By DJ Harding
Mayor Michelle Wu and the City’s Tourism, Sports and Entertainment Office today announced the inaugural release of “Dear Summer Vol. 1”, the City’s first ever mixtape featuring songs and mixes from artists and DJs from the Greater Boston area highlighting the vibrancy of Boston’s communities.
Building on the city’s commitment to empower local artists, this new annual collaboration aims to build awareness of local creative talent, connect residents and families across neighborhoods through music, and celebrate summer.
“There is no better place to enjoy the summer than right here in Boston. We are proud to be home to many artists and creatives who produce a unique homegrown local culture – one that we’re excited to showcase with our Dear Summer mixtape,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “This mixtape features 17 of Boston’s best and brightest musicians, mixed by 6 of our top DJs, and representing our city. There is something here for everyone so here is your soundtrack for the summer at block parties, on your commute and everything in between.”
Dear Summer Vol. 1 is made up of 68 curated tracks collectively mixed together in order to represent various styles and genres, including Hip-Hop, R&B, Rock, Blues, Alternative and Dance music, that have and continue to impact Boston’s cultural legacy.
Participating DJs include:
Baby Indiglo, Braunski Beat, DJ Papadon,
DJ Slick Vick, ReaL P, and SNAX.
Participating artists include:
$ean Wire, Alisa Amador, Amadeezy, Avenue, Gogo, Kei, Mint Green, Miranda Rae, Oompa, Radical One, Rilla Force, The Elovaters, Tokyo Tramps, ToriTori, UgoBoy, Vintage Lee, and Wayup Rui.
In addition to Mayor Wu, “Dear Summer” also features appearances from the following 17 Bostonians who represent various neighborhoods, backgrounds and communities.
Dan Fitzgerald, Heartbreak Hill Run Club
David “Big Papi” Ortiz, Boston Red Sox
Deon Point, Concepts
Devin McCourty, New England Patriots
Dr. Myron Rolle, Massachusetts General Hospital
Dr. Rufus J. Faulk, Roxbury, MA
Ed Kane, Big Night Entertainment
Ed O.G., Recording Artist
John M. Borders IV, City of Boston
Jose F. Masso, City of Boston
Melissa Valdez, In Arena Host of the Boston Celtics
Michael Bobbit, Massachusetts Cultural Council
Michael Holley, NBC Boston
Nia Grace, Grace by Nia
Pam Everhart, Fidelity Investments
Sheena Collier, Boston While Black
Tiziana Dearing, WBUR/Radio Boston
Additional credits for the “Dear Summer” mixtape include Marquis Neal as Mixing & Mastering Engineer and Latrell James who was responsible for Music Production. It also features an original production by James in which he sampled Mayor Wu’s performance with the Boston Symphony Orchestra.
The Mixtape is available to launch on music streaming platforms like Spotify and SoundCloud along with boston.gov/dearsummermixtape.