IMOGEN HEAP “The Song That Never Was” (The Zodiac Social Version)
Most of the stuff I’ve put out there in the last couple of years is basically tech-house — and people like that nowadays — so this track always felt a little under-appreciated. I guess I get it; Imogen Heap’s voice can make anything sound like it belongs on an episode of Grey’s Anatomy. But there are a couple of things that make this mix special, in my opinion. For one, this song really never technically existed. There is no “original bed of music,” which means that every remix of this acappella is, in some sense, also an original track. The other thing is that it kind of does sound like it could be incidental music for an episode of Grey’s Anatomy, and even though my music has wound up in car commercials, I still think that’s kind of interesting.
• DOWNLOAD | PHOENIX “1901” (The Zodiac Social Snow Day Mix), 2010
So what did you do on your snow day?
Here’s what I did: A gift for everyone in the form of an exclusive remix of Phoenix’s “1901” that I made while staring outside at the snow from my window yesterday. Like, literally, I just finished it this morning. Truthfully, I felt guilty for leaving Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix off of my Top 50 Albums of the 2000s list and this is my melodic apology.
• DOWNLOAD | GRATITUDE “The Greatest Wonder” (Zodiac Social’s New Year Revision) Unreleased, 2010
Here is the first new song of 2010. I say that because I made it and no one has heard it until now.
A little backstory: Gratitude was a short-lived band featuring Jonah Matranga and most of a band called Attention. In the fall of 2005, the band were in the throes of a potential break-up, but decided to finish out the touring cycle with a final round of U.S. shows. I was talking to their guitar player, Jeremy, one night at roughly 2 A.M. when he came up with an idea: “You should come out and play second guitar.”
“But you’re leaving in a week,” I reminded him.
“We only have one album,” he said.
“Good point.”
I flew out to Minneapolis five days later, just like that.
I tell this story because it reminds me that some of the most fun I’ve ever had came from spontaneous decisions. I tend to over-think things — can’t you tell? — and while this is certainly a useful approach for much of my life, it’s important to think about all the things that might have never happened if I didn’t just do them. For better or for worse.
I spent more time than usual on this remix because I care about the song and I care about the people that made it. As I put the finishing touches on it last night, I said out loud, “I can’t believe there’s nothing else I want to change.”
This is what I’m thinking about going into 2010. Happy new year, everyone.
