There’s an odd moment that hits somewhere in your 30s or 40s when you realise you’ve been listening to the same Beautiful South albums for 20 years. Not because Blue Is The Colour isn’t brilliant – it absolutely is – but because, at some point, you kind of stopped seeking out new music.
You’ve become stuck in the sonic landscape of 1994, or 2004, or whenever your musical curiosity quietly packed its bags and left.
But there might come a point where you’re listening to Janis Joplin for the 8 millionth time and, while it’s still excellent, you wonder what else you might be missing when you are sticking to the same eight playlists.
If this sounds familiar, you’re in good company. Most of us develop an intimate relationship with the music of our youth. These are the songs we associate with gaining independence, trying new things, maybe days at uni or falling in love.
They can take us right back to sitting in the park on an endless summer day with our school friends or an entire summer of partying. So it’s no wonder we return to them again and again.
But it can be good for us to get some new sounds into our ears as well as relive good times from the past. Many people reach a point where they recognise they’re in a rut, playing the same tunes on rotation while an entire world of new music passes them by.
I’ve spoken to many friends who want to explore new sounds (even just to know what their kids are talking about) but don’t quite know where to begin. It’s hard to know how to find it when the landscape feels overwhelming and your habits are deeply entrenched.
Why discovering new music gets harder as we age
Several factors conspire to keep us preserved in one musical era as we age. (And, despite my personal beliefs, it’s apparently not that indie music from the 90s is just objectively the best ever soundtrack to life.)
First, there’s the paradox of choice. We’ve never had more music available – Spotify alone hosts over 100 million songs – yet this abundance often leads to paralysis rather than exploration.
When everything is available, nothing feels particularly urgent or essential. And how on earth do we choose?
The algorithmic feeds that promise to solve this problem often just create echo chambers, serving up music that sounds reassuringly similar to what you already like, while not quite hitting the spot.
Then there’s simple time scarcity. Discovering music requires attention and repetition. You need to listen to something several times before it clicks, but when you’re juggling work, family, and the general administration of adult life, sticking on a familiar album feels like the path of least resistance.
New music demands something from us, so it’s often easier to stick to the old reliables.
There’s also a neurological dimension. Research suggests our musical tastes tend to crystallise surprisingly young. The dopamine hit we get from hearing a brilliant new song at 17 is neurochemically different from the one we get at 47.
That doesn’t mean we can’t love new music, but the intensity of that connection may naturally diminish.
Finally, there’s cultural fragmentation. In previous decades, mainstream radio, music television, and print magazines created a shared musical conversation; you might not have liked everything in the charts, but at least you knew what was happening.
Today’s musical landscape is balkanised into countless micro-genres and scenes, many of which are invisible unless you’re already part of the relevant online community. And how do you know how to find that community if you don’t already know the music?
Ways to rediscover your musical curiosity
The good news is that getting out of your musical rut is possible, and I’ve been doing a pretty good job at it over the last year or two.
Some tips that might help:
Follow threads from things you already love
Use your existing tastes as a launchpad.
If you’re obsessed with a particular artist, investigate who they’re listening to, who they’re collaborating with, or who influenced them. Read or listen to interviews they give and explore “fans also like” suggestions.
Read music journalism and recommendations
For a curated signpost to new music, read verticals like Global Comment’s Listen for recommendations and reviews.
The internet is full of valuable resources that can point you in the right direction, offering thoughtful commentary and context that algorithmic suggestions can’t match.
Listen to human curation on radio and podcasts
BBC Radio 6 Music is an absolute goldmine for new listening that is adventurous and bold without being alienatingly obscure.
Specialist podcasts dedicated to particular genres can do the same, often with the added bonus of storytelling and context.
Attend more live music gigs
There’s something about seeing music performed live that forces you to engage with it differently; I was fairly indifferent to the band James (except for the iconic Sit Down, which was a staple of my teens) until I saw them live, at which point they came fully to life.
Book tickets to see an artist you’re curious about but don’t feel 100% confident in, or take a small risk on a support act or a festival you wouldn’t normally attend.
Follow playlists made by actual people
Spotify playlists are probably the way I’ve discovered 90% of my new music, because it turns out that whatever mood I’m in, however specific and niche, somebody has compiled a list of absolute bangers for the occasion.
If you are lucky enough to still have a record store in your city, or there’s an independent label you especially like, you might also want to seek out their curated playlists too, which often have a flow and insight that machines – still lacking a soul [correct at time of publication] – cannot mimic.
Let algorithms do their thing too
While I try to focus on human-made playlists for the most part, Spotify’s Discover Weekly has matched me with some new faves. It can be very hit or miss – either “How did you get into my brain?” or “It’s like you never knew me at all!” – but when it gets it right, it really does well.
Then, if there’s a new song you love or a genre that speaks to you, seek out more from the bands or styles you find you’re enjoying.
Embrace music from other cultures and languages
British and American music is just a tiny fraction of what’s being made worldwide. Exploring music from Brazil, Mali, Korea, or Egypt opens up entirely different experiences.
After all, that viral Mongolian Jingle Bells rocked my Christmas holidays and I hate pretty much all Christmas music.
Go to record shops and ask questions
Independent record shops are staffed by people who live and breathe music. It’s oozing out of their pores.
Tell them what you like and ask for recommendations; I discovered some absolutely cracking bands this way in the old days, and the more complex your “Here’s what I already like” list is, the more they relish the challenge.
Accept that you’ll listen to some things that miss the spot
Part of what makes discovering new music difficult is the feeling that you don’t know what you’re getting (whereas if you put Pet Shop Boys on, you know you’ll have a ball).
But we need to allow ourselves some underwhelming listening time. Let yourself be indifferent. Move on without guilt. Most things won’t become your new obsession, but that makes it all the more exciting when something does.
Image: Kindel Media