Moods 22: Crystal Gause
To celebrate the end of Black History Month, Mood's own co-curator Crystal Gause (@etta_sound) stepped up to celebrate with a Black-focused Black Power mix for February 2020.
Tracklist:
Better Days - Diane Reeves
Happy Feelings - Frankie Beverly and Maze
Integrity - Aretha Franklin
All for You - Lakeside
Just in Case (remix) - Jaheim
Brown Eyes - Monifah
911 - Wyclef + Mary J. Blige
Born Not to Know - Tony! Toni! Tone!
Sex Cymbal - Sheila E
Techno Freqs - Junie Morrison
I Like What You Do - The Commodores
Now That You’re Gone - Diana Ross
You Are the Sunshine of My Life - Bobbi Humphrey
(1) Where did you grow up? Was it a single place or many places? How did this influence the songs you listened to?
I grew up between the Ohio Valley and rural Michigan. A lot of time spent in the church and with family while my mom was working. I got a lot of funk and soul influence from my grandma and her siblings (6 of them). Her brother was a jazz musician and I remember seeing my first record player at his house. There was a record shop (Everybody’s Records) in walking distance from where I spent my early years and I remember I would go up there and listen to cd’s during the summer to escape the heat. Once, Bootsy Collins did a meet and greet there and my mom brought me. I remember being terrified and running out.
My aunt then babysat me a lot and was deep, deep into the Soulquarian thing. A lotta Wyclef, a lotta Badu, a lot of incense (haha). My mom didn’t listen to a ton of music in the house except Saturday mornings when she did her cleaning. A lot of Mary J, Whitney, Diana Ross, pop with longing mixed into it.
(2) Can you pick one song in the mix and explain where you first listened to it?
Happy Feelings for sure. I’m not positive the first time I heard it, but it’s synonymous with the cookouts my family does during the summer.
(3) Who “introduced” you to these songs? Was it a person, a radio station, a CD, or something else?
People for sure. The people who raised me.
(4) Where and when did you first hear techno? What drew you to it? Who did it sound like it was for?
The percolator when I was little! I didn’t even realize it was techno/house until I went to movement for the first time 3 years ago and heard it booming through Hart Plaza. Changed my life.
(5) You’ve got the microphone. What do you want to say to the techno community?
🤷🏾♀️
This mix also highlights a watercolor from Kara Walker on the mix image. Both their work is without fail centered in elevating Black histories, both overlooked and misunderstood. More of Kara is here to learn more.