I have a playlist for everything. A good late-night drive, studying for an exam, hitting the gym – you name it, I have a playlist for it. I used to add all my favorite songs to one chunky playlist and call it a day. But we all know different songs have different vibes, and not all of them mesh together to get that same sound you’re vying for when trying to curate the perfect playlist.
So what do you need to do to create the perfect playlist? First, start by figuring out what you want the vibe to be. Normally I find pictures to make a mood board out of it. This is my favorite part and can take a while, but have fun with it. Get creative! This step is important because it helps to figure out the sound based on the colors and the feel of the mood board. For example, I have been on an alternative rock kick lately, so this would fit with dark greens or reds.
The next step would be to find some songs you already know you want in your new playlist. It does not have to be a lot, it could just be two or three. This is where my allegiance to Spotify comes from: the recommended songs based on the songs currently in your new playlist. I would not be where I am today without this feature; it is an absolute lifesaver. Also, use your Discover Weekly playlist that Spotify autogenerates for you every Monday! Using that playlist and other recommendations is fun because it opens the doors to many new artists with great music. I will spend hours cycling through these new artists and other artists found on their Spotify pages. In short, find a few songs you like, add them to your playlist, and go to those artists’ pages and listen to the recommended artists on their pages, and so on. It’s a long rabbit hole to fall down!
While it can be a lengthy process, I have so many fun playlists because of it, and I am constantly listening to new music! If you are ever bored of listening to the same five songs until you’re sick of hearing them, give this a try – it is very therapeutic!