{"id":283,"date":"2026-06-06T16:13:37","date_gmt":"2026-06-06T16:13:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/relocationacrossamerica.com\/?p=283"},"modified":"2026-06-06T16:13:37","modified_gmt":"2026-06-06T16:13:37","slug":"what-salons-djs-are-spinning-this-summer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/relocationacrossamerica.com\/?p=283","title":{"rendered":"What Salon\u2019s DJs are spinning this summer"},"content":{"rendered":"
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When I started The Swell newsletter last December, I wanted the bonus culture recommendation to start with Salon\u2019s staff before incorporating other experts, journalists and industry luminaries as guests. Part of this was to introduce the wide range of great writers and minds working behind the scenes in this small newsroom. In doing so, I had a blast discovering the scope of each person\u2019s tastes and background \u2013 and even learned that we have a number of DJs on staff.<\/p>\n

Read more How \u201cCars\u201d ruined Pixar<\/a><\/p>\n

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Having worked closely with Melanie McFarland on the Culture desk for many years, I already knew that she had a punk DJ background, and this came into play when I visited her in Seattle last summer. I attended an indie punk showcase at her neighborhood bar and also a music history exhibit, \u201cNirvana: Taking Punk to the Masses,\u201d at the Museum of Pop Culture.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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I had only met National Affairs Staff Reporter Russell Payne briefly while I was in New York and have found his reporting essential in understanding the state of American politics today, especially when it comes to the electorate. When I was working with Russell for a recommendation in <\/span>the Bob Ross issue of The Swell<\/span>, however, I suspected there was another side of him after reading his thoughts on the \u201cpost-Tame Impala mid-2010s psychedelic indie boom.\u201d <\/span>Ah, this is a true music critic<\/em><\/span>. As it turns out,\u00a0he was a DJ at his college\u2019s radio station.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Last but certainly not least, <\/span>\u201cStanding Room Only\u201d <\/span>host and Senior Writer Amanda Marcotte has made no secret about her love for music and concerts (hello, the theme of her newsletter and show!). In particular, the \u201cEncore\u201d section of her show reveals a hand-picked spin from her partner\u2019s Latchkey Records store in Philadelphia.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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And thus, the Salon DJ Collective was born. I tasked each of them to craft an individual curated playlist for whatever occasion or mood they wanted to evoke for the summer. As someone who has hyper-specific playlists to regulate my moods, I appreciate that whether you want to party, chill outside or brandish your middle finger to the world, the Salon DJ Collective has you covered. \u2014 Hanh Nguyen<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Check out the inspiration for each of their playlists, in their own words:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Melanie\u2019s pig roast old skool block party vibes<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n