New Playlists!

Lo and behold: I taught a couple of spin classes this weekend, and verily did I create new playlists. It’s been too damn long! I was humbled by the challenge of crafting a good riding mix: this thing which previously came to me so naturally.

Nonetheless, we rode hard and we rode with gusto, valuing each drop of sweat as a well-earned badge of bad-assedness.

For the first class, I began with the delightful Avicii/Aloe Blacc collaboration “Wake Me Up” (get the remix below) and ended with Phosphorescent’s “Song for Zula” off the splendidly transcendent Muchacho. I was late to discover this album, but I have made up for my tardiness in sheer obsession. It’s been on constant repeat on my iPod, in the car, in the house…everywhere. I did not think it was possible to wring even more emotion out of June Carter Cash’s lyrics (“Some say love is a burning thing/and it makes a fiery ring”) than the Man in Black, but  Matthew Houck and his band bring 21st century pathos with the follow-up sentiments (“Then I saw love disfigure me/into something I am not recognizing.”)

Class two brought forth some vintage Kanye (liked him much better before the Kardashian connection, thankyouverymuch), a zippy remix of the Lorde track that is enjoying some zeitgeist, my beloved Bowie/Queen collaboration, and Sleeping at Last’s gorgeous cover of the Proclaimers’ iconic “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)”.

Full playlists and links follow!

Saturday:

Sunday:

Get some music:

• Avicii feat. Aloe Black, Wake Me Up
• Lady Gaga, Applause (Funk3D Remix)
• Kelly Clarkson, People Like Us (Fuego Club Remix)
• Zedd, feat. Foxes, Clarity (Moiez Remix) 
• Lorde, Royals (Ross Horkings Remix)

Happy riding!