Beach bar vibes: What's on your playlist?

I need some suggestions. I have to record a set for a beachside bar—apparently, business is booming there. It’s mostly a younger crowd, so I’m really not sure what would hit the right note. I handled the restaurant gig just fine by sticking to classic Americana, folk, and old-school rock; you can't go wrong with those. But this one has me stumped, and I’ve been overthinking it for way too long. Time is running out.
Thanks, everyone!

faraway coastline

devils

Costume jewelry is actually "in" right now

Thomas Peterson5, get real. 😁

Just throw some dance, club, or house tracks from the last four or five months into the mix and voilà. Just look at the top charts.
Throw in some American hits that are actually "in" right now.

You could also toss in a CD with older stuff—rock, pop, a little bit of everything. If it's a big party, you don't want to be caught lacking.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Porn_groove

Check out this porn groove 👍

Outkast 🙏 🙏 🙏

porn groove haha

That’s what I was thinking about the new stuff too, but I’m not entirely sure I’d actually record anything. I’ve put together a few mix CDs before—some Moby, some Depeche Mode—but now I'm looking for something else.

Music for a daytime stroll or a night out?

both 🙂

Henry Thompson35 said:I need some suggestions here. I’ve gotta record a set for this beach bar out on Maui—supposedly it's doing pretty well, lots of younger crowds, so I'm honestly not sure what would actually fit the vibe. I already handled the restaurant gig; just went with some classic Americana, folk, and old-school hits, which was a total no-brainer. But this one? I've been racking my brain for a while now and I'm still stuck. To make matters worse, I'm running out of time. Any ideas?

The music you play basically dictates the crowd you get. It’s all connected. I mean, where exactly is the bar located? How many tourists are rolling through versus locals? And what about those weekend crowd types staying in the nearby vacation rentals? It all shapes who shows up.

It’s probably smart to keep the music mixed up—you know, some chill stuff, some heavy tracks, maybe some danceable hits depending on the time of day. It’s actually kind of a clever move to ask the regulars to send you tracks they and their friends are vibing to; I mean, it’s a win-win for everyone involved, I guess. I knew this one coffee shop back in the day that basically became this legendary hangout for the local crowd, mostly because this sweet old lady running the place would play whatever music they brought to her. Because of that, it turned into this huge hub where musicians and anyone who actually gives a damn about good music started meeting up all the time. 😁
So, some new owner took over the reins. Honestly, they’re basically just coasting on the place's old reputation at this point. If you look at the actual venue, it's a total dump—zero view of the ocean or anything. I mean, nobody would even bother stepping foot in there if it weren't for the killer music and the decent crowd that comes with it. That's really the only thing keeping it alive, I guess.
Why bother opening just another cookie-cutter bar that looks exactly like the one next door? I mean, seriously. If you actually have decent taste, why not let your place stand out with a killer playlist? You know, music that’s actually curated instead of just some random loop. Even if it’s just for your own sake—if you actually enjoy listening to it—it makes a difference. Just a thought, I guess. 😉

One more thing—if you actually decide to play music at a reasonable volume compared to those other mediocre coffee shops around here... I mean, if you don't feel the need to compete in some loud-volume contest and just let people actually talk without having to scream over the speakers... then I’ll be a regular. I'll even bring the whole crew with me. Maybe.

Henry Thompson35 said:both 🙂

Hmm... Adam Newman12 actually made a solid suggestion for a night out. If you want to scan the options, I don't think you can go wrong with artists like Freemasons, David Guetta, Armand van Helden (plus all The Heldeni 🤣), or those Ministry of Sound compilations, among others...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUamE2NJ8EU
My younger brother listens to this kind of stuff, so I've picked up a thing or two. 😬

For daytime vibes, if the cafe is right on the beach, try some chill-out tracks (think Caffe del Mar, Buddha Bar, or Spanish guitar remixes). For example: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCEN4OCJ0DI
There you go. I took a quick peek at my brother's playlists, so hopefully, this helps you out. 🙂

Cure, thanks for the direct feedback. I’ll definitely take your suggestions to heart; I suspect you guys are right on the money. Carol Rodriguez16, I’m completely with you—nobody wants music shoved down their throat.

If you ever find yourselves out in Maui, hit me up. Drinks are on me. 😁

Henry Thompson35 said:Thanks for the solid advice, everyone. I'll definitely take your suggestions to heart; you all seem to be on the right track. Carol Rodriguez16, I'm with you 100%—nobody wants music that's constantly shoved in their face.

If you find yourselves out in Maui, look me up. Drinks are on me! 😁

Don't mention it. 🙂

Will do. 😁

Maui... I love Maui, honestly a great excuse to get away. 😍

You can actually find some decent music playing in the bars on Maui. The crowds are super diverse during the summer, too. There are tons of spots there, and if I were you, I’d hunt down a place that plays something a bit more unique and high-quality than what you'd hear in your average tourist trap. The problem with most coastal bars around here is they all feel exactly the same, and there's just way too many of them.

So, what kind of music are you actually into? And are you planning on working the bar yourself? It really matters that the vibe stays consistent—you can just feel it in the atmosphere.

I find myself agreeing with the points made above—there are some genuinely solid suggestions here, I suppose. Outkast, đavol Quote 🙏

Henry Thompson35 said:Give me some ideas; I need to record a set for a beachside bar. Apparently, business is booming there with a younger crowd, and frankly, I’m at a loss as to what would actually fit the vibe. I managed to figure out the restaurant gig—lots of vocal groups, classic crooners, the Evergreen types, things you just can't miss—but this one has me scratching my head for quite a while now. Time is running thin, too.
Thanks, everyone!

Look, man, any decent bar needs to have diverse music—ranging from the classics to current hits—especially if they're pulling crowds both during the day and late into the night. It really is that simple. You need a massive library of everything, and then the real skill lies in curating a proper program based on the time of day.

You should probably take a closer look at that younger demographic you mentioned. Try to avoid falling into the trap that most dreadfully boring DJs stumble into—the kind where, every single summer evening, you're stuck playing the exact same worn-out repertoire. Then you end up playing a generic chill-out loop that everyone thinks works, even though it's arguably becoming outdated, followed by a repetitive rotation of about thirty overplayed hits, old and new alike. If you do that, you might entertain yourself (and perhaps a few folks you decide to buy a drink for 😬), but you'll mostly just bore everyone else—especially the regulars—because during the summer, you get every imaginable type of person at the coast. Trust me, I've run clubs and bars for years and I'm constantly around these coastal scenes, so it's vital to grasp the rhythm and observe the atmosphere. People react differently at 10 PM than they do at 2 AM, and during the day, you'll have a massive influx of tourists from all over.

In places like Miami, Savannah, or even out on Maui, there's already a pretty ridiculous standard: cafes that essentially compete to see who can be louder (😱), offering nothing of substance except noise pollution. Most of them just blast the same house or chill-out tracks late at night, eventually devolving into Mickey Mouse, some weird Tumba track, or just straight-up trash. This has been the status quo for about a decade now, though thankfully it's slowly fading as some places try to pivot toward something different. Every now and then, you'll encounter a truly great DJ who actually knows how to get any kind of crowd moving. 😁 In short: stay diverse. Record the crowds as they come, watch how they react, and please, don't just play uninspired "best of" compilations—you might just create something genuinely good, maybe even legendary. 😉

Apologies for the long-winded post. 🤦

Electric Wizard

Go ahead, record Justin Bieber. Kids are drinking juice like there’s no tomorrow, so just make sure they don't go absolutely ballistic from all that sugar. And for heaven's sake, avoid playing any music that might attract two indie kids who'll sit there nursing two beers and then proceed to philosophize in a coffee shop for four hours straight.

Sophia Wells72 said:I agree with what was said above, and there are some solid suggestions here too. Kuzma, man, listen 🙏

Look, any decent bar needs to have diverse music—everything from the classics to the new stuff—especially when you're running things both day and night. That’s the deal. You need a deep library of everything, and then you just have to know how to curate a good set based on the time of day.

Think about your younger crowd for a second. Don't let yourself fall into that trap most people do: playing through those incredibly boring DJs with disastrous transitions (if you're even the one spinning). It’s awful when you go out on a summer night and it's always the same worn-out repertoire. Then you end up with this endless loop of chill-out tracks that everyone thinks works, but it's honestly getting outdated, topped off by spinning about 30 of the same old hits over and over. In that scenario, you're basically just entertaining yourself (and maybe a few people you decide to buy a drink for 😬), while everyone else—especially your regulars—gets bored. On a summer coast like Maui, you'll run into all kinds of people. Trust me, man, I've run bars and cafes for years and I'm constantly out at these spots, so the key is to test a vibe, see how the crowd reacts. People are different at 10 PM than they are at 2 AM, especially during the day when there’s a massive influx of tourists.

In places like Miami, Savannah, or even the smaller coastal towns, the standard is already pretty mediocre: cafes that just try to drown each other out (😱) without offering anything actually good. Most of them just assault your ears, playing the same repetitive house or chill-out sets late at night, before eventually descending into Mickey Mouse, some basic tumba, or total trash. This has been the norm for about ten years now, though thankfully it's slowly dying out. Some places are trying to find a different niche, and you occasionally find a great DJ who can actually get people moving and onto the dance floor. 😁 Long story short: stay diverse. Watch your crowd, see how they respond, and don't just play uninspired "best of" compilations. If you do it right, you might actually create a legendary spot. 😉

Sorry for the wall of text. 🤦

No worries, I appreciate the effort. 😁

I'm trying to keep things broad; I have a pretty extensive music library, I just wasn't sure what fit a cafe setting. From the compilations, I only pulled The Best of Moby; the whole album is great, and I'm sure nobody will mind it. I even dipped my toes into stuff like this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahD8eLX8e84
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zcmdiS1ahlQ

I was thinking about adding:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCM3sNb8fgw as some light morning chill, but I'm still weighing it up.

Because of what you mentioned—the noise wars and the repetitive playlists—I've been trying to avoid that cheap David Guetta style house music. There's way too much of it already, but since so many people keep suggesting it to me, I'm feeling a bit conflicted.
The restaurant playlist is finally finished, and honestly, it’s pretty solid. It was a tough call—you need a massive selection because everyone has such different tastes, and the owner couldn't care less about the specifics as long as the vibe stays right.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tnJ998Trn7g ??

My own taste is all over the place, so I tried to find some kind of middle ground. I highly doubt a nonstop mix of Black Sabbath, Orange Goblin, Bohren & der Club of Gore, and Bee Gees 🤣🤣
would fly here.

Electronic music comes in so many different flavors—you've got everything from pure synth tracks to modern pop and rock infused with electronic elements and those classic vintage machines. There really is a bit of everything out there,
I’m just sitting here waiting for someone to hire me to play sets at a seaside bar somewhere on Maui 😁