Friday Mixtape: Illustrator Adam Higton's mix of music for kids

Illustrator Adam Higton and his collaged characters are regular pals of It’s Nice That and for a while now we’ve had an inkling he was a music head. Not only does this show in his personal work, but also in his illustrations which accompanied publishing gem Rough Trade Magazine’s regular horoscope column, written by a whole host of bands and musicians.

This week Adam is our guest DJ combining his own tastes with the fact he’s also a dad and is listening to a bunch of child-friendly tunes too. Over to Adam!

It’s Nice That: Why have you picked these songs, what do they remind you of or make you feel?

Adam Higton: I always struggle making mixes. I have a good start but never get round to finishing them, I must owe my friend Marcus at least two mixes by now but having a limit to ten songs certainly helps.

I have picked these songs to reflect on what I am currently listening to at the moment. It is a combination of wonky electronic music, percussive duelling pianos and music for children. They make me feel positive and inspired.

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

AH: This mix is made to be listened to anytime, anywhere.

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

AH: Yeah, I normally like to listen to quite calm music when I am actually making stuff. I bought Tomita’s Snowflakes Are Dancing from a charity shop in Bristol a few years ago, I think it’s quite a common charity shop find. This album is cooling me down in this hot weather at the moment and makes me feel relaxed. Last year I had to give a lecture to students at Leeds University and it had been some time since I had stood up and talked to a large group of people and I was feeling pretty anxious, so on the train there I listened to Red Kross and Shonen Knife records back to back.

INT: What records did you listen to when you were a teenager?

AH: I wasn’t really into music until I was about 17… I did grow up sharing a bedroom with my brother who is seven years older than me. though so listened to Slayer, Burzum, Black Flag and Misfits amongst others.

When I started college I became really interested in the early eighties punk and hardcore bands, mostly DC and Dischord records stuff. like This is The Untouchables covering The Monkees.

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

AH: I think Hurry On Sundown by Hawkwind could work. I am working on a new Florian zine inspired by that song.
The band Vetiver did a pretty good cover a few years ago — I can imagine the trailer to my life might look similar to that.