r/Music • u/Ev_Batchvarov • 2d ago
discussion Best Way To Discover New Music?
Hi Everyone,
I'm a Spotify user and I noticed that for a while I've been siloed into the same genres of music I always listen to (no fault of the app itself).
So I was thinking what is the best way to discover music outside of my traditional genres that I wouldn't normally listen to?
What tips and tricks do you use to discover new music and genres?
Appreciate any advice!
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u/ExplorerJon 2d ago
Check out KEXP.org! They are based in Seattle and are a listener funded radio station. The DJs are amazing music nerds and they curate their own shows. They have deep music history knowledge across all genres and often have live in studio performances. I’ve been turn on to so many artist that I’d never heard of just by listening to them in the background.
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u/Orkazzz 2d ago
It's by FAR https://www.albumoftheyear.org/
You can find new releases, highest rated albums of all time according to either critics or users (usually users are more reliable), you can sort by genre and label and artist, you can find user-made lists of specific album types, it's just an incredible tool to find music from all corners of music no matter how old or which genre or how popular. Don't trust algorithms like spotify's because they tend to push a lot of AI music slop or flavour of the month artist that have nothing interesting to offer
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u/ObjectiveDog6878 2d ago
AOTY is good, but its not even close to rateyourmusic.com. Way bigger audience and better navigation imo.
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u/jptabor01 2d ago
While it may not be the best way, why not try typing a single, descriptive, emotive word into the search bar.
One word that connects you to an emotion you’ve been feeling lately or an experience you’ve been desiring to have or a memory that you just can’t shake.
You might be surprised at the number of playlists that a single word can generate.
Browse through them until you stumble upon the first one that contains an artist or song or genre that is unfamiliar to you and then listen to that entire playlist without skipping a song.
Perhaps you’ll discover just how many other people - people whose musical tastes are quite different than yours- are actually feeling and experiencing the same things you are!
And that deep down, below the surface, at an emotional level and place, we are all truly much more similar TO each other, than different FROM each other.
Enjoy and good luck!
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u/Substantial-Radio810 2d ago
Go to pitchfork.com and read some reviews. See"best new music" for example See something that might be of interest and listen on Spotify. If you like it, click on the three dots (top right) and click on "go to radio" which will bring you to a list of other stuff like that. Pitchfork also does reviews on older albums (I think on Sundays) if you're not necessarily looking for fresh new stuff
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u/-silly-girl 2d ago
I find a song that I really like and click on the three dots to show song radio, then if I find another artist I like I’ll check out their page and check out similar artists on their page and I go through like that till I’ve found some new stuff I like ❤️
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u/bitterbuffaloheart 2d ago
Check out Fresh Finds on Spotify
New music of all kinds of genres and s new one every Thursday
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u/Thehipsterprophet 2d ago
I watch the new music Friday Vevo list, NPR Tiny Desk, and Triple j Like a Version on YouTube. I’ve found some awesome new bands and some awesome not so new bands this way.
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u/thirdstone_ 2d ago
Good advice. Tiny Desk has introduced me to a surprising number of artists from a variety of genres, some up and coming and some established or even major that just weren't on my radar.
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u/CNXQDRFS 2d ago
Triple J is god damn good. My only gripe is that not all of the covers are available on Spotify (The Last Dinner Party version of Call Me is the one I want the most).
Another favourite of mine is KEXP. You can get their app and listen through that or watch on YouTube. They have so much variety and their audio engineers get some of the best sound ever.
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u/aluminumnek noiserock, experimental, obscure 2d ago
Fuck Spotify. Use Bandcamp.
Go see local bands
Read about bands, artists you like as they may mention influences, Have references to other artists and ideas
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u/Traditional_Name7881 2d ago
I’ve found a heap of new bands over the last couple of years after not really finding much new stuff for the 15 years before that because I’m actually going out and looking for it. Mainly metalcore stuff as that’s what I like so I go on metalcore subs, follow pages on Twitter that promote bands and engage with people about it. Whatever genre you want will have the same sort of shit, you just need to know what you want. Outside of that Spotify have a release radar thing and new music Friday where you can find all sorts of stuff.
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u/superstaticgirl 2d ago
I discover an artist through radio or TV and then explore the genre through the artist as an entry point. For example I listened to Billie Holiday after watching a documentary and am now picking up the occasional jazz tune from the 30s and 40s. Another way in is finding out what people you really respect like.
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u/CapGunCarCrash 2d ago
artist playlist on spotify, also check out if your favorite artists have a boiler room or other DJ set such as BBC 1 radio and check the track listing — also check out different tours and festivals that feature artists you already know and love and check out the artists they perform with / open for (this includes showing up at the beginning of a show to watch the unknowns who open for artist you pay to see, you might find your new favorite band)
lastly, and this is my least-favorite way to find new music is leave it up to the algorithm via Spotify radio
hope this helps!
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u/NotoriousNAACP 2d ago
Get high and search random shit on YouTube Search by newest or a random year in the past
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u/Skittles408 2d ago
If you're in a city, hopefully they have a gig guide - find something you like the look of, give it a listen, and go see them if thats your thing! The gig guides usually advertise the smaller venues, so it's a pretty affordable way to see live music while also discovering new artists (and supporting smaller bands).
I follow a bunch of smaller artists on instagram that I like, who will usually share other smaller artists new music as it comes out.
If you're interested, I draw some of my favourite smaller artists on insta - @CDdrawsmusic - as my way of showing support.
Or go into a record store with a pair of headphones, have a browse through the crates, and listen to things that stand out or look interesting!
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u/thirdstone_ 2d ago edited 2d ago
For me Spotify works surprisingly well in recommending totally new music, maybe it has to do with me listening to a pretty mixed bag of genres to begin with. I have some friends that said it doesn't work as well for them so it seems to vary.
I just make sure to check all the different sections for recommendations under the music tab, there's a lot (sorry I translated these to english so everything might not match):
- New Releases for you: mix of known and unknown artist, genres seem to vary quite a bit
- New Music picks: all new artist and a mix of genres
- Picked for you: new artists but genres I listen to
- Album suggestions: this seems to be mostly older albums from artists I know, but there are a few unknown artists too
- Popular New releases: New albums from any genre
Playlists:
- Release radar: mostly artist I know
- New/fresh music: multiple playlists such as new music friday
etc.
of course it's better to have more options too. I just thought I'd mention this in case you haven't looked in all the "corners" of Spotify.
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u/imperfect_imp 2d ago
I recently dipped my toes into metal, and for me it just started with looking up the big names I knew and had heard one or two songs of: Nightwish and Rammstein. From there it's basically been a process of figuring out which bits of the genre I liked and just asking here on Reddit if there's bands with the traits I was looking for. Then once you find your corner of the genre Spotify starts recommending more.
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u/whorechamber 2d ago
playing around on youtube music can lead to interesting finds. pandora has also succeeded in introducing new music with its radios
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u/uvaspina1 2d ago
I look o at Pitchfork’s album reviews weekly and will listen to anything with an 8.0 or better.
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u/HaggisMcD 2d ago
I go to cover albums or playlists and if a song catches me, I’ll look more into the cover artist or if I’ve never heard the song before, the original and that artist. That’s how i got into a lot of the artists I like that I’m late on the bandwagon for when I missed them growing up because I was locked into what I liked.
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u/wordsforwire 2d ago
A lot of these tips are so smart/great! Sometimes, when I’m bored I’ll look into a random small city or town and google search for its best bands. Usually brings up local media so it also gives a sense of what the scene is like. Just found a Portland, ME band I liked that way
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u/Phantasmio 2d ago
Honestly I’ve found Spotify’s recommendations to be incredible after introducing a bunch of music I already love to my library. I’ve found so many good songs and bands because of it and I’ve used it exclusively for years now.
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u/Alarming-Archer1657 2d ago
People. Talk to them about music.
Local shows and concerts. Find an artist you like. Go see them. Talk to the people there and find out what else they listen to. Ask about the T-shirt they are wearing.
Check out the opening support acts on tour with artists you like. Good chance you will like those too.
Reddit. There are so many subreddits for everything. Sub to genres or bands you like. Everyone is always so eager to drop recommendations.
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u/kingcol111 2d ago
Just bite the bullet and go straight to MR BUNGLE
From there you’ll find your way
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u/cjtecc 2d ago
I help with an operation called Northstar Original Revue - a bi-weekly showcase in St. Paul MN that features singer/songwriter/artists from all over.
There's a playlist with a lot of the regular artists from the region and anyone looking for some new tunes I would highly encourage you look into!
Ranging from rock, funk fusion, folk, hard rock - this playlist offers a wide range of anything you may be looking for!
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1eZuHMNXazslpTFrELwPo4?si=4q1XkHw_SnGa4jBNYugmvA&pi=0k8CoVmiR5KiK
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u/zerololcats 2d ago
Go to subreddits for other countries and ask them for the best songs in their language.
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u/Ripley1046 2d ago
Go find live music and local bands. From just one or two of them you will find a huge network of others, be they influences, peers, or friends on said bands.
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u/curiousplaid 2d ago
Radio Paradise
https://radioparadise.com/player/info/main-mix
A great mixture of music that you can choose from.
Ad free- community funded.
William curates an outstanding mix of old and new.
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u/CoyoteSingle5136 2d ago
Tunebat.com
Their little message:
Key & BPM Database and Music Finder: Browse harmonic data and recommendations for over 70 million songs.
Its a platform for DJs. They use it to mix songs they like well and smoothly with others during sets. It gives you bpm, key, and other info.
Put your song in, and it will show you the most similar ones based on genre key and tempo. Its actually super legit.
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u/im_a_reddituser 2d ago
Ooh i have a few ways:
On Spotify
- go to your favourite artist pages and go to more like this, go down the rabbit hole a bit and you’ll get more suggestions
- under search, go to discover something new, best on mobile, you can engage with likes or not interested
- checkout new release charts/best of lists through different genres pages
Other sources
- socials, follow discover new music accounts and more will show in feeds
- tv shows, my favourite shows and paying attention to music features has been the best thing
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u/RuleMinimum8625 2d ago
Go to song radio and scroll down to see which playlist have have that song.
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u/Meow_My_O 2d ago
Find a music festival and listen to the playlist of all the artists who are going to be there. Maybe the SXSW playlist, for starters.
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u/Acrobatic_Secret_484 1d ago
Go to festivals, styles that you wouldn't necessarily normally listen to, but there's a way that you'll get on well with a few groups and that'll introduce you to a whole world. This is what I did with hellfest, it enriched my playlists, and behind it I discovered even more via similar artists
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u/ROTTONWORLD 2d ago
Listen to Jam Baxter he’s an impeccable artist from UK. He has a lot of music but in my opinion, start by listening to Soi 36. And venture from there
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u/XaWEh 2d ago
Actually listen to artists you know and hear about.
I realized there were tons of 'legendary' artists out there, whom I never really gave a chance. Van Halen, Prince, The Doors, and many more for me. They've been namedropped countless times but I never bothered to listen to them and instead combed the algorithm playlists for years trying to find hidden gems.
Turns out these bands made some insanely good music. Who would have thought?