Here we have the first mix from us in a while and it's a good one to suit this fine weather we are having in the UK. Mafalda moved from Lisbon to London six years ago and was a fundamental part of Melodies International's which many of you will know. She has a super show on London's finest NTS 'Tropic of Love' which you can check here. She's delivered a mix bringing all points together which we hope you enjoy.

Tell us about the mix? What is the theme?
This mix is a reflection of the times. The current situation around the world is so foreign, the pandemic, politics, economics... there's so much happening right now, I guess everyone's feeling weird in a way or another, at least I am, that's the feeling that made this mix happen like this.

Where did you record it? What is the set up like there?

I recorded it at home, and the 2nd question should be easier, but I receive texts from people asking me why I don't play vinyl anymore, so, just for the record, I play vinyl, I love vinyl, I will always love it, but this mix was recorded with CDJS, the 2000s and an E&S mixer. None of them are mine though, haha, worth noting, I'm like Palms Trax, I can't even afford sheets... jokes apart, but yea, I borrowed the CDJS from One House (my agency) for a livestream I did and I'm looking after my friend Freddie's mixer while she's away. I started liking CDJs last year, you can play stuff you don't have on vinyl, edits, loops, etc. but I love turntables too, ideal set up is 2 of each really.

Where did you get this music from? How do you collate music for things like this?

I got this music from friends, Bandcamp and my record collection. This is probably a big cliche, but I like to tell stories with mixes, in this case, there was a sort of mood in my mind, I don't know how to explain it properly, but there was this ethereal, weird, feeling I had and all these songs aligned like this.

Where should this mix be listened to?

I think it fits our weird London Summer evenings... I'm thinking of a balcony at sunset.

Ideal companion/s to listen to this mix with?

You can never pay proper attention to the music if there's a bunch of people (unless the music is super loud, which is not what I had in mind for it), so, I'd say one good friend. It could be a lover, but I've done a lot of mixes for lovers on my radio show (it's the Tropic of Love...), my motivation for this was different.

Tracklist

Vasco Martins - Universo da Ilha I
Djrum - Blue Violet
Zoé Zoe - Hubble Deep Field
Moodymann - Lyk U Used 2 (feat. Andrés)
Actress x London Contemporary Orchestra - Chasing Numbers
Nihilism - In Motion (Zar Remix)
Emma-Jean Thackray - Rain Dance / Wisdom
Clever Austin - You're All You Need (feat. Georgia Anne Muldrow)
HNNY - Kindness
Pedro Ricardo - A1 (from to Barcelona)
Torn Sail - Birds
Funkadelic - Maggot Brain

Image of Mafalda taken by Bella Fenning.