Review: A Rakista’s 90s Mixtapes by Danna Rose

Author Danna Rose delivers a spot-on dive into the struggle of teenage life in the Philippines with her first novel, A Rakista’s 90s Mixtapes. What begins as a youthful fling of garage band aspirations becomes the real deal, with real consequences, record deals, broken hearts, and a surprising number of dramatic twists.

Evie is like many other protagonists of heartfelt coming-of-age novels, but also incredibly unique, accurately referenced as an “odd boy.” The foundational loss of her father shapes her character in countless ways, most obviously her obsession with all things related to music. How that love and loss are alchemized into her relationships with the members of Selfmade Echo, particularly Kiko, is what gives this book such a strongly beating heart.

A romantic triangle with a lyricist, composer, and manager is a unique premise, but readers will recognize the complex romantic dynamics from other romance-fueled tales. There are awkward but expected conversations dripping with teenage angst, yet the authenticity of these young manifestations of love is undeniably appealing and nostalgic. What does stick out is Evie’s ability to disarm and manage these four young men; she is an insightful listener, with a wildly sharp wit, well-placed compassion, and a bold confidence that shines on the page.

Regarding the broader story, the arc of struggle, unexpected success, growing pains, and crisis resolutions in the life of a rock band is not an especially unique trajectory, but the roots of these characters set the novel apart. Navigating poverty, personal conflict, and rampant self-doubt, as well as the universal challenge of being noticed in a packed ocean of other bands, these rising stars are shown in vulnerable and uncompromising lights. The narrative rush of popular culture references, and the colloquial language that made its way to the Philippines in the 90s, makes the dialogue immersive and enveloping. The inclusion of so many words and phrases in Filipino further highlights the blending of cultures, motivations, melodies, and ambitions of this generation.

Some of the best parts of Rose’s writing are the impassioned passages about music, calling to mind Chuck Klosterman or Hanif Abdurraqib, while managing to fold this narrative throughline into the charming and anecdotal parts of Evie’s character. Small snippets of wisdom reverberate long after you turn the page, rather than seeming like a magazine article forced into a work of fiction. The story hums with electricity because it never loses sight of its ultimate point throughout all the drama: that music is beautiful and makes life worth living.

On a technical level, there are very few grammatical errors to note, showing this to be a carefully edited work, but there are quite a few drawn-out conversations that grow repetitive, and tighter scenes would keep the pace from dragging. Some of the more intense scenes also feel overexplained, losing some of their impact, such as when Ryan fires a half-naked Evie after a drunken night in bed with Arlo.

Despite these small stylistic critiques, this lyrical reflection on loss and love is a wholly original rockstar saga.