Stop using algorithms to discover new music

Alternative ways to find new music that aren't your Discover Weekly playlist

I’m trying to break up with Spotify. We’ve had a relationship for over a decade now, but in recent months I’ve started to feel a nagging instinct. I think it’s time we called it quits.

I think a lot of my disdain comes from a slow realization that the internet is an entirely different place than it was 10 years ago. You no longer have to seek out content in online spaces. Almost every app (because websites aren’t really a thing anymore) features its own endless feed of content curated “just for you.” Spotify is no exception to this.

Spotify presents us with the privilege to access a seemingly infinite catalogue of songs and artists that are available to us on demand. Their algorithm-driven discovery and radio features allow us to tune into a never-ending stream of sonic gorp. When your selected playlist or album ends, Spotify’s algorithm automatically suggests “similar” content, and it literally never stops. It feels impossible to run out of music to listen to. Streaming has become a sport, our listening habits gamified so Spotify’s AI can slot us into alliterative categories that we share with each other on our Instagram stories. We passively indulge in streaming for the sake of wracking up minutes for our Spotify Wrapped reports every December.

I can’t help but feel skeptical when it seems so clear to me that these tech companies are desperately trying to keep our attention in a chokehold. I have felt my consumption of music become stagnant and overindulgent with time. My ears are bloated, stuffed thick with playlists and discographies of artists I don’t even pay any mind to. I’ve started to question whether my preferences are influencing these algorithms, or if these algorithms are influencing my preferences.

What listening to music should feel like.

I disabled the radio feature on Spotify about a year ago and it was helpful for a while. It was nice to be met with silence at the end of an album or playlist, because it meant I either had to take a break from listening to music, or make an intentional decision of what to put on next. However, I found that I was just listening to the same things over and over again, because eventually I wasn’t listening to anything that was new to me.

I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about how to find new music outside the confines of online algorithms. I compiled a list of these ideas to share with you, with the caveat that most of them require a healthy dose of self-motivation and curiosity. Research is an important skill that we can’t afford to lose, especially when the internet continues to mutate into an increasingly technofascist landscape. At the end of the day, I’m just a gal that really loves music, and I want to consume it with intention whenever possible.

Artist Playlists

Let’s start on Easy Mode. Though Spotify is loaded with algorithmic suggestions, there are still ways to find new music on your own on the platform. A lot of your favourite artists probably already have playlists that they personally curated on their profile.

Some artist playlists I like include Cameron Winter’s “ASSTRONOMY 202,” Numero Group’s “Eccentric Detriot Soul,” Hers’ “Ear Tapas,” and Big Thief’s “100%.” The Row also puts out an exceptional monthly curation that I highly recommend checking out.

Seek out artist interviews and web-based content

I love listening to my favourite artists talk about the art that they consume. Amoeba Records’ “What’s In My Bag?” series is a well-known example of this. Perfectly Imperfect regularly features recommendations from up-and-coming musicians, actors, internet figures, etc. You can also dig deep into the YouTube archives in search of old, obscure interviews with your favourite artists talking about art. Like I just found a video of Allen Ginsberg, Philip Glass, and David Byrne with a ponytail discussing the genius of Arthur Russell.

I also find a lot of new releases from online forums.

Check out your local campus radio station

I highly encourage you to tune into your local radio stations every now and then. There’s something about listening to a broadcast that feels incredibly grounding to me. Every time I put on my town’s university station I hear something new and cool. Take a chance on your local college music nerd disc jockey. They’re probably much cooler than you.

Setlist.fm

Setlist.fm is home to an online archive of almost 10,000,000 setlists, which feels like every concert that has ever happened. It’s an extremely useful platform for people who like to seek out spoilers and over prepare for everything (sometimes I am this person).

What I find most useful about this site, however, has nothing to do with the setlists themselves. Setlist.fm archives a whole bunch of information about past concerts, including dates, venues, and, most notably, line-ups. This is the key here! You can search up essentially any show your favourite artists have ever played, and find the artists that played with them, as either opening acts or co-headliners. When your favourite musicians are from decades past, this feels like especially valuable information. Think of how many obscure groups have been lost to the passage of time!

A couple years back, I found a group called The Peanut Butter Conspiracy (yes, that’s actually their name) because they played a series of shows with Jefferson Airplane at Whisky A Go Go in 1966.

Join a Music League

Music League is a web app for sharing music with friends (or strangers!) in an approachable, somewhat competitive environment. I’ve been singing the praises of Music League ever since one of my pals invited me to join his league a couple years ago, and have since organized a few myself. It’s a really fun way to engage with new music, expand your listening horizons, and reflect on your own library. It also provides the opportunity to build community and engage with your friends and loved ones through chat and comment features. Check out their User Guide for some more specifics on how to actually do the dang thing. It’s worth checking out!

Go to the library

It’s important to visit your local library for a multitude of reasons, but for the sake of my time and yours, I will stay on topic. The catch for this is that you will need some way to play CDs. If you’re lucky enough to have access to a car that still has a CD player in it, you’re good to go! I was gifted an Apple external CD drive eons ago (I don’t even think they make these anymore) because I used to burn CDs for every possible occasion. I’m pretty sure they’re easy to source at most electronic stores. If you can avoid buying one off Am*zon that would be rad.

Anyways, back to the library! Go to your local branch on a day off, when you have some time to peruse. We’re doing this roulette style. I want you to pick some stuff out blindly. I like to look for names that I vaguely recognize, cover art that piques my interest, weird compilations with a couple songs I already know, or album titles that remind me of recommendations from years’ past. Don’t search them up, don’t look for reviews. Spend some time listening through them and figuring out whether or not you enjoy them.

Watch more movies

Go to the movies! Support your local theatre! Rummage through the DVDs at your neighbourhood thrift store! There are so many incredible movie soundtracks out there! I always find inspiration in revisiting a Wes Anderson or Sofia Coppola film (the Marie Antoinette soundtrack changed my life).

I’m also going to extend this one to television programs, because there are some shows out there that famously have fantastic music supervision (The Sopranos, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and The O.C. come to mind for me).

Radiooooo

Radiooooo is one of the coolest websites/apps floating around the internet. I first found it almost 10 years ago, when it was still in beta, and I’m so thrilled that it’s still kicking around. Radiooooo is a global, community-sourced music time machine. You select a country, a decade, and a tempo, and it churns out a stream of music. All the music on the platform is community uploaded.

Have conversations with the people in your life! Ask your family members, friends, coworkers, barista, a random stranger, etc.

This is the best way. I don’t really think I have to explain this one. Just ask someone that you think is cool for an album rec. You don’t even have to know the guy.

Me! (lol surprise)

I’m going to start using this little platform to share monthly music recommendations. Some of it will be old, some of it will be new, but all of it will be devoid of any influence from capital interests or corporate algorithms. It’ll just be me finding stuff I like as organically as possible and sharing it with you. :D