We’ve all seen that cheesy ‘80s movie moment where someone hands their crush a carefully cultivated mix tape. It’s always a huge deal, something that person spent hours working on to get just right. The concept — as the name implies — might sound a little outdated, but getting any sort of hand-picked playlist from a friend is always one of my favorite gifts to receive. Here are some tips to get that playlist to say everything you aren’t good at saying.
Make it about them (or at least both of you)

This may sound a little obvious, but I’ve found that making a mix for someone can quickly turn into “Oh! These are my favorite songs right now, and I’m sure this person will like them too!” That’s not the route to take. To make a mix truly special, pick songs that make you think of them, songs that you love to listen to together or songs that remind you of your relationship with that person.

Utilize the power of holiday themes

While mixes don’t have to be reserved for a certain holiday, don’t be afraid to use the occasion for inspiration. If it’s a gift for a significant other on Valentine’s Day, maybe go with some lovey-dovey jams. If it’s a birthday, fill it with those good party beats. Setting a vibe with your mix adds even more sentimentality to your gift.

Don’t always wait for a special occasion

There is no cardinal rule about the perfect moment to give the gift of a mix. In my experience, the mixes I received “just because” have been my favorites. Knowing that someone has been thinking about you enough to compile songs for you is one of the best feelings you can give someone.

Hard copies are still cool

Though our technology has gone far past the era of the cassette tape, most cars and computers still come equipped with a disk slot. In other words, make that mix into a CD! It’s always easier to hand someone a physical something in terms of gift-giving, but it also adds an extra dash of nostalgia to an already heartfelt gift. Of course, making a Spotify playlist to accompany your disk copy doesn’t hurt either.

Add you own artistic flavor

Making a physical copy of your mix also lends itself to the opportunity to design some festive album art. Just your Crayola markers and a piece of paper is enough to give your gift extra personality. Of course, no album is complete without the proper cover, as well as a list of tracks. All of this can fit comfortably in a cheap plastic CD case from any office supply store.

Don’t make it a chore

If music is something you and your giftee care about deeply, then make sure not to make it a tedious task. It never hurts to start early enough so when your self-set deadline arrives, you’re not panicked. Have a playlist created on whatever streaming service you use most frequently and add songs as you hear them.