Monday Mixtape: Julia Steiner of Ratboys

The Sea and Cake, Missy Elliott, Jack's Mannequin, and more

Monday Mixtape is another path towards music discovery, featuring people whose taste I admire answering a series of questions and prompts with songs (which might change from time to time).

Chicago indie band Ratboys have been around for a minute, and it’s my bad that I only recently got into them, because they’re really, really good. Their latest album, Singin’ To An Empty Chair is both vulnerable and earnest and also calming and soothing at the same time (album as Xanax). It’s cornballs to say, but there’s something about listening to it that lulls my nervous system into remembering that actually not only is it okay for me to be earnest goes to camp myself, it’s actually what creates a more emotionally expansive and rich life (echoing their emotionally expansive and rich music). Anyway I’ll be heading out now to meditate atop cringe mountain.

Here’s lead singer and guitarist Julia Steiner’s Monday Mixtape:

Julia Steiner
Virgo Sun, Leo Moon, Sag Rising
currently on tour, but Chicago is home

How do you find/discover music?

Stereogum, newsletters like this & Josh Terry’s No Expectations, r/indieheads, my bandmates putting on records in the van, a Music League I’m in (that’s been going for 5+ years now!), buying random cassettes at record stores

What was the first song you put on when you woke up this morning?

“Jacking the Ball” by The Sea and Cake.. and then let the whole album ride. Every Sea and Cake record is excellent. Great for long drives

What song have you listened to more than once this past week?

“Lose Control” by Missy Elliott ft. Ciara & Fatman Scoop. We’ve been playing this as our “walk-off” song each night when we finish our set.. it feels like the perfect exclamation point at the end of a rockin show. It blows my mind that Missy produced this, she’s such a genius

What is a recent song you think everyone should know about?

“The Sound It Made” by Robber Robber. One of the most compelling “Track 1’s” I’ve heard in a long time.. The whole record is really cool & I’m excited to get to know it more

A song off your workout playlist:

I wish I worked out :( But back when I briefly belonged to a gym in 2012 it was “Blodtørst” by Kvelertak

What song can you do at karaoke without looking at the tv screens?

Being radically honest here, “Where Is The Love?” by The Black Eyed Peas. I’ve tried to forget the lyrics after all these years, but alas… it’s the cross I bear. (ed note: Here’s the thing…BEP have bangers)

Song you associate with being 13 years old:

“The Mixed Tape” by Jack’s Mannequin. I used to listen to Everything In Transit every single day on the way to 8th grade. God bless my mom for putting up with me

A good lake song:

“People’s League” by Fishplate. This whole album! Absolutely essential summertime record outta NOLA. Honorable mention goes to “At Least There’s Beer”

What song do you listen to when you want a lobotomy?

“Sympathy is a knife” by Charli XCX. That chorus vocal melody straight up alters my brain chemistry. Alt option (I guess I’m getting two lobotomies): “I Want to Be Well” by Sufjan Stevens. Listening to this song feels like pulling apart my heart and brain and putting them back together again (a good thing). I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: I’ll be ready when it’s time for the Sufjan Bandsplain. Bang my line. (ed note: You’re on the shortlist)

What song do you use to indulge your wallowing?

“It’s Okay” by Land of Talk. Nothing else like it.

What song do you use to renew your spirit?

“¡Que Llueva!” by Juana Molina. This whole record, all of her records! Juana gives me life!

What is your favorite cover song?

“Poor Poor Pitiful Me” by Linda Ronstadt. Linda took the god awful third verse in Warren Zevon’s original and not only rewrote it to make it better but made it the best part of the whole song. Well except for all those fuckin roto-tom hits, which get me hyped like nothing else. I wanna drink a beer with this cover. Love you Linda.

What song would you like to hear just before you die?

“Shade and Honey” by Sparklehorse. I’ll die happy.

All the songs on Julia’s Monday Mixtape live HERE