Hell yeah!
My comic takes place in 1997, and the characters are teens. I thought it'd be fun to dissect subcultures and genres that they'd each be into. It took me about 1 year to put the playlists together, because I was going through about 100 artists from the 70s - early 90s to see what clicked with a character, what made sense for who'd be listening to what, etc. Then I did a release of the playlists over 5 months this year, each with their own descriptions (I put them down below with links.) The links were Patreon exclusive until this past summer. It was a labor of love, so I'm very happy to be sharing!
Check them out if any of their descriptions interest you. :}
Parker
2 hours and 45 minutes of teenage trash.
Parker's playlist is loaded with alt-rock and grunge of the late 80s to mid 90s, most of which he derives from CD exchanges at the skatepark, and online pirating. Many bands you'll hear on this playlist were on-the-rise in '95 and '96, coming out with the defining songs of the decade. There is a sprinkle of whimsy amongst the crass and tongue-in-cheek lyrics.
Some songs are heavier in texture, while others are saturated with colorful riffs inspired by ska, metal, and 60s punk. You either love it or you hate it.
Marie
Ahem. Felicia-Marie Castillo.
With 90s music comes rich cultural influence in the rise of hip-hop and the fresh new takes of R&B and rap. At the tail end of the golden age for these genres, Marie favors less gangsta and more G-funk. This playlist is on various cassettes and CDs (some of which belong to Marie's older sisters.) And, yes, she has a soft spot in her heart for past and current pop sensations. Karaoke is a family pastime in the Castillo home--which is why a few big hits from the 70s and 80s have wriggled their way in. If she's not singing to any jams, it's probably because she's working on her AP Calculus homework... or sewing together a polka-dot plushie.
Mark
Something that starts and ends with Radiohead.
For an almost-18-year-old, he's got a lot on his mind. This includes '80s techno, rap, and alt rock (not to mention, ethereal shoegaze sneaking its way in.) Okay, so there are some conflicting vibes amongst the mishmash that is this playlist. There's a song for every day, though! The rugged overdrive on a guitar, a funk that hits just right, the strained voice of a guy bearing his soul to you, a far off echo to reach for when you want to disappear... Or maybe today you're just pissed off and need to crank the volume up on your Walkman after soccer practice.
Brandi
For natural redheads only. For punkas--explicitly.
This is a sensational mix of female musicians from a time of not just sticking it to the man but punching the patriarchy in the face with punk, indie, and alternative sounds. Brandi doesn't hold back an opinion, especially when it's right--a mindset that Cynthia has encouraged. You'll hear shimmering shoegaze echoing in the dreamy haze of bedroom depression and being lost in a high. There are a few UK voices that made it in, influenced by a past close friend of hers. She's not one to brag, but this playlist is peak '90s femme (though any and all will enjoy a listen for sure.) If Parker's music tastes are trash, then Brandi's are a dumpster fire.
Kevin
Black, blood, and metal. This is Kevin Anderson.
His 10 years of classical training and religious influence was unfortunately a constriction on his overall creative expression. A saving grace was an older friend with musical interests outside the realm of tradition and reservation--Johnny. Mixed tapes from Johnny led to Kevin's enthrallment with the heavy, loud, and dark. These were new sounds that were more relatable emotionally and artistically. The new wave of gothic rock had hit in '89. Metal and progressive were on a rise as well within this revival like period. You'll hear some prog/alternative rock slipping in, alongside the grittier sludgy side of metal. If his stereo is on, Kevin is playing with the music either on guitar, drums, keyboard, or bass...
All. Night. Long.
