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Soundtrack for Service: Curating In-Store Playlists with Memphis Kee and Indie Artists

ddelis

2026-02-07 12:00:00

10 min read

Use Memphis Kee and Nat & Alex Wolff to craft mood-driven in-store playlists for every service hour — practical templates, tech tips, and 2026 trends.

Hook: Stop guessing — build playlists that sell

If your in-store music feels like a random shuffle, customers notice. Wrong tempo at lunch can shorten visits; too moody at breakfast can chase morning regulars away. For food businesses in 2026, music is not background noise — it’s an operational tool that shapes ambience, average check, and staff energy across service hours. This guide shows how to use recent releases from Memphis Kee and Nat & Alex Wolff — plus complementary indie artists — to build mood-driven playlists tuned to each service period.

Why in-store music matters in 2026

Recent industry trends through late 2025 and early 2026 pushed the hospitality world toward smarter audio. Better business-music platforms now support daypart scheduling, metadata mood tags, and simple integrations with POS systems. Consumers expect attention to ambience — and operators who shape the sound intentionally see measurable benefits: higher dwell times, improved guest satisfaction, and smoother service flows.

At delis.live we ran in-store sound audits during 2025 across independent delis and sandwich shops. When managers swapped ad-hoc playlists for curated, service-hour-aware mixes, many reported faster table turnover during peak lunch and longer stays during relaxed dinner services. Music isn't a magic bullet, but done right it amplifies food and service.

Understanding the sonic personalities: Memphis Kee and Nat & Alex Wolff

Both acts released notable records in January 2026, and each brings distinct vibes you can deploy by time of day.

Memphis Kee — grounded, brooding Americana

Memphis Kee's Dark Skies (Jan 16, 2026) leans into a brooding, cinematic Americana sound — reverb-drenched guitars, mid-tempo grooves, and lyrical weight. As Kee told Rolling Stone in January 2026, “The world is changing… Me as a dad, husband, and bandleader… have all changed,” which comes through in songs that are contemplative but not oppressive.

“The world is changing… Me as a dad, husband, and bandleader… have all changed.” — Memphis Kee (Rolling Stone, Jan 16, 2026)

Use Kee’s material for atmosphere in evening service, slow-casual lunches, and days when you want to create a warm, introspective mood.

Nat & Alex Wolff — eclectic, intimate indie-pop

Their self-titled release (Jan 16, 2026) blends off-the-cuff charm with layered pop and intimate storytelling. Tracks vary from bouncy and jangly to vulnerable and hushed. The Wolffs are ideal for mid-morning to early-dinner windows when you want to feel contemporary, human, and a little playful.

Service-period playbook: moods, mechanics, and playlist recipes

Below are tested templates for every major service period. Each includes the recommended mood, how to sequence Memphis Kee and Nat & Alex Wolff tracks, complementary artist types, and technical notes.

1. Early Morning / Breakfast (6:00–9:30)

Goal: Wake up the room gently — clear, optimistic, low intensity.

Mood: Warm, acoustic, gentle optimism.
Where to use Kee & Wolff: Use low-dynamics Wolff tracks (acoustic, lightly percussive) to open. Avoid Kee’s densest, most brooding cuts until after 10:00.
Complementary artists: Jack Johnson, Iron & Wine, early Hozier (acoustic), Lucy Dacus.
Tempo: 70–95 BPM; mostly acoustic instrumentation.
Technical: Short crossfades (3–6s), volume target 62–68 dB measured at customer ear level. Schedule a gradual volume rise for the first 20 minutes to match incoming foot traffic.

2. Brisk Midday / Lunch (11:00–14:00)

Goal: Keep energy high enough to move turnover while staying pleasant for diners.

Mood: Upbeat indie, confident rhythms, singable hooks.
Where to use Kee & Wolff: Favor mid-tempo Wolff songs with lively hooks. Introduce Kee selectively — choose tracks with a forward groove rather than the quiet, reflective numbers.
Complementary artists: Sylvan Esso, The Shins, Local Natives, Vampire Weekend (select tracks).
Tempo: 95–120 BPM; clear rhythmic drive.
Technical: Shorter playlists loops (90–120 minutes). Keep background level around 65–72 dB; ensure staff can hear guests without shouting. Use daypart scheduling to return to calmer sets after peak lunch ends.

3. Afternoon / Coffee & Remote Work (14:30–17:00)

Goal: Support focus and lingerers — a calm, textured backdrop for laptops and conversations.

Mood: Ambient indie, soft dynamics, harmonic interest.
Where to use Kee & Wolff: Lean into Kee’s gentler instrumental textures and Wolff’s hushed ballads. Instrumental versions or low-vocal mixes work particularly well.
Complementary artists: Bon Iver, Sufjan Stevens (select), Arlo Parks, Keaton Henson.
Tempo: 60–90 BPM; mellow but warm.
Technical: Longer crossfades (6–10s) and dynamic range compression to keep levels even for laptop listeners.

4. Pre-dinner / Happy Hour (16:30–19:00)

Goal: Build anticipation, create social energy without overwhelming service.

Mood: Slightly flirtatious, groove-forward, elevated indie-pop.
Where to use Kee & Wolff: Rotate upbeat Wolff tracks and Kee cuts that carry a smoky groove. This is a time to highlight rhythmic elements — bass and percussion — in Kee’s production.
Complementary artists: The Black Keys (select), Khruangbin, Leon Bridges.
Tempo: 100–125 BPM; mid-to-up energy.
Technical: Slightly higher volume (68–74 dB) and sync music cues to service shifts — e.g., louder for social zones, lower in dining areas.

5. Dinner (19:00–22:30)

Goal: Create an immersive, memorable dining ambience — music should enhance conversation, not compete with it.

Mood: Cinematic, textured, emotionally resonant.
Where to use Kee & Wolff: This is Memphis Kee’s natural home. Use full-bodied Kee tracks from Dark Skies placed mid-to-late in the set to deepen mood. Intermix Wolff’s intimate numbers to keep the sound human and immediate.
Complementary artists: Big Thief, Phoebe Bridgers, Nick Drake (select), Waxahatchee.
Tempo: 60–100 BPM; lower overall energy, slower harmonic motion.
Technical: Longer sets (2–3 hours) with careful calisthenics: start subtly, peak early in the meal, then cool down. Target 62–68 dB and keep loudness consistent across tracks using a LUFS target (around -14 LUFS is a common streaming target; adapt for in-store playback so voices remain dominant).

6. Late Night Lift / Bar Service (22:00–02:00)

Goal: Encourage lingering, dancing, social energy where appropriate.

Mood: Edgier, groove-heavy, confident.
Where to use Kee & Wolff: Select Kee tracks with driving backbeats and Wolff tracks with higher tempo or remixed versions. Blend in more beat-forward indie and alt-soul.
Complementary artists: Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Tame Impala (select), Leon Bridges (up-tempo cuts).
Tempo: 110–135 BPM; more dynamic range permitted.
Technical: Volume can rise but be mindful of local noise ordinances. Use playlist banks to shift from dining-friendly to late-night sets at a clear schedule trigger.

Playlist construction: practical, repeatable method

Follow this step-by-step routine to craft playlists that fit your brand and service flow.

Define the mood for the service hour in one sentence (e.g., “Warm, conversational, slightly nostalgic”).
Choose anchors — 3–5 songs that absolutely must be in that set (use at least one Memphis Kee and one Nat & Alex Wolff track if they match the mood).
Build support tracks around anchors: 40–60% complementary indie tracks, 20–30% local artists or seasonal specials, 10–20% surprises (covers, instrumentals).
Sequence for dynamics: Start low, build to a peak in the middle, then cool down. Use energy and vocal density as your primary sequencing variables.
Implement crossfades and EQ to avoid harsh transitions between Kee’s cinematic reverb and Wolff’s bright indie-pop.
Test and iterate — run a playlist for a week, gather staff feedback and POS correlations (average check, dwell time), then tweak.

Legal & operational checklist (short and essential)

Use licensed business-music services — consumer streaming accounts are not legal for commercial play. Consider providers that offer daypart scheduling and reporting.
Document performance licenses — keep receipts for PROs (ASCAP/BMI/SESAC or local equivalents) and streaming licenses.
Log playlists for event or private function requests; customers often ask for curated mixes for catering and off-site events.
Monitor volume with smartphone SPL apps and set staff guidelines for conversational intelligibility.

Advanced strategies for 2026 and beyond

As of 2026, smaller ops can access tools previously limited to large chains. Here are high-leverage tactics:

Dynamic daypart switching: Use POS triggers (shift start, 11:00 switch) to automatically load the right playlist bank rather than relying on manual switching. For low-latency, edge-aware patterns see Edge Containers & Low-Latency Architectures.
Data-driven refinement: Correlate playlist variants with POS metrics. Over a month, test two dinner playlists (Kee-heavy vs. Wolff-forward) and compare average check and item mix.
Local artist co-curation: Pair Memphis Kee/Wolff tracks with local bands to strengthen community ties and offer exclusive promos for in-store playlists — ask bands for instrumental stems or café-friendly edits.
AI-assisted mood tagging: Use mood-analysis features available in business-music platforms to auto-tag tracks by tempo, instrumentation, and lyrical intensity. Then filter sets by mood instead of manually hunting songs.
Event and catering templates: Create 3–5 templated playlists for weddings, corporate catering, and brunch packages — label them by mood and service hours to sell as add-ons.

Sample playlist outlines you can copy (90–120 minute sets)

Below are six templates by service period. Use them as starting points; swap in specific Memphis Kee and Nat & Alex Wolff tracks where indicated.

Breakfast Calm (6:00–8:30) — 18 songs: 35% acoustic Wolff, 10% Kee (quiet tracks), 55% mellow indie/acoustic.
Lunch Breeze (11:00–13:30) — 22 songs: 30% Wolff upbeat tracks, 10% Kee mid-groove, 60% indie pop/alt.
Afternoon Focus (14:30–17:00) — 20 songs: 20% Kee ambient, 20% Wolff soft ballads, 60% downtempo indie/folk.
Pre-dinner Groove (16:30–19:00) — 24 songs: 25% Kee groove cuts, 25% Wolff mid-tempo, 50% soul/alt-jazz-infused indie.
Dinner Immersion (19:00–22:30) — 30 songs: 40% Kee cinematic/slow, 30% Wolff intimate, 30% melancholic/texture-rich indie.
Late Night Lift (22:00–02:00) — 25 songs: 30% uptempo Wolff or remixes, 20% Kee groove remixes, 50% danceable indie/alt.

Quick troubleshooting — common issues and fixes

Issue: Diners complain music is too loud. Fix: Measure SPL at table height, reduce 3–5 dB, and lower vocal-forward tracks by -1.5 dB.
Issue: Music feels disjointed between shifts. Fix: Add 2–3 transition tracks with similar instrumentation to bridge mood changes.
Issue: Staff can’t hear customers. Fix: Create staff-only equalizer presets that slightly attenuate midrange frequencies during peak service.

Experience note: what we learned from delis.live audits

From our 2025–2026 audits, two patterns stood out. First, consistency beats variety: guests respond better to predictable daypart soundscapes than to eclectic randomness. Second, anchored playlists — those that consistently feature familiar songs (a Kee dinner track or a Wolff mid-tempo single) — helped staff and regulars alike orient to service expectations. That small repetition makes your music feel like part of your brand.

Final tips: keep the human in the loop

Even with AI mood tags and dynamic scheduling, human input matters. Ask your staff for weekly notes, rotate guest-curator nights once a month, and keep at least one “house” song per service that anchors the playlist emotionally. Music is a living part of your identity — use Memphis Kee and Nat & Alex Wolff to tell your story through sound.

Call to action

Ready to turn playlists into profit? Download our free, editable playlist packs (breakfast, lunch, dinner, late-night) at delis.live/playlists — each includes suggested Memphis Kee and Nat & Alex Wolff placements, volume targets, and crossfade settings. Want a custom in-store music audit? Contact our team to book a 30-minute consultation and get a one-week trial playlist tailored to your service hours and signature menu items.

delis

Contributor

Senior editor and content strategist. Writing about technology, design, and the future of digital media. Follow along for deep dives into the industry's moving parts.

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