You know that feeling when you want to listen to something but you don’t even know where to start? Your Spotify feels like an endless pit of content and nothing sounds quite right. It seems like there are almost a never ending amount of songs, albums, and apps that allow us to stream music directly from our phones, but there is a light at the end of the tunnel… or rather, there are six lights and they’re less lights and more like suggestions from a college student. Glad we got that sorted out. Let’s find some new music to listen to.
Radiooooo
Radiooooo (that’s five o’s for your information) is an app and website that shuffles through user-curated songs based on mood, year, and country. While there is a paid premium version, the free version will give you exactly what you need out of it. Simply go onto the website or into the app and toggle your preferences (either “Slow”, “Fast”, or “Weird”)– of which you can have any combination of the three clicked at the same time– and let Radiooooo take you on an auditory journey. It will tell you what country and what year the song you’re listening to is from, meaning you’ll always have something new and interesting to listen to. You can also follow other users to see what they are listening to within the app.
Go to a Record Store and Pick Albums Based on the Cover Art
One of my favorite activities to do on a Saturday afternoon is to go into my favorite record store without a goal. By that I mean that I am not looking for a specific album or artist, I am instead basing my picks for the day on the artwork on the cover. Whatever catches my eye is what will be going home with me. Generally, you will be able to discover really interesting albums that you had no idea existed, and boy will they look pretty on your shelf at home. Here are some of my favorite shops in Nola to get the process started:
Sisters in Christ
Sisters in Christ is a small record shop located at 5206 Magazine St. They sell everything from older, used records to books to t-shirts. My favorite section, however, is the local picks. Sisters in Christ has curated sections that contain albums produced by Community Records, a local record label located in our very own neighborhood. Not to mention, Sisters in Christ is extremely reasonably priced, meaning you won’t break the bank while exploring. You’ll always walk away happy and praising the vinyl lord after a visit here.
You can visit Sisters in Christ’s website here.
Euclid Records
A bit more of a journey, but definitely a store you can’t dismiss because of its location. Euclid Records is located at 3301 Chartres St. in the Bywater. Euclid carries everything from rare, mint-condition albums to hyper-specific French pop albums from 1975. You’ll never get bored looking through their selection and you’ll always walk away with something interesting. My recommendation? Look at records for a while, find a few good ones, and then go next door to Pizza Delicious for a slice. Sounds like a good afternoon to me.
You can visit Euclid Records’ website here.
Go Into Your Best Friend’s Spotify and Look Through Their Playlists
This option is a classic, and doesn’t require you to spend any extra money. Simply go to your friend’s profile, click on a random playlist, and hit shuffle. I guarantee you’ll come across some gems that you’ve never heard of before. For example, my friend, Eli, has a playlist simply entitled “Pennsyltucky”. While it only has five tracks, three of them were new to me, and have found spots among my own playlists. Eli, you’re a playlist genius and I will be forever grateful for your recommendations. As long as there are users on Spotify, there are new tracks for you to discover.
Shazam
I realize that after suggesting this, most of you are probably scrolling back up to check the date in which this article was posted, but yes, I’m suggesting that you download and use the Shazam app in the year of our lord 2023. Have you ever been in a restaurant or a store and heard a song that catches your attention? Well, Shazam gives you the tools to figure out what that song is and add it to your playlists. And yes, I know that Siri has this ability, but it just isn’t as accurate or as fast as Shazam seems to be. Viva la 2005, I will be Shazaming until I die.
Ask your Grandmother What her Favorite Song Was in Her Youth
Normally this works like a charm, but this time around, my 85-year-old Grandmother responded with “I just loved the Beatles… What was that cute one’s name? Ricky?”
Well, it was worth a shot. My new favorite member is Ricky, the secret fifth Beatle.
Tune in to WTUL, Chances Are You Have Econ with One of the DJs
Like many people at Tulane, we all have a connection to WTUL. Perhaps it’s someone in your class, a sister in your sorority, or your friend Eli (who technically graduated already but god damn can he play some obscure tunes). Regardless of how you know them, WTUL is a great place to discover new music. Tune in at any time (WTUL is a 24 hour radio station) and discover the most niche hyperpop song you’ve ever heard in your life. You won’t regret it.
Featured Image via Pinterest.
About Mercedes Ohlen
Mercedes was The Crescent’s Editor-in-Chief from 2022-2023. She graduated from Tulane with a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology and a Bachelor of Arts in Communications. She enjoys going to the movies, fashion, and writing about the great city of New Orleans. She will be pursuing a career lifestyle journalism, publishing, or a job within comedy upon her graduation from Tulane. No topic is too obscure, and no story too niche. Roll Wave!
Mercedes was The Crescent’s Editor-in-Chief from 2022-2023. She graduated from Tulane with a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology and a Bachelor of Arts in Communications. She enjoys going to the movies, fashion, and writing about the great city of New Orleans. She will be pursuing a career lifestyle journalism, publishing, or a job within comedy upon her graduation from Tulane. No topic is too obscure, and no story too niche. Roll Wave!
