I've never really thought it of that way, but you are point on with the intentional listening guide. Most of us like multiple genres I would assume but on reflecting about what you write here I realized I definitely do that and listen to different style music to fit different settings, moods or even times away of day.
The playlists don't work for me either. I went back to vinyl and CDs about a year ago too and a fun part of this has been going into used record stores and finding old gems and discovering groups I never listened to before but have heard of. I have added many new favorites.
Great piece as always, Lamar!
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.)
TYSM! Honestly me too, the return to physical media has made me into a much more intentional listener and the act of going to record stores and digging is another set of fun to be had. The discovery is part of the whole process, it's what gives more the reason to engage.
I'm glad you are continuing to discover new gems and artists and are also pairing the experience with different settings. It's what makes these pieces of music have an infinite replay value.
I really love this. Yo're def right about having too much music when you have streaming at your fingers. I think that's why I've always had playlists for that to fall back on. I got a generic one with all the random shit I love and a chill one that's full of soundtracks. The downside of that is that you can get stuck in that and not discover new things. I've been discovering so much new music from you, it's awesome!
While we're sharing, here's my breakdown of what I usually have on.
-Cooking - jazz or Animal Crossing haha
-Cleaning - synthwave or 80s pop
-Working - lofi, movie/video game soundtracks, ambience (I'm like you, anything with words is too distracting especially when we're writers)
-Board games - ambience that matches the game (Gloomhaven, would be like fantasy tavern DnD type music; 5 tribes would be desert music)
-Car rides - metal
-Getting ready or doing makeup - metal
-Bedtime - Soft video game music (sooo like animal crossing or hollow knight)
Metal and driving is is the best, but dangerous cuz I get road rage!! This is why I need w self drivable car one day.
I still do playlists as well, esp when Im outdoors. Your list is a lot similiar to mine as well, and you def know more on soundtrack selection! Board games with a film/video game soundtrack is so fun idk how to play in silence 😅
Hahahah I find the metal calms me down because I def get road rage. The bigger the city, the more shitty drivers there are haha. I’m really hoping ours become self drivable. It needs some work but it’s getting there!
Haha our playlists are bipolar. Life is a soundtrack like you said! Can’t have it quiet haha
Thank you! I'm a instrumental only when writing, the words gets distracting from my thoughts. But do love that Metalcore on heavy lifting for sure. What are some of your go-tos?
I like the classics. Underoath, The Devil Wears Prada, August Burns Red and that kind of stuff. My all time favorite though is a Norwegian band called Atena. I used to play in a band with their guitarist, so maybe I'm biased, but half my workout playlist are Atena songs. I don't think they've ever released a bad song.
I feel like you would love Andres' substack if you haven't subbed already (https://vinylroom.substack.com/), writes a lot about listening actively and intently.
I will have to check that out and Andres as well, and thank you for reading! I'm happy to find more ppl here on substack who are likeminded in how we approach music intently and still see the whole presentation, from the cover art to the music itself, as a whole piece of the art.
I've never really thought it of that way, but you are point on with the intentional listening guide. Most of us like multiple genres I would assume but on reflecting about what you write here I realized I definitely do that and listen to different style music to fit different settings, moods or even times away of day.
The playlists don't work for me either. I went back to vinyl and CDs about a year ago too and a fun part of this has been going into used record stores and finding old gems and discovering groups I never listened to before but have heard of. I have added many new favorites.
Great piece as always, Lamar!
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.)
TYSM! Honestly me too, the return to physical media has made me into a much more intentional listener and the act of going to record stores and digging is another set of fun to be had. The discovery is part of the whole process, it's what gives more the reason to engage.
I'm glad you are continuing to discover new gems and artists and are also pairing the experience with different settings. It's what makes these pieces of music have an infinite replay value.
I really love this. Yo're def right about having too much music when you have streaming at your fingers. I think that's why I've always had playlists for that to fall back on. I got a generic one with all the random shit I love and a chill one that's full of soundtracks. The downside of that is that you can get stuck in that and not discover new things. I've been discovering so much new music from you, it's awesome!
While we're sharing, here's my breakdown of what I usually have on.
-Cooking - jazz or Animal Crossing haha
-Cleaning - synthwave or 80s pop
-Working - lofi, movie/video game soundtracks, ambience (I'm like you, anything with words is too distracting especially when we're writers)
-Board games - ambience that matches the game (Gloomhaven, would be like fantasy tavern DnD type music; 5 tribes would be desert music)
-Car rides - metal
-Getting ready or doing makeup - metal
-Bedtime - Soft video game music (sooo like animal crossing or hollow knight)
Metal and driving is is the best, but dangerous cuz I get road rage!! This is why I need w self drivable car one day.
I still do playlists as well, esp when Im outdoors. Your list is a lot similiar to mine as well, and you def know more on soundtrack selection! Board games with a film/video game soundtrack is so fun idk how to play in silence 😅
Hahahah I find the metal calms me down because I def get road rage. The bigger the city, the more shitty drivers there are haha. I’m really hoping ours become self drivable. It needs some work but it’s getting there!
Haha our playlists are bipolar. Life is a soundtrack like you said! Can’t have it quiet haha
Great article, and great recommendations! I'm very similar. Workouts: Metal. Cooking: Classic Jazz, but I can't listen to anything while writing.
Thank you! I'm a instrumental only when writing, the words gets distracting from my thoughts. But do love that Metalcore on heavy lifting for sure. What are some of your go-tos?
I like the classics. Underoath, The Devil Wears Prada, August Burns Red and that kind of stuff. My all time favorite though is a Norwegian band called Atena. I used to play in a band with their guitarist, so maybe I'm biased, but half my workout playlist are Atena songs. I don't think they've ever released a bad song.
Good stuff, all those bands are still going strong, esp ABR imo. Ima check out Atena at the gym then!
Fantastic read - I am very similar when it comes to the gym and my mood. I wrote about gravitating toward The National specifically when I dealt with a painful moment in my life - https://www.thewaxmuseum.rocks/p/the-power-of-music-in-times-of-sorrow
I feel like you would love Andres' substack if you haven't subbed already (https://vinylroom.substack.com/), writes a lot about listening actively and intently.
I will have to check that out and Andres as well, and thank you for reading! I'm happy to find more ppl here on substack who are likeminded in how we approach music intently and still see the whole presentation, from the cover art to the music itself, as a whole piece of the art.
What about those of us who don't drink wine or alcohol?
You gotta be trollin at this point lol. What does drinking have to do with this?
I my lana during a bath! Thank you for reading, and I still have to llay alan wake 2! I heard some of the soundtrack on that 🔥