Friday Mixtape: Jim Stoten's soundtrack to his solo summer holiday

Happy Friday and happy Friday Mixtape day! As London swelters in a rare heatwave, Jim Stoten, also known by his job title leading name Jim the Illustrator, is off on a solo holiday to Spain. As Jim packs his swimming trunks, suncream and drawing equipment for a week of pondering, he’s also made us a mix that will soundtrack his summer holiday and maybe yours too.

If this is your first introduction to Jim the Illustrator we also highly recommend checking out his other musical visual musings, particularly his debut record, On A Flying Frog put out by Clay Hickson’s Tan & Loose press. Over to Jim!

It’s Nice That: Why have you picked these songs?

Jim Stoten: Well, in two days I’m going away on my own to spend time in Orepesa de Toledo, Spain, to draw, paint, drink, walk and think. This playlist makes me think of being somewhere quiet and beautiful, where you have a log cabin or something similar to live and work in, moving at your own pace, not doing anything at all if you don’t want to, but similarly staying up all night painting and drinking wine, dressed only in a poncho and a stetson, if you so desire.

INT: When or where should this mixtape be listened to?

JS: After walking about all day and stopping to talk to anyone you see. At end of the day after a meal, some wine and good company. Or at the end of the day when you feel like you want to experiment with something creative that you don’t know how to do, but want to learn, in the scenario above.

INT: Are there certain albums you listen to do during the different parts of your creative process?

JS: During the day, I don’t listen to music at all, unless I’m on the train. I usually watch/listen to debates or police interrogations online while I work.

INT: What records did you listen to as a teenager?

JS: Anything by Blur, Escape from Television by Jan Hammer, Graceland by Paul Simon, Rubber Soul by The Beatles, The Sun is Often Out by The Longpigs, Expecting to Fly by The Bluetones, Internal Wrangler by Clinic…

INT: If a feature film about your life was to be made, what song would be on the trailer and why?

JS: Dirty Blue Jean by Captain Beefheart, because I think it would go well with the film.