Peace out, Spotify!

TIDAL, algorithmic anxiety, Cocona, Khantrast

welcome to the rave tent! a continuous mix of articles, shows, books etc worth raving about

this week: my move to TIDAL, algorithmic anxiety, and hit em is born. Scroll to b2b for unexpected Korean tech-house and Khantrast from Brooklyn

I Moved! A Wave of Relief

I sent my Spotify packing. I decided on TIDAL, and I’m a new woman. Is it that dramatic? YES.

I used Soundiiz to import my data, more than enough info for TIDAL to improve the playlists on the app start page.

Before and after importing, I felt like I was on a different planet. I’m out of the Spotify ecosystem after a decade+ where the same artists get pushed at me. Refreshing! We’ll see if artist regurgitation happens here, but at least it’s less visually cluttered.

TIDAL doesn’t look as much like the content farm Spotify has become, overstocked with Amazon-like shelves of crap. So adult over here!

I’m a more active listener but I’ve spent a lot of time in the TIDAL playlists. Some of them have a feel like I’m in a record store rather than built by tempo-driven algorithms—Artist Essentials, Musicology playlists (Vocal Auto-tune, Fender P Bass, Cowbell!), themed 101’s (Riot Grrrl 101, etc), and Staff Picks even being called Staff Picks, over Editors.

a collage of some of my featured playlists

TIDAL has music videos and I have the time. Before I went to bed I watched an hour’s worth of them, like I was teenager! It’s good for my soul.

“My Daily Discovery” is one playlist of only 10 tracks that updates each morning. I love the brevity. Of course there are longer playlists, but there isn’t a daunting endless-scroll experience. Music listening is more approachable. I’d rarely hit play on Spotify’s playlists because they caused me a back of the throat anxiety.

I’m not an audio-quality snob, but TIDAL’s sound is way better (I know I sound like everyone who’s switched over). Me saying anything means it’s an obvious upgrade (I could become an audio snob?). It’s actually my first time using spatial audio in earbuds. A trip! I’m so down.

Are you thinking of switching from Spotify? It’s definitely a hot topic.

~*rave watch*~ Filterworld

I started reading Kyle Chayka’s Filterworld: How Algorithms Flattened Culture. No coincidence he’s linked right above and has quit Spotify. In the last two minutes, I learned that my issue with not pressing play can be attributed to “algorithmic anxiety.” I’m relieved, on a personal level. Overall, how concerning.

So far, I learned about the mathematical history of algorithms and Ada Lovelace being way ahead of her time.

This is the first book I’ve read where I’ve lived through the history—all the early social sites, not to mention when Google only had a measly 100,000,000 pages versus the 400,000,000,000 billion of today. Later, I’ll be diving into the disgusting timeline of evilness of the FB newsfeed, from friend-focused to media and ad-dollar-focused.

I’ll be reading this in between scrolling TikTok… maybe this book will cure me?! I don’t know that I’m seeking to quit, but I want the awareness of what’s happening to our culture. I know I’ll be back here with some sort of rave review.

Specificity of Dance Genres - Hit ‘Em is born

The guy from Matmos tweeted this:

The internet dj’s got busy and now we have a compilation on bandcamp, plus Drew Daniel and Machinedrum plan to release a hit em comp of the best tracks received.

As seen on Stereogum: “Electronic music has always had a really intense tendency to sort of constantly subdivide itself […] The only way to really innovate a lot of times is to get hyper-specific.” - Shawn Reynaldo, Barcelona writer of First Floor (electronic music/culture)

The article mentions the framework of footwork and the inside-joke of Dariacore, which if you don’t know, aren’t you curious? I geeked out to some of the hit em tracks, especially the one with the bees visuals.

back 2 back music picks that i need to talk about or my soul suffocates

Cocona is a Korean tech-house artist whose sound took a major turn from alt-pop sounds at the end of last year. She wrote the mellow, moody theme for Netflix’s Hierarchy.

In Cocona’s “Macita” she dances, superimposed over K-BBQ, a hot pot, fried chicken, animated fast food emojis. She wears a rhinestone tie-necklace (so mid-90s, Claire’s!). Exploding watermelon, a mysterious dance partner, a fuzzy bunny hat. All probably made on her iPhone. 💥🥘🍉🎀 And, no, she’s not that Cocona.

Listen to more after-hours, rave lite songs on her YouTube playlist, including the track that made my mind melt: “Waah (Faster) - SPED UP.”

Khantrast - “Landed in Brooklyn”: I love New York and the youth of today.