A Soundtrack to Life: The Art of Pairing Music To Enhance Every Experience

My friends refer to me as a music library of sorts. And people often ask me how I have time to listen to so much of it, not to mention recall and reflect on most of what I hear rather than feel indifferent about them. And honestly, it’s not because of any particular gift or ability I don’t believe—I feel like I just found the hack to make it part of my day-to-day life! 

Back before I embraced vinyl in 2023, my annual Spotify Wrapped consistently showed streaming times in the six-figure range. Most of that wasn’t just background noise either; it was active listening. I’d be listening to albums front to back, searching for new sounds, dissecting lyrics, and just soaking it all in.

But I’ll admit it: it did get overwhelming. Having endless playlists at my fingertips sometimes left me feeling like I had too much music and not enough time to appreciate it. That’s a big reason why I decided to go back to physical media last year—vinyl slowed me down and helped me reconnect with intentional listening. (If you want the full scoop, I wrote about my journey to vinyl collecting.)

Now, let me share the not-so-secret way I make music a part of my daily life, and how I made it into its own “art” like pairing food and wine. Caution: this is all gonna sound extremely nerdy :P 

The Secret to Intentional Listening

It might sound impossible, but the trick to listening to more music is actually... intentional listening.

By that, I don’t mean sitting in a dark room with candles and your eyes closed memorizing every lyric like it’s a sermon. Intentionally picking what you want to listen to rather than having the algorithm curate your experience is enough.

I don’t just throw on random playlists and hope for the best—I match my music to my mood and activities. Whether it’s tackling chores, writing, relaxing, or hitting the gym, I curate music that fits the vibe. Because if it doesn’t and you’re just throwing on a random playlist for any moment, then that’s where it becomes distracting

It’s like giving every moment its own soundtrack. And this will work differently for everyone. But if I haven’t bored you with the details yet and you’d like to try it? Here’s how I manage:

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#1 Factor: Your Mood

Mood is the foundation. How you feel will shape how the music lands with you. Personally, I can’t stand happy-go-lucky music when I’m in a funk—it’s like someone telling me to “just cheer up” when I’d rather wallow. On the flip side, emo tunes when I’m in a good mood? Total buzzkill.

Instead, I lean into my emotions. Feeling down? I’ll embrace the sadness with raw, moody bands (the National, Chat Pile, Thrice etc.). When life’s looking up, I gravitate toward sunnier, more upbeat sounds (city pop, pop punk)

For me, this practice of matching my emotional state to music has been transformative. It’s like journaling but with sound—it helps me process my thoughts and reflect on where I’m at. And of course, everyone’s taste evolves over time. But what I don’t want to prevent is allowing myself to feel all things honestly. I can feel all the dark emotions, accompanied by brooding lyrics and crushing guitars. And if I’m chill, uplifting vocal melodies with the sound of saxophones are the way to go! 

2. The Gym, Running, and Anything Active

When it’s time to sweat, I crank up the intensity. My go-to is core music: metalcore, post-hardcore, deathcore— anything aggressive. Bands like Knocked Loose, Architects and Bring Me the Horizon give me the adrenaline kick I need when lifting weights. It’s not incredibly fast or slow, but I feel just the right rhythm to my sets. 

For running, I switch gears to something fast and punchy, like punk or even DnB. The tempo keeps me moving, and the attitude makes me feel unstoppable. Whatever your workout looks like, finding a genre with energy that matches your pace can make a huge difference.

3. Cooking and Chores

Cleaning the house or doing dishes are the most mundane tasks to me. These are the moments I need music to inject some joy. That’s where jazz and pop come in. Sometimes it’s modern jazz or upbeat pop bangers (Charli XCX is a favourite); other times, I go classic with some Miles Davis or modern ones with a touch of hip-hop or experimental like Thundercat or Flying Lotus. Rap music is also a good companion for these tasks that are mundane and repetitive as I can focus on the lyrical aspect of the record.

Cooking gets its own vibe too—this is my time for jazz fusion, acid, house, or other colourful, experimental genres. Think Hiatus Kaiyote or Masayoshi Takanaka it seemingly adds taste and almost liven up the ingredients I’m working with. It makes chopping onions feel just a little more artistic! 

4. Writing, Focus, and Relaxation

When I’m working or writing, lyrics are usually a no-go—they’re too distracting. Instead, I gravitate toward instrumental hip-hop, chill beats, or ambient soundtracks. It’s the kind of music that sets a calm, focused atmosphere without pulling your attention away.

For relaxation (like a bath), I turn to something soft and ethereal. Lana Del Rey or Björk work wonders here. It’s about creating a cocoon of sound where you can truly unwind. 

5. Gaming (video games, board games etc.) 

This one’s so big it could be its own blog post (and maybe it will be). Gaming is all about immersion, so I try to enhance that with complementary music. Action-packed games? Bring on the high-energy rock or metal—Linkin Park or Avenged Sevenfold are frequent picks. J-Rock and Electronic are also perfect for reading manga may I add!

For chill indie games or walking simulators, I tone it down with art pop, acoustic folk, or dreamy instrumentals. The right playlist can make even a pixelated forest feel like magic.

For board games, I’ll play a movie or video game soundtrack with what suits the theme of the board. Do I want some extra urgency to playing Pandemic, then I’ll throw on a Metal Gear Soundtrack. Are we doing something more cutesy and demure (had to lol) like taking care of a farm or collecting tea tokens, put on some Zelda/Pokemon lo-fi remix. 

6. Social Settings and Car Rides

Music in social settings is tricky—it’s not just about what you like; it’s about reading the room (or the car). A big part depends on the people.  This is where I would put my more “safe” selection, but some that I can still enjoy. I’d still put on some metal, but not all the way heavy, just like some easy-listening pop and not hyperpop.  

Driving to a concert with friends? I’ll throw on some lighter metal or accessible pop-punk. If I’m hosting a dinner, maybe it’s indie rock or some jazzy tunes to keep things classy without being so technical and stuffy. 

Bonus Tip: Experiment! 

Here’s the thing: everyone’s taste is different, and how we approach music in our day-to-day lives varies wildly. The “rules” I follow aren’t set in stone, and I love breaking them just to see what happens. What if I threw on Sabrina Carpenter’s latest album while sketching or painting instead of Magdalena Bay? It’s not my usual vibe for making art, but sometimes the results surprise me. Those moments of experimentation give me fresh ways to appreciate music—and they’re a reminder that every album or artist has layers waiting to be uncovered.

Revisiting something you didn’t love on first listen, but in a new setting, can change everything. A moody folk album that felt dull on a rainy day might feel perfect during a quiet evening drive. The beauty of music is its infinite potential to reshape itself depending on where you are, what you’re doing, or how you’re feeling. So don’t be afraid to mix things up—it’s how you find those unexpectedly magical moments. 

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Life’s Better With a Soundtrack

In the end, making music a bigger part of your life isn’t about squeezing in more hours—it’s about curating your listening. Think of it like pairing wine with food. The right album or playlist can enhance any emotion or whatever you’re doing, turning even mundane tasks into something a little more special.

So, give it a try: match your music to your mood, your activity, and your life. Who knows? You might just discover your new favourite band, inspire a new recipe or creative idea, or at the very least, make scrubbing the toilet a little less boring lmao.

Thanks for reading :) Have a great week. 

-Lamar