The story behind the playlist: I spent most of this summer near the ocean, drawn to the waves, and their serenity, and their grandeur. I found myself listening to a lot of trance, and a lot of rave pop, genres that mirrored this dreamlike atmosphere perfectly. TDJ and Vitesse X’s “Into Dream” became the title track for the issue, with its lazy, hypnotic quality, powered by an undercurrent of a club banger. The track felt exactly like that initial splash of ocean on the skin: soft, timeless, and comforting. For Saya Date’s profile, INNA’s “Amazing” was the obvious choice. It has the signature club dance nostalgia mixed with a tropical, carefree feel, and Saya’s spontaneous, risk-taking nature shines through in this track. That said, Robyn’s phenomenal “Send To Robin Immediately” was just as obvious, because this is the song I listened to all the time while I lived with Saya, and I therefore had to include it as well. Clare Zhang’s profile needed something whimsical but thoughtful, and “Forever 2 (Crush Mix)” by Confidence Man and DJ Boring nailed it. The playful, video game-like production and light melody remind me of Clare’s digital art: fun and accessible, yet never shallow. It’s a track that balances introspection with joy, just like Clare herself. Alvaro Morales is a big fan of The xx, so Romy’s “Did I” felt like a natural fit for his profile. It has that ravey, nostalgic summer vibe that suits his down-to-earth and cool personality. The song’s reflective nature mirrors how Alvaro brings warmth, ease, and taste to everything that he does. For Adriana Ciccone, I wanted something charmingly offbeat, much like her. The Knife’s “Pass This On,” with its iconic steel drums reminiscent of Trinidad and Tobago, its unorthodox lyrics, and its subversive music video, captures Adriana’s essence. It doesn’t conform to expectations but instead carves out its own cool space—just like she does. Finally, for Stephanie Wang’s profile, I couldn’t decide between “True” by Sega Bodega and “Light Disguise” by CFCF, so I went with both. “True,” with its angelic choir in the second half of the song, reminds me of the college Steph, when we bonded over Crystal Castles and when we exuded indie sleaze, and “Light Disguise,” breezy and optimistic, feels like the Steph I know today: adventurous, outdoorsy, and just as witty as before.