For two years of my college career, I was a DJ for my university’s radio station. Each week for two hours, I created a playlist and logged it online via a software called Spinitron. In that time, I grew to learn the basic art and science of creating a playlist that listeners will remember for weeks after. I had greater insight outside of the station and more at local parties.
There are few guidelines that apply to making a playlist. The first is to be aware of who might listen to it. It’s not likely that a middle-aged man is going to like Mac DeMarco. (He’s probably out there somewhere.) There was one instance when I was asked to DJ at a company picnic. I knew I was playing music for several middle-aged people and their spouses, and it turned out a good idea when I opted for classic rock artists like Boston, Grateful Dead, ZZ Top, and all the likes. You might think the song is amazing, but it’s all about what your audience likes.
The second guideline is to know what the playlist is for. Do you need music for a long road trip? Are you having trouble sleeping? Or is someone throwing a party? Ambient music would certainly not help you on a long car ride, especially if you’re the one driving at night. Heavy metal wouldn’t work if you’re trying to fall asleep. (As a matter of fact, it would probably make you an insomniac.) Punk rock isn’t something you would play if you’re trying to have a romantic evening with your special someone. You get my point. Certain contexts call for certain music to be played. Stepping out of the context might leave your listener confused with your song choice.
The third guideline is to have transitions or a trajectory. Are you trying to make your listener feel a certain way? Are you trying to educate your listener? This is what I think makes or breaks playlists. The choice is yours in the songs you select, but the way you arrange them should tell a story of sorts. Personally, I have made several playlists that chronicle the history of certain genres like hip-hop, folk, and jazz. I’ve made others that try to relate seemingly polar opposite genres of music like country and soul/R&B. These are examples of trying to educate your listener, but the best playlists are the ones designed to make your listener feel a certain way.
Before I conclude, I want to tell a brief story of when I first saw Baby Driver, a movie I can seem to shut up about. (Minor spoiler.) In the pursuit scene after they botch the robbery, the filmmakers chose to play the song “Hocus Pocus” by the Dutch prog-rock group Focus. The song perfectly set the pace and stakes for the scene itself, and it finally broke at one point when the police shoot Baby’s iPod. After a minute of ringing in his ear, Baby hijacks a car and turns on the radio to the song “Radar Love” by another Dutch prog group Golden Earring. I walked away from the movie believing that to be the smartest choice of music I’ve seen in a film yet. That is what you have to do when you make a killer playlist.