Spotify Wrapped: The Good, Bad and the Ugly.
Nostalgia, one year I was labeled a maverick, this year a vampire - sort of feels like an alternate reality yearly intention word - the irony that my actual 2023 Intention Focus Word has been Balance. Perspective is interesting. This years unwrapping connected me with Spotify’s AI DJ, Xavier, whom asked to be called, X. I’m feeling a bit of inter-web rivalry digs hinting at every angle these days - whose consciousness received which download first?
I can’t wait to get my hands on Grok, it seems just up my style. Those funky neural-nets kinda do something for my synesthesia mind.
I got a bit excited to test out X, I mean - DJ Xavier. I asked my Google Mini to open Spotify and have DJ play me something. I wasn’t understood. Maybe it’s my prompts, maybe I need to update something, maybe it’s just not an aligned function - I mean, I’m trying to synergize between an iPhone, Google Mini and Spotify with a new AI DJ - where to begin, haha.
Wasn’t it Starship who sang: “we built this city on rock’n’roll…….they’re always changing corporation names.”
Not gonna lie, I’ve had much delight in asking X to change my tunes while taking a shower in the dark with ambient candle lighting, all in the season of twinkle lights these days. Cozy, steamy and downright naughty-esque.
Creativity is so subjective, choice is a beautiful thing. Personally, the wrapped design felt a bit off alongside the breadth of artistry assembled. It felt more galactic and less 8-bit retro, but that is my personal opinion. It’s also really easy to critique and suggest something else / in hindsight as opposed to the daunting feeling / task of staring at a blank canvas with limitless possibilities. I am grateful for the effort put into all of this.
If you pause too long in mindsight it will turn into creative block. Feeling stuck + stagnant is highly unpleasant. So I suggest exercising those muscles daily. [I’m leaving this here as a kind reminder to myself for both creative + physical]
We are diamonds taking shape.
Coldplay - Higher Power - was one of my Top 100 songs this year, I use it in the neXt level playlist - the irony is pretty thick.
Loved the bonus artist messages from everyone! Such a sweet treat. Is there such a term as music puns? I think I shall like to be the maestro of that realm.
Overall -
I geek out each year Spotify Wrapped comes out. I ‘paint’ with music, so I tend to see+experience it in a structured way; however, I get a reprieve from that with wrapped and get to experience surprise and delight, just for the sake of enjoyment. It makes my heart flutter in a good way. I giggled, and squealed slightly, when DJ came on and I didn’t have to construct. I shift to Pandora normally for that.
Make it stand out
Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
The Good:
The expansion of additional artist treats / messages and I learned the term ‘neo mellow’.
I feel it may become part of my 2024 vibe.
Inspiration at it’s finest.
ps: please tell me I’m not the only one that enjoys a secluded night in, encased in a bubble of magic imagination swimming.
The Bad:
Why am I just now learning of AI DJ? Is it because I don’t read up on Spotify updates? Being a paid subscriber, I never saw an in-app announcement or highlight on my Home Page. I am a maximum daily user so this seems strange.
Did I just miss it? Seems not true, but still could be.
It’s clear I have not explored the full potential of this delicious app.
Solution
Simply hit the Search function and type in DJ, happy playing! It’s also in my Library Section. Easy peasy, lemon squeezy.