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Music

Week on Week: The VICE India Mixtape

A song for each day of the week, throwing in a mix of new releases and some #throwbacks. Everything from homegrown hip-hop to Bollywood (uh-no?) to K-pop—we gotchyu.
vice india playlist
Illustration: Fawaz Dalvi

Attempting to keep up with new releases is exhausting. And the never-ending quest to discover an act before they hit >1,000 plays on Bandcamp is all but rewarding. Having given up full-time music writing a little while ago, more often than not, I find myself feeling a mix of FOMO and IDGAF about new, local music while compiling my Spotify playlists. With this feature, we (that is, I) aim to put together a weekly mixtape with inputs from VICE India staffers—across all departments—without being a judgemental asshole.

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And this week, we’re throwing in a goddamn festive mix—for the grinch, or the Santa in you!

“Celebration” by Kool & The Gang

“Because I live off nostalgia as a person, this song reminds me of Christmas week, leading up to New Year’s Eve—including all holiday madness—from when I was younger. I love winters (I really, really do) and the change in weather is always special. Bonfires, a favourite sweater, amazing food, cakes (lots!) and dancing away with family and friends ‘cause sugar overdose; just best! Stay cosy.”
—Vatsala Aron, Head of Operations, Content and ready for December in, erm… May

“In The Air Tonight” by Phil Collins

“As a team we chose this timeless song, for its epic 'make-Monday-feel-like-Thursday-vibes'. Play it whenever; start your day or end it with it, doesn’t matter. Long, tall, short week, IT DOESN’T MATTER; the song will make you sing and mimic the mid-rhythm drum roll. In Phil… we trust!
—VICE India Design Team, with all the feels and unanimous decisions

“The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting On Open Fire)” by John Legend

“I love this classic because it sings about the warmth of the season and why the whole world celebrates Christmas. Period.”
—Nush Lewis, harpist and singer-songwriter, and foster parent to my cat.

“My Valentine” by Paul McCartney

“My Valentine isn't really a Christmas song, but I always associate it with the festive season, possibly because I first heard it on the way back home from a Christmas party in 2013. It was a lovely, fuzzy evening, helped along by alcohol; my then boyfriend was a Beatles/Cohen nut, and this was playing in the car. The opening lines are, "What if it rained?/We didn't care" and the song has a rainy backdrop too and I love that—because it did actually rain a little that night, unusual (but happily so) for a Bombay December. I went back home and watched the video, which features Johnny Depp and Natalie Portman signing the lyrics, on loop. Johnny Depp now has domestic abuse allegations, Portman has proven to be a twee, lite version of Gwyneth Paltrow, and the boyfriend is no longer around. But the song has stayed.”
—Karanjeet Kaur, Creative Editor, Arre and was-tricked-into-this-contribution

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“Zero Sum” by Nine Inch Nails

“I had been feeling a little uneasy with Delhi’s fog cover and if it wasn’t for a friend who’d handed me a NIN CD, I would have tried my hand at well-adjusted nonsense such as going to the park to get some sunshine. Instead, I found Trent Reznor, and he made me feel right at home—curtains drawn, volume raised and comforted by the thought of the approaching apocalypse. It has been a ritual ever since—winters and Nine Inch Nails. To the foggiest of winter days, the weakest visibility ranges and the highest air quality index, I raise "Zero Sum" by Nine Inch Nails. A palpitative and meditative reflection on the fact that we were born from nothing and will return to nothing. Works better than an electric blanket, trust me.”

—Shomi Gupta, former editor of Rock Street Journal, and what-a-choms.

“All I Want For Christmas Is You” by Mariah Carey (duh)

In an earnest email to me, our CEO said “I am not sure you will like it, or if it's too clichéd and too obvious… but I like this song!”
—Chanpreet Arora, CEO, VICE India who sometimes uses marketing jargon I don’t get

“Silent Night” by Joshua Homme & C.W. Stoneking

“I have many memories associated with this song, and Christmas carols in general, thanks to the evangelical education system plenty of us went through in India. Nestled in the hills of Nainital, Uttarakhand for most of the year, boarding school threw up winter not as a time of enjoyment, but one that brought along final exams, mighty cold and that glorious end-of-year dinner with fruit custard and butter chicken—not wine. In retrospect, "Silent Night" also signalled the closing minutes (if I’m remembering correctly) of the Christmas Chapel Service—and angelic performances from the school choir. So when Joshua Homme decided to be redemptive and cover this song, I was fairly excited. It’s no QOTSA song, but it has the vox.”
—Naman Saraiya, Producer and trying to make your Christmas party better with this

Check out our previous editions here.