By Tess Prins
Following My Heart
Living My Destiny
People often ask me what it’s like to curate music for Creation. For me, it starts with a question: how would this season sound if it were food? How would it smell if it were a plant, a flower, an aroma floating through from the kitchen? That question sets the tone for every playlist I build.
Starting With a Blank Slate
Each season, the chefs design a new menu, and I’m handed a brief. My job as Creation’s music curator is to build a four-hour “harvest” of sound – a playlist that complements the dishes, the wines, and the mood of the room. It’s about creating an audio journey that feels as intentional as the food itself.
The Spring Challenge
This spring, the brief called for birdsong and ocean sounds. On paper that sounds simple, but in practice it was one of the hardest tasks I’ve faced. There’s no shortage of nature recordings, but very few that blend seamlessly into a long playlist without breaking the flow. Too much birdsong can become distracting; too much ocean and it loses its charm.
Tools of the Trade
This is where technology saves me. I rely on a mix of algorithms and manual listening to sift through many clips, test combinations, and smooth transitions. It’s a lot of trial and error: listening back, adjusting, and layering sounds until it feels effortless.
My Goal
Every season I want guests to feel completely immersed – not just eating and drinking, but experiencing the full 360 degrees of Creation. Each playlist is a quiet labour of love, curated so that no single sound stands out but the whole atmosphere feels alive.
About DJ Tess Prins: Tess has worked with international performers including the Black Eyed Peas, Norah Jones and Wyclef Jean. She has compiled playlists for hotels, restaurants and bars worldwide, from Chicago to St Tropez, from the Hamptons to the Hemel-en-Aarde! Her sets cover a broad range of genres that span a 25+ year collection.