November flew by. Three classes and a fall break later, it’s December. Walking around Boulder in November means seeing the last of the fall colors, and by the time I got back from break, the trees were basically bare. Although it makes it easier to see the mountains, there’s something sad about walking around the leafless trees. That is, until it snows.
Since I began writing articles, music has always been a topic of interest to me. This November, though, I don’t feel that there were songs that truly soundtracked my month. However, writing this on the 3rd of December — Conan Gray fans know the reference — waking up to 4 inches of snowfall was not the only thing that made my morning. Opening my phone, my Spotify Wrapped was waiting for me.
My articles have been a great way for me to show what’s playing in my headphones monthly. However, this being my last music article of the year, let’s look at my year in music.
Minutes Listened
A competition I have with myself every year is can exceed the number of minutes I listened to in the previous year. Last year, from Gus Dapperton to Morgan Wallen, I listened for 204,866 minutes. This year, from Nickelback to Mac DeMarco, I listened to various songs for 216,157 minutes. That accumulated to about 150 days. While I am always listening to music on my walks to class or just hanging out, the largest factor in why the number is so high is that I sleep with music playing. Other than contributing to making my minutes so high, my top songs are often skewed by the fact that I put the same few playlists on at night.
Top Genres
My Spotify records that I listened to 386 genres over the course of 2025. My top 5 genres I not only feel are accurate, but I’m happy that they’re diverse.
- Smooth Jazz
The genre taking the top spot isn’t surprising at all. At night, there are many different jazz playlists that I sleep to. Jazz for Sleep and Jazz in the Rain are my tried and true that I’ve had on repeat this year. Lately, getting into the Christmas and winter spirit, Winter Jazz Cafe has been on repeat.
- Bedroom Pop
Bedroom Pop for my Spotify includes Clairo, Rex Orange County, Conan Gray, and Mac DeMarco. Despite Mac DeMarco taking the spot as my most listened to artist and bedroom pop being my second most listened to genre, I’m honestly shocked that Rex Orange County didn’t show up anywhere in my Wrapped. I rarely feel that my Spotify doesn’t accurately reflect my year, but this was a little bit interesting to me.
- Art Pop
Lana Del Rey, Miley Cyrus, Lady Gaga, Charli xcx, and Billie Eilish are all heavy hitters in this category. Art pop is pop music that leans towards experimentation and fusion. Pop music is something I’m always leaning towards, so it checks out that it made its way onto the list.
- Soundtrack
Soundtrack is a genre that has always skewed my top artists, genres, and songs. Alexandre Desplat was my top artist one year, and I often listened to movie scores on the way to class.
- Exotica
This summer, I took a class and in order to feel as though I was still getting a summer experience, I was blasting exotica in my house’s speakers. Exotica is a genre that was largely popular in the 1950s and ’60s following World War II. The genre was named after Martin Denny’s album Exotica (1957). Denny described the sound of the genre and his music as, “a combination of the South Pacific and the Orient…what a lot of people imagined the islands to be like…it’s pure fantasy though.” The music I listened to constantly by Denny and Les Baxter included sounds of animals and stylized instrumentals. Since it is fantasy, it leans towards sounding as though it could fall into the category of soundtrack.
Listening Age
Every year, Spotify includes these random features and categories within the Wrapped. This year, they “determined” what my listening age was based on my habits. According to them, because I “listen to mostly new music… your taste is trending”, my listening age is 18. I don’t know if I necessarily agree with this, but considering that at one point my DJ told me I was listening to Tame Impala’s new album 416 more minutes than the average listener, it’s safe to say that I do have current tracks on repeat.
Top Songs
Following the trend of jazz skewing my listening, my top songs are all songs I listened to over 60 times. Listening to them while I sleep, I had no idea what they sounded like until I just heard them in order to write this article.
- “Missed the Last Dance with You” – Original Three
A very piano-centered song with a little bit of snare drum, it’s no wonder I can sleep to this. There is an obvious rhythm throughout, the spacing giving time to really hear the different elements of the song.
- “Equilibrio” – Les trois copines
This song almost sounds Christmassy to me. The octave where they are on the piano lens itself to a more holiday sound than other songs on this list. The tune of it as well seems very fluid and defined, whereas there was obviously a direction “Missed the Last Dance with You” was going, it just was more spaced out.
- “Blue Moonshine” – Trois Amis
In 2019, three friends met and formed Trios Amis. Their music is about forming ambient jazz within their music. With “Blue Moonshine,” they exemplify their goal. This song is perfect to relax to — I’m literally falling asleep trying to get these words out.
- “Hum Sweet Serenades” – Motor City Trio
What I like about these jazz songs is that while there is still experimentation, they all have the sound to fit on the same playlists. In their Spotify bio, Motor City Trio explains that their goal is to make smooth piano music for people to relax to. Interestingly, they also say that there is a “rotating lineup of different musicians and instruments.”
- “Soliloquy” – Jennie Reigen
I really enjoy this song. Trois Amis and Motor City Trio are the only two that have bios on Spotify, and there isn’t really any information about the other artists online. However, I think their music speaks for itself.
Top Albums
Songs and genres are one thing. However, this year Spotify Wrapped included albums of the year. As someone who loves to listen to an album, I appreciate the inclusion of this category.
- Partly on Time: Recordings (1968-1970) – Kinloch Nelson
I was introduced to this album and artist from Emma Chamberlain’s “I’m thinking” playlist. If there were a category for most listened to playlist, this would be at the top. I love Kinloch Nelson’s sound, it’s soothing, and even instrumentally, it’s poetic. “Solitudes”, “Partly on Time”, and “Pearl St.” are my favorites of this album.
- Did you know that there’s a tunnel under Ocean Blvd – Lana Del Rey
I don’t remember ever not loving Lana Del Rey. She’s an artist that I’ve listened to forever, and she’s finally on my Wrapped in a large way. Did you know that There’s a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd is one of my favorite albums of hers, and every single one of the songs is amazing. I remember sitting in my dorm room freshman year listening to “Kintsugi“, hearing the lyrics, “I’m in the mountains/I’m probably runnin’ away from the feelings I get/When I think all the things about them.” Going to the mountains myself, I feel an incredible emotional tie listening to this album even after it’s been years since it was released.
- Deadbeat – Tame Impala
This was my album of the year. Since it was released, I have not stopped listening to it. I’ve tried. When I was thinking about doing a November listening article, I knew even after an album review and another music article, Deadbeat would once again make its way there. To me, it’s a no-skipping album.
- I’m The Problem – Morgan Wallen
When this 37-song album was released, it took me a while to get through it. There are so many great songs on this album, and I feel as though it was a definite shift for Wallen. He’s had his fair share of public issues; however, as a musician, I feel that Wallen has taken country music to a different level in terms of reaching audiences.
- The Exotic Moods of Les Baxter – Les Baxter
Considering my summer class spanned 3 weeks, it’s no shock that The Exotic Moods of Les Baxter made its way onto my albums list. 40 songs all making me feel as though I was in some exotic location in the 50s. The variety of instruments and sounds on this album is truly remarkable.
Top Podcast
My top podcast was “anything goes with emma chamberlain”. As someone who has watched her videos since middle school, I love that she’s taken on the format of a podcast. I love that in a rebrand, she made it so that all of her podcasts have video. Releasing new projects every Thursday and Sunday, there’s no shortage of episodes.
Top Artists
I knew it was time to put my Spotify Wrapped where my mouth is. I’m always talking about how much I love Nickelback and Lana Del Rey; however, they never really show up on my list. Usually, the list is dominated by composers. This year, however, I finally broke free of that trend.
I have to think that Mac DeMarco took the spot because of how often I listened to One Wayne G and Guitar. He’s an artist whom I’ve listened to since middle school, and I love the progression he’s had as an artist. I feel as though he has a true musical identity he always sticks to, but his discography has such a variety of sounds.
Les Baxter was one of the three artists on this list — including Lana Del Rey and Morgan Wallen — who also appeared on my Top Albums list. From the amount I listened to his discography, it’s no shock he wound up here.
Lana Del Rey is an artist who knows her music. While I’m still waiting for that country album that was never released… I’ll let it slide because of all the music she has already released. Did you know that there’s a tunnel under Ocean Blvd that ended up on my top albums, but I would say either Chemtrails Over the Country Club or Norman Fucking Rockwell! is my current favorite. Honorable song mentions go to my countless listens of “Without You”, “Summer Bummer”, and “You Must Love Me”.
Last year, Morgan Wallen was my top artist. Since my listening this year shifted from country, I’m happy he still made it on the list. I really enjoyed his new album, I’m The Problem, and it was a great addition to his other great albums, One Thing At A Time and Dangerous: The Double Album. I wouldn’t be surprised if — given that I switch up my jazz listening more often — “F150-50”, “865”, or “Miami” make their way onto my top songs.
YES! Nickelback finally made their way onto my top artists list. From rock to country, I love all of Nickelback’s music — except “Satellite”… I really don’t care for that song. I tried to think if one of their albums could’ve made it onto the albums list, which one would it have been? I believe it would have been Dark Horse – it’s a no skip album. My favorite songs lately have been “Shakin’ Hands”, “Sister Sin”, “Tidal Wave”, and “Just One More”.
Listening Club
This year, Spotify sorted listeners into three clubs. My listening habits placed me in the Cloud State Society. This club is dedicated to listeners whose genres, find peace through music.”
Listen Archive
The last category was the Listen Archive, where specific days were explained in more detail. My days included my Most Diverse Day (May 24), Biggest Smooth Jazz Day (June 20), Biggest Podcast Listening Day (Aug 12), Biggest Music Listening Day (September 8), and my birthday (November 3). My birthday was my favorite, “the day I let rain-soaked jazz and Tame Impala light my birthday candles.” 803 minutes, 225 tracks, 146 artists, my day was filled with Christmas music, jazz, and Tame Impala. I really like this feature because it allows me to see what my listening habits really looked like on a specific day.
This year’s Spotify Wrapped was really fun. It’s enjoyable to go through different interactive stories that break down listening habits. I love that artists take the time to record videos to thank their listeners — videos from Emma Chamberlain and Nickelback made my morning. I’m so excited to see what next year brings.