Let”s be honest – the internet has forever changed the ways we find new music. While this could be means for a rant about the death of true art, blah blah blah, I see this as an exciting and inevitable transition. Let”s take advantage of this ever-growing music abyss and find the best means to sift your way to your next jam.
8tracks
I discovered 8tracks.com in the winter of 2013, and our love affair has only grown. Put simply, you can listen to millions of playlists created by people who know and love music, and it”s all free.
The website is incredibly easy to navigate – all you do is type in the bar that reads, “What kind of music do you want to hear?” and it doesn”t have to be a genre. You can string together a plethora of keywords. For example, “angry,” “workout” and “Eminem” would lead you to a number of playlists categorized by popularity or newness (your choice) that include songs by Eminem and similar artists that can help you get that angry workout out of your system.
Over time, your “feed,” which shows up on your homepage if you sign up for a free account, will suggest playlists for you based off playlists you”ve previously liked or other members whose playlists you consistently check out.
However, you do not need to sign up for an account to listen to playlists – only if you want to make some of your own.
8tracks is my favorite medium for finding new music for two reasons. For one, it feels personal. I know the people making playlists are just like me – looking for new tunes and dying to share some of their favorites. And second, the emails I receive once a month from the guys who run the site are hilarious and chock-full of playlists they think I”ll love. It”s been almost three years, and I”m still impressed.
Lyndsie Kiebert
“Discovery Weekly” on Spotify
Last summer, Spotify announced the introduction of a new feature called the Discover Weekly playlist. The playlist, typically two hours long and refreshed every Monday, is a compilation of songs generated automatically by what you listen to during the week. Spotify takes the artists you already love, finds other people who love the same artists, then tailors your playlist off of what those other people also love.
Basically, the more you listen, the more Spotify has to draw from, and the greater your Monday mix tape gift will be.
I will admit I was originally a skeptic of the concept. I love Spotify because it”s where I compile the songs I discover elsewhere. I tailor it for myself, by myself. I didn”t trust Spotify to build me a playlist I”d truly love just based on what other people (supposedly similar to me) listen to.
And honestly, I don”t always love my Discover Weekly. But I”ve still discovered a few gems in the rough by keeping an open mind and resisting the skip button. Even the most pretentious Spotify snob can find something worthwhile on their Discover Weekly playlist.
SoundCloud
Speaking of abysses, SoundCloud epitomizes the word in the world of online music streaming. Anyone can upload sounds. I say “sounds” because we”re talking music, podcasts – you name it. By uploading, recording or dragging and dropping files, you can create a sound library for others to browse.
But even greater is the opportunity to listen to what others have to share.
SoundCloud is often the first place to find your favorite artist”s new single days before it shows up on iTunes or Spotify, and it”s also the home of numerous underground rappers, small-time indie artists and more.
Unaware of the well-known perks of SoundCloud, I created an account last spring after I met the Moscow band Skinny the Kid. They, along with other bands like Charcoal Squids and Finn Riggins who originated on the Palouse, have their music available on SoundCloud. There”s something awesome about supporting local bands, and something awesome about a website that allows them to get their art out there. With SoundCloud, everybody wins.
Lyndsie Kiebert can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @lyndsie_kiebert