Let's be honest with each other for a moment, okay? We all sometimes play the everloving shit out of the music we love, so much so that it gets a little dull. I'll be the first to admit for some reason, at the moment, I'm going through what I can only describe as a musical burnout. The songs I've listened to on repeat for the past few months have gotten to the point where I know every detail, every nook and cranny of their soundscapes - and to be honest I'm fiending for something just a little different. But, I have methods on how to revitalise your listening habits - and the steps I've been taking to rekindle the excitement I get out of listening to music.
Piece of Advice No.1 - switch up your formats if you can. I'm in an extremely privileged position to be able to enjoy my music on a variety of formats, and if Spotify isn't scratching the itch, move elsewhere. Sure, Spotify is easy, and if you want to shuffle stuff around it's great for trying something new, but the physical act of having music on another format can be really freeing if you just want to break the proverbial streaming chains. I take real pride in my vinyl records, and listen to them every time I have a spare moment - especially whilst I work. Being a student, it's easy to kick your work life balance way off kilter, and end up dooming yourself to an all work no play attitude. What I've found with having a record player, and having to physically get up and change sides and dust them off before setting them to spin, is that the ritual reminds me to keep grounded, and to walk away from something if it's just not keeping my attention. It's the same with CD's, changing out one and looking through my collection briefly to get another - that breaking up of the stagnant cycle can really help you get out of the boring immediacy of streaming platforms and help you bleed a bit more movement and life into your listening.
Piece of Advice No.2 - If music isn't hitting at the moment, try a podcast or audiobook. Sometimes you just need a break from music, and if you still want to listen to something that gives you a different experience then there are tonnes of audiobooks and podcasts out there to enjoy instead. The more conversational tones of a podcast are sometimes exactly what you need, whether it's playing something during the day to be on in the background or to listen to on a long journey, a podcast about something you're passionate about or hosted by people you enjoy consuming content from is a great way to inject the fun back into an adjacent listening experience. I'm a big fan of Ear Biscuits hosted by internet legends Rhett and Link. The humour and irreverence, mixed with the odd deep discussion and general hijinks is not only a completely different experience from my more heavy tastes in terms of music, but it lets you tune into something completely different from music. Audiobooks are exactly the same, but they're usually a little heavier in terms of their content. Podcasts are like tuning into a conversation, Audiobooks are like sitting in a lecture. But again, you might really love an author, or book, or narrator, and want to listen to something that might widen your horizons in terms of literacy, and to that I say why not?
Piece of Advice No.3 - Try something entirely different from your current taste. I'm talking full scorched earth here people. If your a fan of thrash, listen to the new Taylor Swift album. If you really love K-Pop, thrown down with some Lamb of God. If you can't wait for the next ground-breaking step in the classical music game, try a bit of ska or even hyper-pop to get those musical cogs turning again. Not only could you discover music you actually really love, it can also be the reaffirming note in your burnout when you realise actually, you had a really good thing going. Changing up your listening patterns breaks cycles that can sometimes attempt to define our tastes and Pidgeon hole what we like and don't. By taking a severe left turn, you'll maybe find something entirely new and exciting - or something so god awful that you run back to your cosy 'on repeat' playlist with a rekindled appreciation to the music you enjoy - that to me sounds like a bit of a win win.
Piece of Advice No.4 - If you don't want to go full genre change, try a tailored discover playlist on your chosen streaming platform. For me, Spotify gives me tonnes of playlists with new tracks that are adjacent to my listening habits. These playlists have helped me find both some of my new favourite artists, like the immense Sleep Token, but also discover songs by bands I thought were never really my cup of tea - for example, I've never really liked Bring Me The Horizon. I have nothing against them at all, and as far as UK alternative and metal those guys have been killing it for years, but after a few great suggestions from Spotify I now have Kool-Aid, Drown and Doomed on my permanent playlist. They also give you genre playlists, so if you feel like exploring Midwest emo, or punk rock, or pop, or K-pop, or country, you're guaranteed to throw your net just a little bit further and dip your toe into something completely new in not so different waters.
Piece of Advice No.5 - Try an album you haven't heard from an artist you love. I'll be 100% honest when I say I haven't listened to every single one of all my favourite artists records - there's just not enough hours in the day for me, but sometimes committing to trying something new and seeing what happens is what you need to get back in the habit. I'd recommend making time for it, carving an hour out of your day just to really sit and listen to this record front to back and see where that goes. You might find some new playlist tracks, find a new side to a band you love, or actually think it's not their best effort yet, but nonetheless your really committing to giving yourself that time and freedom to experiment within the confines of what you know you'll like.
Piece of Advice No.6 - Give yourself a break for a bit. Simple as that - sometimes you just need a little time off, and that's totally okay. Peeling away form music for a bit and re-entering later on is a great way to help you get a bit of distance before returning for some perspective. Life is really far too short to be forcing yourself to do anything, and music really should just be there as something to be enjoyed, so if it's not playing ball, shelve it for a few days. Fill your time with something else until you get that itch again. It's not going anywhere, I promise.
Well, cheers for giving this a read. I know I've been on my op-ed grind for a while but I hope you enjoy reading something a little different for now whilst I wait for something new to come across my proverbial desk. Music burnout gets us all eventually, so I hope some relatively helpful advice can help some of you feeling what I'm feeling at the moment out of it. Keep the faith, see you next time.
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