Coffee & Records with Yves Spinelli
Spring into Summer
COFFEE & RECORDS SESSION #02
My childhood in Honolulu inspired this mix. I’ve spent more time there over the past year and feel nostalgic about growing up during the vibrant 80s. Tourism, mainly from Japan, thrived and supported local businesses. There was a lively music scene with dozens of venues in Waikiki hosting local bands every night. The scene was eclectic, reflecting the multicultural vibe of the islands.
Throwbacks played oldies covers in the bars, while traditional Hawaiian music filled the hotels. I was most fascinated by the crossover acts who wrote their material, blending polished FM radio sounds with R&B, funk, and fusion jazz, all adding a laid-back island groove. Kalapana were local stars, and “The Hurt” was still played on local radio stations a decade after its release. Lemuria’s lead vocalist, Azure McCall, sang R&B and jazz standards in a local lounge, and my friends and I would wear thrift shop blazers and order Sambuca, pleased that we passed for twenty-one (looking back, I realize that no one thought we were older—they just didn’t care).
This LA store party mix draws upon a multicultural vibe. I included some island-style grooves along with the mellow AOR tunes that influenced them, then added Japanese City Pop, library tracks, and songs I heard growing up. This reflects my mood as we move through spring into summer.
Summer Vibes
COFFEE & RECORDS SESSION #01
August is my transitional month. It’s the last stretch of summer, with a third still left, but I feel September creeping up. As days slowly get shorter, I’m contemplating and reflecting, playing music that helps me think.
The playlist features library cuts, slow grooves, lush arrangements, vibraphones, and some tracks DJ Fleg played at the Olympics.