Viva Mexico! (Part 2)

Nights in Playa del Carmen are magical.  When the last of the sun's rays recede from the Mexican soil, "La Quinta" - Playa's world famous entertainment, dining, and retail strip - comes alive with a whole new energy.  Artists, musicians, and street performers line the street as visitors and residents alike trade in their beachwear and flip flops for more comfortable apparel.  Everyone congregates on 5th Avenue - truly the heart of Playa - to eat, shop, and take in the sights, sounds, and smells of this enchanting street.

With this mix, I've tried to capture the energy of a night on 5th Avenue - not the thumping dance music of the many nightclubs lining 12th St, but the cool, laid-back vibe that is at once both trendy/chic and casual.  Expect  mostly chill, jazzy house music with Caribbean and Latin influences here, perfect for sipping cocktails under a palapa in some open-air oasis, a brief escape from the humid ocean breeze and the bustle of 5th Ave.  There are also a lot of fun hous-y reworks of some well-known tunes here, including everything from 1960's Ray Charles and 1970's Dolly Parton to early 90's Cece Peniston and late 90's Notorious B.I.G.  Unexpected sure, but I think you'll be surprised at how it all blends together.

Pour yourself a mojito, margarita, or martini, put up your feet, and get ready to experience a perfect soundtrack for those warm, relaxing vacation evenings when cares are forgotten and memories are made.  Viva Mexico!

-Nate

Download Link:
Nate Rusch - Viva Mexico (Sun Down) [91 minutes/ 84MB]
or stream this mix now!

Tracklist:
Chris Isaak - Wicked Game (Trentemoller Clubby Games Remix)
Dolly Parton - Jolene (Prune Flat Edit)
Mango & Andre Frauenstein ft Ludik - Disappear (Original Mix)
Midnight Star - Midas Touch (CFCF Remix)
Jean Jacques Smoothie - Two People (Louis La Roche Remix)
Monique Bingham - You. Me. World. (Original Mix)
CeCe Peniston ft Joyriders - Finally (Tiger Stripes Remix)
Nemus - Murr (Gramophonedzie Remix)
Of Monsters and Men - Little Talks (Thomas Jack Remix)
Bob Sinclar - World Hold On (Sergio Flores Epic Club Mix)
Dave Floyd & Pookie vs Ray Charles - Jack is Back (Original Mix)
Ministry of Funk - Black Magic (Original Mix)
Visti & Meyland - Yes Maam (All Nite Long) (Trentemoller Remix)
Robert Babicz - Warm Rain (Vocal Mix)
Wiley ft Emeli Sande - Never Be Your Woman (Solo UK Loves Garage Remix)
Mirko & Meex - Hypnotize
Bag Raiders - Way Back Home
APDW vs Tim Deluxe ft Sam Obernik - Just Won't Do (Mowgli Remix)
Eagles - Hotel California (Latin Guitar Mix)
Kaskade - Step One Two (Extended Mix)
Rhythms del Mundo ft Coldplay - Clocks

Viva Mexico! (Part 1)

I am fortunate enough to be spending two glorious weeks in Mexico this year on a vacation that could not have come at a more opportune time given the even-nastier-than-usual winter we've had thus far.  I've put together mixes in the past that have been inspired by our trips to Playa, but I've never really tried to capture the essence and general feel of Mexico before...until now.  Today I'm presenting the first of two full-length mixes designed to channel the feel of an entire Mexican vacation straight through your speakers and into your ears.

As the sun rises each day in Playa del Carmen, people begin flocking to various resorts and beach clubs lining the turquoise blue coast of the Mexican riviera.  Perhaps most famous of all of these beach clubs is Playa Mamitas, where beautiful people gather to sunbathe, toes thrust in the powdery white sand, as waves gently crash ashore, palm fronds swaying in the Caribbean breeze overhead.  By mid-afternoon, fueled by an increasingly hot sun or perhaps one too many cervezas (and most likely both), an entirely different feeling begins to overtake the beach.  It is now less about relaxation, and as the music kicks in and the volume grows, an almost tangible energy begins to radiate through the crowd.  It is that exact feeling I have tried to capture in this mix.

A steadily driving baseline punctuated by moments of jazz, reggae, house, and latin drums blend together to effectively mimic the aural sensation of Mamitas.  This is about as beach-y as it gets.  So be sure to bring this one along on your vacation this year or give it a listen and pretend that you're actually there.  Because you're about to be transported a thousand miles south of the border, where all of your cares evaporate, and every day is the most amazing day of your life.  Viva Mexico!

-Nate

Download Link:
Nate Rusch - Viva Mexico (Sun Up)  [87 minutes / 80 MB]
or stream this mix now!

Tracklist:
Alexandra Stan - Lemonade (Karmin Shiff and Marco Zardi Remix)
Milk & Sugar vs Vaya Con Dios - Hey (Nah Neh Nah) (Milk & Sugar Club Mix)
Lady Gaga ft Beyonce - Telephone (Crookers Remix)
Gramophonedzie - Street Lady
R.I.O. - After the Love (Chriss Ortega vs Steve Forest Remix)
DJ Spen and the MuthaFunkaz - Gotta Hold On Me (That Skatt Thing)
Morgan Page, Sultan & Ned Shepard & BTy - In the Air (Denetti Bootleg)
Seal - Amazing (Kaskade Remix)
Menini, Viani & NeNi C - You Don't Love Me (No, No, No) (Club Mix)
Parov Stelar - The Paris Swing Box
Robbie Groove & Mattias ft Cece Rogers - You Droid (Crazibiza Remix)
Pink Floyd - Another Brick in the Wall (Relanium Main Remix)
Bee Gees - Stayin' Alive (Tomy Montana & Damian Newman 2010 Mix)
Gramophonedzie - Why Don't You
Richard Grey vs Bob Marley - No Deputy (I Shot the Sheriff 2008) (Club Mix)
Thomas Gold & Matthias Menck- Everybody Be Somebody (Original Club Mix)
Bob Sinclar & Raffaella Carra - Far l'Amore
Aggro Santos - Love Like This (Cosmic Dawn Remix)
Danny Freakazoid & Matt Caseli - Long Legs Running 2011 (Kolya & Matuya Mix)
Junior Jack - E-Samba (Club Mix)
Uffie ft Pharrell Williams - Add Suv (Armond Van Helden Club Remix)
Mayra Veronica - Ay Mama Mia (Dave Aude Club Remix)