How do you discover new music?
On trying to break out of the algorithm
There’s so much that takes away from authenticity and active engagement in our lives these days. I’ve slipped into using ChatGPT to write emails or check translations that I can’t be bothered to do myself – even though my job is literally working with words. I quite often use an app to tell me what I should have for dinner, though I love cooking and like to think I’m pretty good at just putting something together.
This laziness – or perhaps submissive acceptance to the current state of the world – seeped into my music consumption too. I became a bit of a slave to the Spotify algorithm, inactively listening to Discover Weekly – the majority of songs just being used to pass the time. This time last year, if you’d asked me what I was listening to, I wouldn’t be able to give you much of an answer. Laura Marling, Big Thief? I like Angel Olsen? Only because they are the staples who normally occupy my ears.
Using this algorithm to “find” new music took away my autonomy and interest. It was a machine telling me I might like this band, and I never really properly listened. I couldn’t tell you an artist who was fed to me by Spotify – sure, there’s the odd song I liked, but I haven’t become an engaged listener or fan to any of them.
I realised that it was only when a friend recommended a song or artist to me that I really listened to music. It was personal, gave a sense of sharing in someone else’s enjoyment, a feeling of a collective and collaboration. I learnt about A.A Bondy’s beautifully experimental and etherial Enderness this way, Dijon’s incomparable Absolutely and the phenomenal film to go with that perfect record. And of course, it was through friends’ recommendations that I came to our lord and saviour Mk.gee.
So, I decided to start a little WhatsApp group to share music recommendations. It was based around that feeling you get when you listen to a song and just have the urge to share it with someone else. It’s so weird and experimental or just a classic banger you’d forgotten about that you want someone else to share in that moment too. It’s about discovery of artists or genres, or simply to be reminded of a band or song you love. It’s also a push to listen to iconic artists you’d never given time to. That was Björk for me – and I was completely blown away by her Fossora album. It also got me to listen Chappell Roan for the first time, despite normally being a bit slow to engage in pop culture.
There’s no judgement and anything and anyone is welcome, and I think that’s what’s so beautiful about it. I don’t like everything that’s shared, but I listen to it all and get so much enjoyment from the strange blending of genres. This is something an algorithm wouldn’t give. It’s people’s diverse personalities and tastes, their personal curations. We recently had a Soviet segue, with someone sharing bizarre work-out pop to a Dylan-esque folk artist from 60s USSR. I think that was a highlight for me.
You can access the archive of what’s been shared so far here. Some of my favourite new (to me) listens from this were Orquesta Akokán, SANAM, Terry Reid, Björk and Cameron Winter. If you want to join just let me know!
Notes on Blue
I’m playing a little support slot at this ‘Women Make Music’ gig at the Troubadour on 8 March. It’ll be a bit different this time, a special duo with Laura and I! Tickets here.
In November a track I wrote the lyrics and sang on was released in collaboration with Hans Deville. It was a soundtrack to a Western movie that never happened.
As always, thanks for your support.