The Art of Playlists

One of the greatest things about art is that anyone can do it. There is no limiting yourself when it comes to creation because that is the entire point…to create. What you make may not be good at first but give it time and it can become a masterpiece. Although there are times when the things you make never turn into masterpieces in the eyes of others. That isn’t why we create. To truly make a work of art you must shake away your inhibitions and let your imagination overtake you. Let it possess you for a time then, once you’ve reached the place of creative spark, let your body follow through in the medium it has chosen. Dance, music, painting, drawing, scrapbooking, graphic design, sculptures…the list goes on for eternity. There are no limits on what medium you choose. There are no limits on what you create. Remember that the next time you doubt yourself.

Now, as I get off my soapbox, I’ll tell you about my preferred medium of creation. There are quite a few actually (remember, no limits!) but I’ll be focused on a particularly important one to me. To many, playlist making is not an art form and for a while I would’ve agreed with them but I have slowly changed my way of thinking. Songs are like little tidbits of emotions bursting through your eardrums. A playlist is an entire package delivering the exploration of those different emotions, perspectives, and experiences. Like a collage of sorts. Take a theme, feeling, or even something you’ve seen with your own eyes in your day to day life and expand on it with music. As a self proclaimed chronic playlist maker, trust me, you can create a playlist out of anything. 

Creating a playlist is as natural as breathing at this point in my life but I understand some people may not know where to start. I have always loved making playlists for people (and will still gladly do it no questions asked) but I realize many people may not like my personal choices. Music is extremely subjective and for playlists it is the same. You may not feel the same way others do about a certain theme or feel the same way others do in general. You see things others do not, you have different experiences than most, and honestly sometimes it’s nice being able to create something yourself just to have that satisfaction. So, enough with my rambling, let’s get into it.

The first step in creating a playlist is figuring out what you want it to be about. As with many art forms there are no limits on what it could be. People usually create playlists for certain activities like working out, partying, etc. Those are all great things to make playlists for and you should make those if that’s where your creative spark leads. I am here to give you some unusual playlist ideas though. Pick something that you connect with. It can be an object, a fleeting emotion, a setting, or anything that you feel you understand on a deeper level. An example from my library is a playlist titled “brutalism.” I love the way brutalist architecture looks and, while I may not know much about the history (working on fixing that), I understand the aesthetics of it. Brutalist architecture is as unnatural as buildings can get. Lots of concrete, metals, and basic shapes/structures that all come together to form an intimidating building. So, with those ideas, I decided to create a playlist. At the time I was listening to a lot of heavy/dark electronic music and “EBM.” Which is what inspired me to make the playlist in the first place. Let that be a lesson in the first step of playlist making…listen to music and let it lead you.

The next step would be adding the right songs that fit the context of your playlist. This step is a little harder to explain because it will be different for everyone. It will depend on what playlist you make, what music you listen to, and how you view or understand the subject of the playlist. Best way I can explain it is take what you know about your subject and expand on it with how you feel. The crux of aesthetics is the combination of how something is perceived and what emotions it creates. Using my brutalism playlist as an example, brutalist architecture is seemingly basic with its simplified materials, shapes, and colors but there’s more to it than the face value. The fact that an architect can create something that intimidates and looms over you while using only the barest of materials is extraordinary. To me, it creates this sense of foreboding mystery like the building needs to be intimidating for what it contains inside. There is a certain heavy eeriness surrounding those buildings. Those are the exact qualities I went looking for when starting that playlist. Each song has its own unique sound while still carrying the same foreboding mystery and heavy eeriness as the buildings. Pick out the qualities you sense in your subject and choose songs that match. 

The last step is more a piece of advice rather than a step. Do not be afraid to let the songs lead you in new directions. As you add more songs to your playlist you may find some you originally thought would never fit. Do not automatically exclude them. They may be the very thing that makes your playlist incredible. There were many times when I thought certain songs should not go in. As I listened and thought about the subject more I realized I was wrong. Of course, there will be songs that don’t fit. Not everything will match what you’re trying to make. However, there will be songs that surprise you. Just like with a collage, you may discover different scrap pieces that change the picture while simultaneously completing it. Let it change.

I will end this with one last piece of advice on creating playlists. Have fun with it. Simple, I know, but that’s the entire reason humans create art isn’t it? To feel something, anything, and make life more fulfilling. Express yourself with your chosen art form. If that happens to take the form of making playlists then I hope this has helped you. Even if I just inspired you in some way to create, whether you use any of this or not, I’ll be ecstatic. Whatever form it takes, whoever you make it for, however you feel about it. Enrich your life with art.