I’d like to start this essay by saying I am no Frank Ocean, who created the beautifully smooth Blonded RADIO, or Zane Lowe, Beats 1 radio legend. I’m simply the average Apple Music fanatic who believes I’ve built up fine cohesive skills when it comes to playlist making.
First, obviously you must have access to a music streaming service. Personally, I prefer Apple Music but if you’re a Spotify or Tidal user, playlist making is all the same. I’ve never actually used Tidal, but I would assume you can make playlists in the similar fashion as Apple Music and Spotify.
Then you must find your theme for this playlist. If you have a diverse taste in music then you can choose between pop, r&b, rap, classical, etc. If you find yourself only listening to one type of music like pop, you can choose between slower pop songs, love pop songs, happy pop songs, etc. Sometimes, you may find yourself wanting to go a little crazy. You may want to mix all your genres together to form a collection of everything you love. This is of course an option, but if you wish to make it sonically cohesive, it may not be the best idea. Sticking to one sub category is easier to gain more listeners. Even though you may love heavy metal and classical, usually a listener won’t share that similarity.
As simple as this process sounds, it can get frustrating if you find your playlist not meeting your full expectations. Sometimes you just adore a song and wish to add it, yet it may not fit the theme of your playlist, therefore it’s not the best idea to include it. As William Faulkner once said, “In writing, you must kill all your darlings.” Playlist making is not as complex as writing some of the most divine books of all time, but the phrase still holds its truth.
Some may consider this process not worthy of a detailed tutorial, although to me it’s more than “a process.” Music is one of the most essential pieces of my life. Not a day goes by where I don’t listen to one of my playlists. So having them organized concisely is quite the help since my moods often fluctuate. Some days I feel like blasting J.Cole and the Dreamville gang through my speakers, and other days I lay in bed and cry to Nina Simone. Due to my creation of my playlists, “Dreamville Essentials” and “Many Tears Left To Cry,” with only a few clicks my music is right where I need it to be.
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