The great 1980s American philosopher Ferris Bueller once said, “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.”

Part of the “stopping and looking around” in our lives is the need to simply have fun. Fun breaks us free of the mundane and boring routines. It’s a short getaway that refreshes the soul. Souls get just as tired as bodies do, so having a bit of fun can be very rejuvenating at home and at work.

Another great American philosopher, Coolio, once said, “Life is too short to not have fun; we are only here for a short time compared to the sun and the moon and all that.” Based on this transcendental wisdom, Designer Tyler Fonville is ready to turn up the fun to 11 with our newest Spire on Spotify Playlist, Vol. 25: Funville.

What is the name of your album?

A-h-h-h-h, the name. Well, considering that my last name is actually “Fonville,” it’s been historically derivative for others to call me “Funville” when coming up with something else to call me lol. So, here we are! A very fun album name for a very fun album!

How would you describe this mix?

Simply put, “house jamz”—and yes, you spell that with a Z, baby. It has fast ups and gentle downs to keep your brain vibing. There’s deep bass mixed in with a bit of guitar, and atmospheric vocals guide you through the river of time.

What was the inspiration behind it?

I like to host parties and events at my place, and I always need music to keep the atmosphere full of energy when the guests aren’t so inclined. I wanted to create a playlist that built a good background vibe, so the first thought I had was to copy and paste the original Dance Dance Revolution (DDR) playlist! What a classic. Perfectly retro, unique, and full of energy. I built the album around select DDR songs with some chill stuff in there, too, to balance everything out. When the rhythm is right, the people are happy! It’s a real vibe.

What is your favorite song, and why?

It’s a bit too difficult to find a favorite song here, but I guess it could be “Power Power.” The beat is there, the words are perfectly hard to understand but you know they’re there, and it can be played at any point in the album.

If your playlist was a brand, what would it be and why?

100% Konami, the producers of the mall classic, Dance Dance Revolution. Konami played a key role in my childhood since they helped create many of the games my friends and I played endlessly on the weekends. Konami’s game aesthetic goes between somber and high-octane energy. I chose the energy this time .

Any specific memory that comes to mind when you listen?

Most of the memories come from my childhood when we used to play DDR and Super Smash. A friend’s house was a safe place for me; we’d play board games, shoot stuff, build stuff, eat stuff, and most importantly, play video games. My friend’s basement had everything a kid could want! He had the TV, PCs, board games, a fridge full of popsicles, and a foosball table. Good times!

What makes your playlist unique?

I believe that what makes this playlist unique is how my past influenced how I vetted the tracks. It may also be unique in that it diversifies Spire’s Spotify profile as a whole. Rather than catering to a general audience of office-dwellers needing to get things done, this playlist may be polarizing due to the mix of repetitive beats and chill vocals.

Thanks, Tyler. No one writes these blog posts quite like you. We may need to tip our proofreader after this one. (Editor’s Note: I vibe with this idea.) But hey, your DDR playlist is A-OK. Stay tuned to the Spire Blog and Spotify Channel for the release of our next fun album.