With Love: Seattle Makes a Mixtape

It is that month when love and loneliness battle it out. If love is to prevail, you will need the perfect mixtape to craft a mood of ardor, nonchalance or veiled interest on Valentine’s Day. We asked a handful of Seattle music makers for their go-to songs to help you out.

Illustration by Katie Nordt for City Arts

1 “Buckets of Rain” by Bob Dylan
“If she don’t like Dylan, it ain’t meant to be – or a little more effort might be required on my part.” KEVIN MURPHY, THE MOONDOGGIES

2 ”Slow Jamz” by Kanye West, feat. Twista and Jamie Foxx
“Lines like ‘Imma play some Vandross / you gon’ take your pants off’ always work on the ladies. Trust us.” BEAT CONNECTION

3 “Lighthouse” by Windy and Carl
“‘Lighthouse’ is a cauldron that reaches the melting point necessary to forge a solid bond with that special seasonally affected someone.” CHRIS DAVIS, BRAIN FRUIT

4 “Total Eclipse of the Heart” by Bonnie Tyler
“Few songs express such deep and heartfelt longing. Bonnie is a force of sex!" PHILIP KOBERNIK, HEY MARSEILLES

5 “Patiently” by Pete Krebs
“It’s not exactly a love song; it’s more about empathy and taking time to get to know people. One of my all-time favorites.” TOMO NAKAYAMA, GRAND HALLWAY

6 “Night Moods” by Chaka Khan
“Soft lighting, soft sounds and Chaka’s booming, seductive voice.” THEESATISFACTION

7 “Cruisin’” by Huey Lewis and Gwyneth Paltrow
“Because nothing is better than cruisin’ together.” LEMOLO

8 “All I Need” by Radiohead
“Do we really need to get into why Thom Yorke delicately singing ‘You’re all I need’ is going to make pants of both sexes drop?” CHRIS CUNNINGHAM, RAVENNA WOODS

9 “I’ve Been Loving You Too Long” by Otis Redding
“It’s a soulful, soft song with a killer dynamic build! Of course Otis’s voice is super good and that sure doesn't hurt.” MYCHAL COHEN, CAMPFIRE OK

10 “Dress Sexy at My Funeral” by Smog
“Authentic love song for the ages. Enjoyable now, and after you die.” TEA COZIES

11 “F.E.E.L.I.N.G. C.A.L.L.E.D. L.O.V.E.” by Pulp
“Like many Pulp songs, it feels like an eloquent love letter written to a prostitute.” TEA COZIES

12 “Wear Your Love Like Heaven” by Donovan
“A beautiful, weird psychedelic trip that woos in its sheer out-of-this-worldness.” GARRETT HOBBA, THE SOFT HILLS