Carly Kneppers has a fantastic name. No, seriously, say it out loud: that felt kinda good, right? Carly is a friend of a friend of a friend of mine, and in classic SF fashion, we have never met in person, yet follow each other on every social network possible. For what it's worth? She takes phenomenal photos. And (more relevant point) has phenomenal music taste, in my humble opinion (which I refuse to abbreviate). 

Carly works for a (wait for it) tech startup and (wait for it) spends all of her money on concerts and rent (hooray "SF Lifestyle that everyone can relate to!"). I'm not making fun, I'm just starting to notice a hilarious (and also frightening) pattern. She has done what so few of us could and has resisted the siren's call to move to the Mission. She has an aggressive collection of sunglasses that she's purchased at road-trip gas stations (I've seen them on Instagram, this is true) and a ton of fancy hats picked up from illustrious fashion houses like Fred Meyers in Idaho Falls. 

Carly's mix is ballsy, and I effing love her for doing it: it's an honest display of her love of a good pop song.

"Diamonds and Rhinestones is part of a Dolly Parton quote butchered terribly. But, it's my approach to songs I like. I've come to appreciate that really good pop songs are awesome for a reason and for all our hipster SF tendencies, we too fall sway to a catchy song. But the fantastic part is - we don't to go full Bieber. There are a lot of brilliant 'indie' (Gah I hate that word) bands that have hordes of fans in skinny jeans and heavy framed glasses who rock the crap out of some dancey tunes that are as sweet as the whiskey ginger you are elbowing your way to the bar for. More importantly though, the mix ends with Balmorhea. Because everyone needs to go see Balmorhea live and get your mind blown."

This is Diamonds Amidst Rhinestones. 

(Stream the whole thing over on Spotify here.)

1. Dan Croll - From Nowhere

2. CHVRCHES - The Mother We Share

3. Paper Diamond - Take Your Time

4. Tegan And Sara - Closer

5. Ghost Beach - Miracle

6. Purity Ring - Ungirthed

7. Future Islands - Balance

8. Teen Daze - The Future

9. Blackbird Blackbird - Hawaii (Niva Remix)

10. Soko - We Might Be Dead By Tomorrow

11. Balmorhea - Dived

* "Random picture that probably has nothing to do with this mixtape, but Carly's lazy" taken by Carly Kneppers