Do you ever open your go-to music streaming app and feel lost in your own music library? I don’t know about you, but as much as I love listening to music and making playlists, I often find myself feeling burnt out by the sheer amount of musical content available to me. I end up feeling unattached to all of the music in my library and lacking motivation to find new things. I didn’t used to listen to any one else’s playlists except my own, but when I find myself feeling this way, I often turn to Spotify for help. The magic of any music platform anymore is that they make playlists for you so you don’t have to do all the work. As a dedicated Spotify user, here are some pre-made playlists I would recommend if you find yourself in a discovery rut.
juniper.
I discovered my love of folk music only recently. It was a rainy day, and I was on the loveseat in my living room working on my computer. I needed something to listen to and a soft, acoustic vibe sounded perfect for the mood I was in. It was then that I discovered the brilliance of the juniper playlist on Spotify.
Like the title suggests, juniper is an earthy playlist with a very down to earth type of beat. It features artists like tiny habits, Brenn!, Searows, Noah Kahan, David Kushner, and more. It was in this playlist that I found some of my new favorite songs like “Rearview” by Brenn!, “tiny things by tiny habits,” and “Blame the Moon” by Hazlett. If you’re sitting in on a dreary day and want some tunes to keep you company, this playlist will sit right next to you and hold your hand.
pumpkin spice.
Personally, I’m not a huge pumpkin spice fan. I know, controversial opinion, but I prefer vanilla lattes. I’m not going to pretend to not understand the draw of pumpkin spice in the fall though. If you really yearn for the feeling of cozy fall all the time, this is the playlist for you. It’s as warm and cuddly as curling up with a cup of tea, hot chocolate, or pumpkin spice and will be your fireplace in the cold winter months. Warm songs like “Woodland” by the Paper Kites, “I have more than enough” by Searows, “Mess is Mine” by Vance Joy, and more will keep you company.
soda.
Like the “pop” of opening a can of Diet Coke, this playlist is a feel-good, all day type of vibe. My favorite time to listen to this mix is when I go for short runs. It keeps my energy up and fuels me to keep going! It’s perfect for any mood and will match your energy. It’s a mix of indie pop and viral songs to create a really fun mix that has something in it for everyone. It features artists like Dominic Fike, Aiden Bissett, Sadie Jean, vaultboy and more. This is one of my go to playlists right now, I highly recommend it!
dreampop.
Do you like the lo-fi aspect to a lot of indie tracks? Do you enjoy feeling like you’re in the clouds while you listen to music? Yeah, me too, and that’s what I really love about this playlist. It’s all of your favorite blissful indie tracks that feel like a beautiful sunset or bubbles floating in the air. My favorite thing about this type of music is that I don’t have to be doing anything to listen. I can just sit and stare into space because the instrumentals literally throw me into a dreamlike state. For your favorite artists like Hazel English, The Japanese House, Yot Club, Bubble Tea and Cigarettes, and more, check out this playlist!
rosé on tap.
“Take the afternoon off” with a fun drink and your favorite hits. I’m not much of a pop music listener, but recently I’ve found myself really enjoying songs you’d hear on the radio. This playlist is the soundtrack to your Monday morning work commute if you want to hype yourself up to going into the office. It’s your afternoon off while you do the chores you’ve put off for the last week and a half. It’s whatever you want it to be! For Taylor Swift, Normani, Maggie Rogers, and Beyonce fans alike, this is your playlist.
tapioca.
wave to earth is a Daybreak team favorite. We love the soft, relaxing vibe of their music that can be played around the clock. Like the tapioca pearls found at the bottom of your favorite boba drink, this playlist features songs that are soft, smooth, and good for the soul. If you’re also a wave to earth fan, you’ll likely vibe with the other songs on this playlist like “we’re all eating each other” by Juliet Ivy, “nostalgia” by JUNNY and JAYB, and fan favorites by beabadoobee.
lorem.
Lastly, if you’re an indie music follower, you have to check out the lorem playlist. Recently updated, it features artists to watch out for in 2024. If you’ve ever wondered what “lorem” actually means when you see it on a blank template, it’s simply a placeholder. That’s what this playlist was created for. These are all the artists that will go on to be the future of music. All your favorite rising indie artists like hemlocke springs, Faye Webster, Remi Wolf, Kevin Abstract, mehro and more will fill your ears.
There are a lot of playlists that Spotify makes with hyper specific vibes. If you’re in place where you’re looking to discover new music or none of your own playlists are satisfying your taste buds, check out any of these and more!
anna koenig
Anna is a student and lover of music based in Indianapolis, IN.
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