much every day at her own blog, Indie Ogden.