“Ravioli, Ravioli give me the formuoli:” How to make the perfect playlist
When the aliens come, and we’re all assigned task to appease our new overlords, the position of official aux holder will surely be coveted. It’s by no means new for the young adults of America to believe their music taste is superior to everyone in the room. But the advent of Spotify, Apple Music and Radio Disney has done nothing but skyrocket these feelings because of the ease at which anyone can make a playlist.
And so, people make playlists. Lots of them. Nowadays people make playlists to run to, playlists to cry to, playlists for when their dogs smell weird and playlists for when their teeth are infected. Everyone and their momma have become a DJ. But how many people have the skills to pay the Spotify premium bill? Is there a science to creating the perfect playlist? Surprisingly yes. There is a plethora of interviews with DJs, Event Planners, Producers and Musicians detailing the best way to knock this out. And in those interviews are a few stand-out points that echo across everyone.
Themes
Before we jump in, it’s advised we develop a theme. Now, this isn’t 3rd period Literature, so it’s not like you have to explain how your use of Billie Eilish is a metaphor for American fatalism. But it is recommended that you craft an idea around what the objective or purpose for this playlist will be. Is this for a party, or is it for chilling by yourself? Is it a happy event, or a way to drown in sorrows?
Less is more
A huge point that is suggested time and time again is to keep your foot off the gas as much as possible. You don’t want to trauma dump two hundred songs into your sad playlist because then you’re not going to hear most of them. There just isn’t time in the shuffle unless you plan on sitting there for 32 hours. At most, they push for nothing past double digits. Meaning stop at a solid 99.
Keep it updated
The secret ingredient, the chemical z of this whole process, is making sure your songs are up to date. That doesn’t mean everything has to be top 40. If Victorian yodeling is your bag, then love that for you. The important part is to regularly check over your work. And in some cases, spring clean if necessary.
It’s okay to axe a song
It’s okay to axe a song. It’s feelings probably won’t be hurt. It’s much better to just find a different location for a track than trying to force it into a playlist because of a vibe. And we all love vibes, vibes are great. But not every song carries the same one, and the second you start overly mix and matched you’re going to have chaos on your hands. Simply just take the song out and find it a new home.
Curve balls are the best
The final piece of advice that popped up time and time again was the emphasis on variety. No one likes an artistic experience when it becomes overly repetitive. Meaning it’s best to keep the folder of Miranda Cosgrove covers to yourself. Push for many ways to interpret your theme. The spicier the better, unless you have a sensitive palette. Then toughen up and do it anyways.
If we keep all of these tips in mind, we should see results in our playlist. Like most things, it takes practice, and it’s not something that comes naturally to everyone and anyone. But if you stick with it, fire up the old walkmans, who knows, the alien overlords may pick you to be the official aux holder.