Sauvignon Blanc Sundays: Music

What’s a party with no soundtrack? As you uncork the sauvignon blanc, queue up the tuneage and drench your backyard with the sounds of summer. Skip your iPod library because you don’t want this festive day to reveal that you’re the only Amy Grant fan on the guest list.
 
Show-off your hipness by using Spotify to provide the party’s melodies. Take an hour or so before Sunday to create a custom playlist appropriately named “sauvignon blanc soundtrack,” or something to easily identify and brand it. Spotify’s library of music is vast, and the ability to collaborate on playlists makes the music a true social affair.
 
Speaking of Sounds of Summer, it’s never a bad idea to harmonize the party’s lively atmosphere with classical sounds of The Beach Boys. Add in a little Bob Marley, The Monkees, Fleetwood Mac, and other golden oldies and you’ve got sure crowd pleasers.
 
Don’t hesitate integrate new school sounds with summertime-suited guitar riffs and radio favorites from acts like John Mayer, Ben Harper, Jack Johnson and Michael Franti. Let’s be honest, there’s no pressing cut-off for wine socializing other than bedtime, so always keep a backup library of songs that can carry on into the late afternoon and evening.
 
Take a risk with trendy tunes from artists like HAIM, Vance Joy, Ben Howard and Vampire Weekend. Be sure there are no harsh transitions in your playlist from song to song. Mellow and buoyant are the ultimate qualifiers here.
 
Are you disinterested in the time investment of arranging custom playlists? No worries. Spotify also has a built-in library of playlists that with one-click of ‘subscribe’ are all yours. Or if you are a SiriusXM subscriber, The Blend, Escape to Margaritaville, or The Joint all provide smooth jams that may not always be perfect, but allow you to skip the time commitment and instead simply turn on the power.
 
The key is to let the music reveal your personality and help progress the party. The party doesn’t hinge on the tunes, and they shouldn’t overpower the conversation or activities. Keeping a healthy beat in the background helps the flow of conversation and eases the discomfort of social awkwardness or apprehension. It creates an atmosphere where people are more calmed and want to linger. Cheers!