DJ Sets

Recently, I have been listening to more and more DJ mixes while programming. The seamless transitions of hours-long sets help me get into Flow and are uplifting to work to. I mostly listened to BBC Radio One's Essential Mix. Here is a tier list of what I have listened to recently, based on my personal preference and suitability for Deep Work.

Ranking

🔴 S tier:

• Daft Punk (1997). This set was my introduction to the Essential Mix (via kottke). It's a driving, varied set that has energised me through many afternoon slumps.

🟠 A tier:

• Tiësto (2014). The Dutch DJ curates some of his favourite Deep House tracks on this mix. It features some catchy melodies and great vocals without being distracting.
• Bonobo (2014 ). A very layered set, with a steady, head-bobbing rhythm as the foundation and jazzy, varied melodies on top.

🟡 B tier:

• Rüfüs Du Sol (2018). For me to get fully into flow, this set's amount of vocals is a bit too distracting. Nonetheless it's a solid and steady mix.
• Ben Böhmer (2021). This set is very chill and atmospheric, and features plenty of piano. It just misses the drive of the beat to push me along.
• Disclosure (2013). The J Dilla section at the start doesn't work for me. But then the set really picks up.

🟢 C tier:

• Jamie xx (2020). I enjoy the start of this mix but eventually it becomes too abstract and strange.
• Four Tet and Jamie xx (2015). Similar to the above, the mix becomes too "out there" for my taste.

🔵 D tier:

• DJ Snake (2014). This set is considered as one of the best Essential Mixes¹, but for me it's just confusing, there is too much going on.
• Nora en Pure (2016). With other Deep House sets ranking high, I would have expected to enjoy this set more. But I found it just too boring.

Other mixes

DJ sets that aren't suited to Deep Work but are still really good.

• Fred Again.. | Boiler Room. There is something special about this set. It's too good to just listen to in the background.²
• Kygo | Live at Sunnmøre Alps, Norway. The location for this mix is just stunning. The visuals are cinematic and the music is uplifting and fun, and both culminate in a wild finale.
• Four Tet, Fred Again.. & Skrillex | Times Square. This is a great set to work out to as the pumping beats of three world-class DJs get you to push that bit harder.

Conclusion

Of course, this "ranking" is completely based on my personal preference. Music is subjective and I have no qualification to actually decide what makes a mix "good" or "bad".

These are my favourites, your mileage may vary. But if Electronic Music is your thing, I hope you have found some new artists to listen to. For an updating list of Essential Mixes I have listened to, have a look at this note.