Local musicians and DJs shine on Boston’s 'Dear Summer: Volume 2' mixtape

Boston's second city sponsored mixtape, “Dear Summer: Volume 2” is live, featuring a new set of artists for 2024.

June Fergus is an intern for “Under the Radar with Callie Crossley.”

Andrea Asuaje is a producer with “Under the Radar with Callie Crossley.”Prior to her work at GBH, she was a senior producer and show runner at Rococo Punch; and a reporter, producer and co-host of WBUR’s radio series and podcast, Kind World.

August 16, 2024

Last year, Boston released “Dear Summer: Volume 1,” the city’s first official summer mixtape, and the country’s only city sponsored one. From hip-hop to rock to jazz, the new platform showcases the talents of local musicians and Boston’s rich musical heritage and legacy. Now, “ Dear Summer: Volume 2” is live, featuring a new set of artists.

“I want people to feel seen. It is discouraging as a creative to put your heart, your soul, your mind, your energy, your being into your art and feel overlooked,” said John M. Borders IV, tourism, sports, and entertainment director for the city of Boston and co-executive producer of the mixtape. “This is a little tip of the hat to say, ‘We see you. We honor you. We love you. Keep rocking.’”

The “Dear Summer” mixtape is a collaboration between both artists and DJs.

“We selected 17 artists first off, and then those artists were tasked with giving us three to five tracks, and then we gave it to the DJs and kind of gave them freedom to stitch those tracks together — be as creative as possible,” said Chimel “ReaL P” Idiokitas, DJ, co-executive producer and curator of “Dear Summer Vol. 2.”

Following the success of last summer’s mixtape, a number of artists expressed interest in a feature on this summer’s iteration.

“This year, it was a lot different because artists were reaching out to us,” Idiokitas said. “‘When is the tape coming out? We really want to be on the tape. Can we be featured?’ And that just shows that we’re doing a good job at creating a platform for these artists and shining a light on their artistic expression.”

Borders hopes to continue the mixtape in future years.

“We’re trying to make this an annual thing,” Borders said. “Boston is full of talent, and you don’t have to leave the city to have an amazing experience, whether it be somebody who was homegrown and local or somebody who is attending Berklee College of Music. We have the most amazing talent right here in our own backyard. And why would we not create a platform to champion those voices, some of whom you know, many of whom you don’t?”

GUESTS

Chimel “ReaL P” Idiokitas, DJ, co-executive producer and curator of “Dear Summer Volume 2.”
John M. Borders IV, tourism, sports, and entertainment director for the city of Boston, co-executive producer of “Dear Summer Volume 2.”