December 2024 Connections Mix Tape
The December’s Masked Songwriter: December 2024 Connections Mix Tape can be found on Spotify. Listen in-blog below for a more rich experience, or on Spotify for uninterrupted music. Please note below each song is a link to song lyrics for accessibility. Check out more details on how to best enjoy mix tapes.
Good day and welcome! You are listening to KMTJ-DB – Your Mix Tape Journey – Denver, Colorado.
I am your host, DJ Ponyboy; thank you for joining me today – have I got a show for you!
All the songs we will hear today were written or co-written by the same individual over the last decade; throughout today’s tape I will drop hints as to who my mystery songwriter might be.
For example, they were born and raised in Hawthorn Woods, Illinois with their three older brothers. Will you be able to guess who it is?
Consisting of mostly pop tunes, we will also hear country, rock, rap, grunge, and glam influences throughout.
Pay close attention to the interpolation at the very beginning of our next song (and sprinkled throughout). Can you name the 1980’s song it references? The answer later in the program.
Kicking us off is Fall Out Boy with 2014’s “Centuries”.
“Natural” by Imagine Dragons on KMTJ-DB, Denver. Fall Out Boy before that with “Centuries”, opening with a reference to the song “Tom’s Diner” by Suzanne Vega, originally written in 1982, first released in the January 1984 issue of Fast Folk Musical Magazine, before being included on the 1987 studio album Solitude Standing, and finally remixed in 1990 by British EDM duo DNA (the version most folks are likely familiar with); however, the references don’t stop there, as it has been interpolated into songs by Cupcakke, Nardo Wick, and more!
Keep alert in 2025 for a fun new mix tape exploring musical interpolation more thoroughly.
I hope you haven’t forgotten about our mystery songwriter, who released their very first solo album in 2002!
Shifting gears to a more country vein, enjoy a band I have regrettably only seen in concert once – it was a fantastic show and you should see them live if you ever get a chance.
Now, the Chicks with “Sleep at Night”.
“Sleep at Night” by The Chicks on KMTJ-DB, Denver, Colorado.
My first introduction to our mystery songwriter was their second solo album, released in 2004; it features my very favourite tunes of theirs, which are much less radio-friendly than most of what we are hearing today. I originally discovered a few tracks from the album on a peer-to-peer file sharing platform in the mid-2000’s (most likely Limewire or KaZaa), and eventually tracked down and purchased the CD.
While you’re thinking, let’s get back to the music.
Though formed in 2014, Italian rock band Måneskin burst onto the international scene in 2021 after winning that year’s Eurovision Contest for Italy.
Check out their 2023 track, co-written by our masked songwriter: Måneskin with “Timezone”.
I’m your host, DJ Ponyboy. Thank you for joining me for this month’s Connections Mix Tape. I am so grateful you are here. 🥰
The holidays are upon us! As you shop for your favourite music-lover this year, don’t forget Mix Tape Journey! We offer exciting gifts like my guide Chasing Sunshine: A Guide to Educating Yourself on Popular Music, custom-curated playlists, and Patreon subscriptions, with five different tiers of support and five levels of rewards!
When shopping on our website this month, receive 20% off your entire purchase using the code SANTA20 at checkout. That’s SANTA20 for 20% off your Mix Tape Journey holiday gifts.
2004 also heralded the first album from our mystery songwriter’s most successful group project. Stay tuned for more hints to our masked songwriter’s identity, right after our next track.
First, Chappell Roan with “My Kink Is Karma” on KMTJ-DB – Your Mix Tape Journey – Denver, Colorado.
2022’s “My Kink Is Karma”.
That song written by Chappel Roan with two other musicians, one of whom is today’s mystery songwriter. Since 2017 this individual has been a board member of GLAAD (Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation), an organization that promotes queer acceptance in the entertainment and media industries.
Continuing the music, here is Juice Wrld with “Black & White”.
“Legends Never Die” from the animated television show League of Legends, with New York rock band Against the Current.
Juice Wrld before that with “Black & White” on KMTJ-DB – Denver, Colorado.
2014 marked the beginning of our masked songwriter’s foray into writing more pop-oriented songs for other artists, unleashing a flood of new hits for artists like Justin Bieber, Selena Gomez, Hailee Steinfeld, and more! All of the songs we have heard so far (and those we will hear) have come from the pen of our mystery artist, and we have barely scratched the surface, with their songwriting credits in the triple digits.
Up next, it’s English musician Yungblud with one of my favourites of his, “Parents”, on KMTJ-DB, Denver.
Yungblud with 2019’s “Parents”, co-written by our masked songwriter, who shortly shall be masked no more!
Our mystery artist is a prolific American songwriter, musician, and LGBTQ+ advocate who rose to prominence as a co-writer for some of the biggest pop hits of the 2010’s and early 2020’s.
Beginning their career as a solo artist in 2002 before forming and fronting the New York rock band Semi Precious Weapons, Justin Tranter transitioned to songwriting in 2014, extending their influence by collaborating with artists like Justin Bieber, Selena Gomez, Imagine Dragons, and Dua Lipa, co-writing chart-topping hits such as “Sorry,” “Hands to Myself,” and “Believer.”
Known for crafting emotionally resonant and commercially successful songs, Tranter’s work spans genres, including pop, rock, and dance. Over the last decade, Tranter’s impact has extended to empowering underrepresented voices in the music industry, including working on LGBTQ+ and socially conscious themes.
Unfortunately, my favourite Tranter tracks are not available on Spotify, requiring me to listen to them on physical media, and meaning I am unable to share them here; however, I have selected a few Semi Precious Weapons songs that I think do a halfway decent job of showing a little bit of the fun, fabulous, and chaotic energy that Justin brings to my favourite solo tracks like “Fear of Frailty” and “Good Luck With Your Armageddon” (both from 2004’s Tear Me Together).
Without further ado, enjoy Justin Tranter’s Semi Precious Weapons on KMTJ-DB – Your Mix Tape Journey – Denver, Colorado.
“Statues of Ourselves”; before that, “Semi Precious Weapons”; both those tracks by Justin Tranter’s rock band Semi Precious Weapons.
I’m DJ Ponyboy and I hope you have had fun listening to some fantastic tunes crafted by one of my favourite songwriters. I had a blast and am so grateful you decided to join me today!
Don’t forget to come back next week for Tinsel and Tears: Grieving Through the Holiday, where I hold space for those who are not feeling festive this year, for whatever reason.
I’m DJ Ponyboy. Until next time, stay gold.