How to Listen to Music
Active listening for over-enthusiasts
If you’ve been subscribed to me for a second, you’ve probably noticed that I love music. I particularly love exploring new music and raving about just what I like about my favorite artists.
If you feel stuck in a rut, listening to the same tracks on repeat, and want to start exploring new music, this article’s for you. Also, if you just want to engage with the music you already love more actively, this article’s for you.
Listening as a hobby, not just a passive activity
I’ve always loved actively listening and analyzing music, but since last year, I’ve been taking it more seriously.
Background music is fine, of course. But listening as the main event—not just a passive background hum—is genuinely a fun hobby!
Start a listening journal
My first tip for active listening is to start documenting what you listen to.
I recommend starting a physical journal. If you don’t have access to physical music, a listening journal can bring that element of analogue realness.
Start simply: just allow your thoughts on whatever you’ve been listening to to flow. How does it make you feel? Which artists come up the most?
You can also keep track of your listening habits through sites like “stats for Spotify”. If you do have physical music, use Discoggs.
One of my favorites things to do when listening to an album is sit down with a notebook and a cup of coffee and journal on my first impressions. Of course, I don’t always have time for this, but when I do, it’s a real treat.
You can also reconnect with old favorites by doing the same. Suddenly, you find yourself appreciating details of production and songwriting that you might not have noticed before.
Make themed playlists
Playlists are the number one way to organize your listening, and also to make connections between your favorites.
Taking a little time to intentionally make a well thought out themed playlist is so fun for me! The theme could be subject matter, sound/style, or really whatever you can think of.
Not only is this fun, but it exercises your connection-making skills in music.
Music seems to change shapes depending on the context. What sounds like a love song in a more upbeat playlist might have a different effect paired with more thoughtful songs.
Albums and EPs are how you experience the music the way the artist intended. Playlists are your chance to re-contextualize that: making them apart of your world and playing with the vibes you can create through different combinations and tracklist orders.
When you find an artist you really like, dive deeper
When I really like an artist, I want to explore their whole world. I make it a goal to eventually listen to every song they put out.
I also really love exploring visuals and videos. Music and lyric videos aren’t for everyone, but I love them. It’s a wider window into the world the artist is creating, and the story they’re telling with that specific song.
Artists like Taylor Swift, Ashe, and Meg Smith, for example, almost always add more depth with their videos.
Plus, listening while watching some kind of visual is nearly always a very different experience.
And don’t forget live shows! If you’re unable to personally see an artist live, most of them have performance videos posted on YouTube.
When I first got into Chappell Roan, watching these videos made me fall head over heels for her. Live music is, again, a profoundly different experience. Knowing an artist can bring it live always makes me a bigger fan.
A lot of artists also have slightly more offbeat ways to connect. Jensen McRae has a substack. Many artists have discords or IG group chats where you chat directly.
If you love an artist, don’t be afraid to dive right in. Being a super fan is fun!
Exploring new music with intentionality
Once you have a firmer grasp on your preexisting listening habits, you’ll probably have a better idea of where you can expand and explore.
What genres do you already love? What are some related sounds and styles you can start exploring?
Who are your favorite artists listening to?
You can also get great recommendations from the artists you already listen to. I try to follow as many of my favorite artists on social media as I can.
Some of them, like Jensen McRae, always have great playlists and recommendations to share. Others, like Avery Cochrane, were able to introduce me to other indie artists in their scene.
Following your favorite artists is also the best way to stay up to date on new releases. Pay attention to collaborations too. I found Liz Moss through Lauryn Marie posting about cowriting “Cult Classic” with her.
One common frustration from people looking to discover new artists is that mainstream magazines and charts tend to cycle through the same people.
Fun music discovery is like a rabbit hole, not a cul-de-sac. Start with who you already listen to and find their collaborators, influences, and opening acts.
Always keep an open mind
Music discovery starts with the desire to discover new music, but some people have the desire and still never actually do it.
A lot of these listeners are laboring under the idea that “music just isn’t good anymore”. They claim to want new music, but won’t listen to it if it actually sounds new.
It’s human nature to shy away from the unfamiliar. But to really get into music discovery, you have to slay that dragon.
You can ease into it, by starting with what’s similar to your favorites. Or you can challenge yourself to check out completely unfamiliar genres.
Either way, have fun with it! Consider setting yourself challenges: like listening to a new album every week, spinning a wheel to pick a new genre, or queuing up the most listened to songs of ten artists you’ve never heard of.
Most streaming services have a “similar to” feature. Go down the rabbit hole until you find something unexpected. If you consistently listen to unfamiliar music, your algorithm will likely catch on and recommend new stuff.
The point is to play, to explore, and to engage with music differently than before. Treat the listening like the main event, not just background noise.