Hey Collegiettes!
Being back to school means balancing tons of activities like going out, hanging around campus, doing homework, and studying. What do these have in common? Music! It’s one of those things that follows you everywhere and helps to set a mood or pass the time.
Everybody loves their own type of music, but sometimes it’s easy to get into a slump where all you do is listen to the same song over and over again. That’s okay, everyone has their one song, right? But it’s fun to change it up! Once I started trying to discover new music, I realized how bored I was with all the songs I was listening to. I still liked my old playlists, but they were just so repetitive. New music is bright and exciting and makes everything seem a whole lot more fun.
Websites like Pandora always come to mind when you think of places to find new music, but some of the features make it difficult to enjoy looking for new artists or tunes. I’m frequently frustrated with my inability to shuffle through as many songs as I want. So, here are a few places that helped me with finding new music that will hopefully work for you, too!
Spotify’s “Discover Weekly” Playlist
I recently started using this feature on Spotify. I’ve found that Spotify’s radio tends to do one of two things: play things I already have in my playlists or only play a select few songs repeatedly. This made me kind of hesitant to try this playlist, but “Discover Weekly” actually has a huge variety of new songs that I never heard of and really loved.
Pitchfork
This website is more focused on critiquing different artists and albums, but they also cover work from both popular and up-and-coming artists. Their lists and critiques cover all different genres, so it’s great for trying out some new music that you might not have tried before!
There are tons of apps out there (like Shazam) that allow you to play a clip of a song and will then tell you its name. This is a great way to find out what a song is in passing! So often I go to coffee shops or stores and can hear music being played in the background that sounds really interesting or fun. I always wish I knew the name or could remember some lyrics to look up later. If you have one of these apps, you can find out right away! Plus, most apps will save your searches so you can see them at another time.
Organizations and Events at UMass
With so many people on this campus, it’s easy to find different bands and shows to go to. Organizations like SALT (Students for Alternative Music) try to get the word out for events from local and upcoming artists. Also, check out the bulletin boards around campus and keep your eyes peeled for events at the Mullins or Fine Arts Center. There are always music events happening!
Friends!
Friends are my biggest go-to when I’m looking for new music. Nobody has the exact same taste in music, so even if a friend has similar taste to you, odds are that they know of an artist or band that you do not. If they have a completely different music taste than you, you could find something new that you never knew you liked.
Whether you listen to the same song on repeat or are constantly shuffling halfway through, sometimes it’s nice to switch it up a little bit. Even if it’s just to make your walks to class seem a little more interesting, it’s always worth a try!