How do I get back into listening to music i love?

[RainbowSlide]

I love music, play piano to 8th grade and love to sing in choirs. I was taught classical stuff of course but also play blues, pop and soul. Before I had kids I was into indie/alternative stuff like Bombay bicycle club, elbow, nationals. I went off listening to music when I had postnatal anxiety as I found the noise all too much.

I'm so overwhelmed with the choices these days - I want to listen to music again but have no idea where to start!

How do you find new (to you) music that you like without having to listen to hours of stuff you don't, sifting out the gems? Or is that the beauty of it?

I know Spotify has play lists but I'm looking for other ideas. I'm not an ace on Spotify though, so perhaps there are other ways to access curated content?

Thanks in advance for any advice, it's a bit of a left field question.

My first thought was that you could set yourself the challenge of only actively seeking out contemporary women composers - until Christmas perhaps. I could suggest some, but Spotify has a curated playlist, here:

open.spotify.com/user/nmcrecordings/playlist/23gQq1PClY8YmPvrDZb6Zu?si=NsKCSAJVTvKG6s_1b_2Ghg&dl_branch=1

Most of Radio 3 has turned to jelly - every blessed thing has to be 'soothing' now - but 'The New Music Show' on Saturday nights is still excellent. Make a regular date with that (iPlay at your convenience) and you'll soon build up a list of composers to investigate.

Also, sign up for Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival's newsletter. In the months leading up to the Festival in November there'll be numerous features on new, experimental music.

Don't know if this is the sort of thing you mean? You'll know already that the best way to access new music is to be actively involved in creating it.

Another thought; probably mostly noisy, but there are numerous schemes for involving children in music making (beyond formal lessons). I'm thinking of the sort of thing done by Birmingham Contemporary Music Group at weekends, or various opera companies. They often include composers of interest to adults as well - and free or reduced price tickets to musical events.

I have been AMAZED at how accurately Spotify understands what I like.

Spend a couple of weeks just listening to all your favourite songs across all the genres you like, and then look at the weekly Discovery playlist.

This is where Spotify curates a list for you of new music you haven't listened to, based on things you HAVE listened to –and it's AMAZING at it (for me, at least).

I find so much new stuff I love this way –I hate how predictable I must be, but I love what I find!

That's a good question! I used to find the radio helped (evenings for a better variety), I also find new things on YouTube a lot via labels I like. DH swears by Tidal, he finds lots of new artists via their playlists and recommendations.

You dont have to aks about this, just listen )