The Beat Will Always Save Us vol 2, Art by Rah Zen and Samo

For the past two years, Nightworks has led the local beat scene by providing a platform for local producers, beatmakers, and enthusiasts to get together, collaborate, celebrate, and share their mutual appreciation for this genre that dwells at the lively intersection of hip-hop, electronic, and jazz. We’ve previewed some of their shows in the past, not to mention our interview with the events founder, Rah Zen, a locally-raised producer who released his sophomore LP this past summer. 

The mixtape kicks off with a live recording of a Nightworks attendees giving testimonials about how they got into the series and what they love about it. The tape is comprised entirely of folks who have played Nightworks before; among them, the vast majority are local to Boston: curator Rah Zen of course makes an appearance, as do Dephrase (part of the duo Optic Bloom), Loman (owner of Union Sound in Somerville’s Bow Market), Lightfoot, wowflower, and so many more (check out a full tracklist below). 

Nightworks vol 2 tracklist

It’s easily one of the best-flowing, best-curated compilation mixtapes that comes to mind from recent years, and while listening, you definitely get a sense of the cohesive mindset that persists in this little slice of Boston’s music scene. It also includes a track by Daedelus, the Los Angeles-based producer who has recently been kicking in the Bean after getting a position at Berklee College of Music (a huge acquisition to the Boston beat scene for those who might not know!). 

To coincide with the mixtape’s drop, on Saturday 12/7, Nightworks will celebrate its second anniversary at Backlash Beer Co. featuring performances by Daedelus, Obuxum, Wylie Cable, and more, as well as a few pop-ups from local businesses and organizations. It’s been quite a ride for those two years, and the event’s founder, Rah Zen, is excited to keep the momentum moving forward in the next decade. “The Nightworks community has grown so fast in just two years, and its impact on beat culture in Boston is palpable, so we plan to continue cultivating and building here. The launch of our website, live stream, second compilation album, and official merch is a great way to end our second year and begin our third.” There’s plenty more to come from this dedicated slice of local culture. 

Stream The Beat Will Always Save Us Vol. 2 below! The mixtape will also be available as a limited edition cassette tape at Newbury Comics in the near future, so keep an eye out!