In our algorithm-driven world, creating a personal playlist for a friend can have a lot of meaning.
If you have friends with similar taste in music, or even ones that dont, playlists are an excellent way to share your music discoveries. Plus, people are lazy when it comes to finding new music. Applying your knowledge of genres, artists, and your corner of the music world to a tangible thing that can be gifted can be much appreciated.
Regardless of which service or media you use [digital streaming is convenient, but CDs add a lovely personalized touch], here are a few tips to get in the mindset of creating unforgettable mixes for the people you care about:
Be a curator
When it comes to playlists, curation and editing down is key. You probably have thousands of songs in your personal music library, but others only really want the best of what you listen to, or a taste of recent favorites. Be opinionated and critical of your selections, but know you dont need to limit yourself, either. Playlists can be as short or long as you deem necessaryjust aim for quality.
Listen often, and with intent
Pay attention to whats happening in music, and youll be that much more valuable as a provider of playlists. Read music news, listen to other playlists, and hear from other sources that are well-regarded in the industry. Likewise, the same attentiveness goes for the songs you listen to. Practice listening with intent regularly, focusing on different instruments and vocals as well as what you enjoy in songs. This is also a useful tip for playing back your playlists and making changes.
Create a flow for the songs
Once you have a selection of songs youre content with, play around with the order in a strategic way. Playlists should flow somewhat seamlessly so there arent any abrupt shifts. Try to craft a story using only the sounds! Lastly, dont put songs that are too similar back-to-back, or you may end up creating pockets of repetition. Your playlists should always be memorable and never dull, so spend time balancing the arrangement of songs so you end up with a mix thats both smooth and interesting.
Play it for yourself
As you give thought into the choice and order of your songs, dont forget to play it back for yourself. Take your playlist for a ride in your car, and put yourself in the listeners perspective. Or, go for a walk with your playlist on and focus on whats working and whats not so great.
Go all out with the experience
Playlists are gifts, so dont forget that your creations are meant to be enjoyed. If youre a visual creative type, create a custom-designed cover or tracklist. A thoughtful note also goes a long way, describing the purpose or inspiration behind the playlist. Even if you arent creating a physical packaged experience, you can still have fun with the process of sending your playlist via Spotify or Apple Music.
Dont overthink it
In the end, creating a playlist for a friend should be enjoyable. If you arent liking a particular part of your playlist, dont worry too hard about it because they likely wont even notice. You created something special, and thats important!