New Music DNA, Pt. 2: When a Music Snob Wants to Go Mainstream
It's hard enough making a mixtape for somebody who used to be a self-proclaimed "judgmental jerk." Harder still when that somebody is a semi-sentient condiment!
In today’s issue:
1) An interview with about their music nostalgia and preferences.
2) A preview of the mixtape that I made just for Mustard, based on their answers.
3) The actual mixtape (in playlist form).
4) BONUS - confront your own past music snobbery!
If you need a refresher - head here for New Music DNA - Pt. 1, which includes an explanation of what this project is all about.
You may know Mustard from their work as a dip or topping for various delicious foods, including hot dogs, soft pretzels, and (perhaps controversially) french fries.
What you may not know is that they have been running a music blog called Mustard’s Music Shelf for four years, featuring interviews with hundreds of independent musicians.1
Needless to say, it’s an absolute honor to put Mustard in the interviewee’s seat for a change.
I Want My MUTV: An Interview with
Gabbie: What music were you listening to when you were still a seed? Please give me 5 of your favorite artists or bands that you had on constant repeat when you were still developing into the condiment you are today.
Mustard: Mustard is most nostalgic for hip-hop. It is a genre, growing up as a small seed, they loved. It was what they consistently listened to the most. They were very much into mainstream hip hop (Eminem, 50 Cent, Outkast, Ludacris, Lupe Fiasco, etc.) for a long time.
As for five favorite bands/artists that helped in their development:
Sage Francis (late high school/college Mustard was about everything Strange Famous Records)
Eminem (The Eminem Show was an album that got played in their compact disc player until it broke)
Tenacious D (Mustard used to sing “Fuck You Gently” at the top of their bottle cap throughout the halls of their condiment high school)
Guns N’ Roses (They accepted the invite into Paradise City)
Flight of the Conchords (greatly helped shaped their sense of humor)
Sage Francis’ “Sick of Wasting,” as reimagined by Mustard
G: What song or artists do you associate with specific moments or people in your life? Maybe an embarrassing moment (the first time you splattered onto a crisp white shirt, I suppose?) or your first crush (...ketchup? Or would that be an arch-nemesis?)2 or anything else that sticks out in your memory to this day.
M: Mustard has never told this story to anyone but they began listening to Sage Francis because the condiment they had a crush on in high school did. They had mentioned Sage on a MySpace post. Mustard decided to check them out. Listening to Sage for the first time helped open their world into underground hip hop. Labels such as Strange Famous Records and Rhymesayers Entertainment were instrumental in their development.
“Past Mustard was a judgmental jerk.”
Today Mustard loves listening to the Shrek soundtrack as it reminds them of their better half. We love all things animation and Shrek holds a special place in our bottles.
G: How has your taste in music evolved over the years? Please list another handful of artists that have entered your rotation since you were young.
M: Young Mustard was very much a music snob. After being introduced to underground hip hop, their taste began to shift towards more independent music. For a long time they refused to give mainstream music an opportunity. Rather than listening to it, they would write it off and claim it as crap without giving it a proper try. Past Mustard was a judgmental jerk.
Now Mustard listens to absolutely everything. Their bottle cap is a lot more open than it used to be.
Some artists that entered their rotation include:
Aesop Rock (Hip Hop, Rhymesayers Entertainment)
Carly Rae Jepsen (the best pop musician of all time)
Pacing (anti-folk, one of the most creative humans on the world wide web and in music)
JER (their introduction to the modern ska scene)
Grooblen (dream psychedelic music)
Cheekface (introduced to Cheekface via Pacing)
Olivia Rodrigo (they listen to GUTS at least once a week)
Jason Isbell (can listen to this human tell stories for 981 years)
Jason Isbell’s “Foxes in the Snow,” as reimagined by Mustard
G: You’re a condiment who values independent music and keeping up with new, often underground artists – tell me about brand new artists you’ve been enjoying.
M: Some new artists that they really dig are:
Sixth Wonder (Metal band from Glasglow, Scotland)
Elfi (Dutch singer-songwriter)
Corinne Caza (Canadian Singer-Songwriter whose music feels like a comforting hug)
Cheem (one of the most inventive and creative bands around)
Whitney Tai (ethereal rock that will blow your goddamn human mind)
Devon Kay & The Solutions (the greatest ska band in the world; also self-proclaimed crybabies)
G: What's your go-to karaoke or shower song?
M: “Call Me Maybe” by Carly Rae Jepsen
G: I like to ask about guilty pleasures, even though I don’t personally believe such a thing exists. I think you’d agree with me on this one – you’ve talked before about how young Mustard would have been embarrassed about loving CRJ, but how you’ve turned into a full on pop girlie. Just in case, though… is there anything you listen to that you feel a little self conscious about?
M: Mustard lives in the South. Because of how divided we are as a society they are a little self-conscious about enjoying some of their favorite genres such as Japanese City Pop or metal music from Italy. They enjoy listening to music on their commute but sometimes get fearful of how other drivers may react. It is really disheartening to want to minimize or not listen to music from other countries because someone is close-minded.
Mustard has observed that America is a melting pot. While English may be the primary language, there are so many incredible humans from all over the world that call the US their home. Rather than putting them (and their culture down) - get to know them. Do not assume you know someone based on preconceived prejudices you may have.
With that said - they will be blasting Disney classics in Japanese the next time they go on a long commute.
“There can be too much music on a playlist. They do not know where to focus their attention.”
G: Tell me about how you listen to music. Where, when, with whom, and for what purpose?
M: Mustard loves to listen to albums. They work a desk job and will often start their day by finding one of their favorite albums and listening to it from start to end. These albums often help keep them motivated and ready to be productive.
Mustard enjoys both digital and physical media. If they really love the album and have listened to it multiple times over, they then will try to purchase a vinyl of it for their collection.
To be honest - playlists overwhelm them. There can be too much music on a playlist. They do not know where to focus their attention. This is why they typically enjoy LPs or EPs - an artist makes an effort to sequence the record in the way they want it to be experienced. This makes sense to them and is their go-to way to listen to music.
G: Which band do you really wish had made more songs or records? Alternately, is there a band you wish had made more music in a particular era of their career?
M: The Style Boyz. They are a parody of a boy band from Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping, but dang if they did not make some classics such as “Donkey Roll” or “Incredible Thoughts.”
G: What's your ultimate goal for the playlist I'm going to be making for you?
M: Mustard would love for you to make a playlist that proves young Mustard wrong. As mentioned earlier - they were a music snob growing up and didn’t give a chance to many artists because they thought they were mainstream. If you could do that while also providing them with a variety of genres, that would be really hecking cool.
Since we originally conducted this interview, Mustard has also made some very revealing comments in the private New Bands for Old Heads Discord community that I hope they won’t mind me sharing here:
VERY INTERESTING INDEED, MUSTARD.
Don’t miss the next pre-release album listening party:
SHAGGO - Monday June 2nd - 6pm Eastern
A Highly Curated Condiment: Mustard’s New Music DNA
Mustard gave me a very interesting assignment, considering I typically stay away from music that most folks have already heard of: prove young, anti-mainstream Mustard wrong. This means that I’m going to be including some very famous tracks, ones that most of you will already know, but making a case for why they’re worthwhile.3
I’m also working within very strict parameters, because Mustard is overwhelmed by playlists. To make this one feel more album-like, I’m limiting myself to 12 songs only. A few of these tracks are doing some seriously heavy lifting!
Let’s sneak a peek at what Mustard is all about.
A preview of the songs I picked out, and why:
1. Doechii - “NISSAN ALTIMA”
Before entering the world of underground hip hop and music snobbery, Mustard grew up loving mainstream hip hop. I thought Doechii (who sounds a bit like Nicki Minaj mixed with Busta Rhymes, if you still haven’t heard her) was the perfect artist to bridge the divide between the two realms, since she recently broke into the mainstream with her incredible 2024 album “Alligator Bites Never Heal.” Mustard also said they are a bit fearful of other drivers’ reactions to what they play on their commute, so what better way to face their fears than to kick off a playlist with this hilariously obscene track?4
2. BABYMETAL - “Monochrome”
After a few more hip hop tracks (including one from Lee Reed, Sage Francis’ labelmate on Mustard’s beloved Strange Famous Records), I pivot into the (in)famous all-girl kawaii metal group BABYMETAL. What I love about this band is that they are absolute rage bait for gatekeepers and other assorted genre purists: it’s harmonic J-Pop with some heavy metal elements. Perfect for Mustard’s newfound inclusive approach to music from across the globe (and their taste for melodic Metal).
3. Remi Wolf - “Toro”
No Carly Rae Jepsen fan should be skipping Remi Wolf, no matter how much distaste they might have for TikTok virality (though CRJ had plenty of that herself). Though a little more chilled out than Carly, she has a similar funk/disco influence, and her songs are infectious earworms. This one in particular features delightfully surprising instrumental flourishes around every corner.
4. The Bug Club - “How to Be a Confidante”
Mustard loves both anti-folk and nerdy, comedic rock. The Bug Club is all of these things (and I’ll take any opportunity to talk about them). I’ve said before how this duo sound a bit like The Moldy Peaches by way of The Velvet Underground, but their surrealist sense of humor is what might appeal to Mustard the most.
5. jasmine.4.t - “Guy Fawkes Tesco Dissociation”
This band hit it “indie big” fast and hard after getting boygenius’ attention in 2024 and releasing their debut on Phoebe Bridgers’ label earlier this year. Influenced by Elliott Smith and Iron and Wine, they made my own “overhyped so I won’t bother recommending them” pile after getting so much early buzz. Mustard’s brief is helping me push past my own prejudices while also providing them with a bit of the comforting singer-songwriter hug they love (and, on this track, a touch of country, too).
Don’t skip the full playlist — there’s more pop, hip hop, ska, nerd rock, anti-folk-gone-country, and a little wildcard thrown in!
Want to nominate somebody for an upcoming New Music DNA?
Mustard’s Full Mix
I’ve already told you that every playlist is personalized to the individual (or condiment) it’s made for, so you shouldn’t be surprised that you can’t approach this one the way you did
’s.Please don’t play Mustard’s mix out of order.
I also recommend a 3-second crossfade.
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