> [!Info] > Inspired by some chat on the [greatest forum ever](https://discourse.auldnoir.org/) I think we live in a world that makes it very hard to find music, which is why I don't blame anyone for digging into finding more or what they like specifically. I think finding music you like is as much a hobby as anything else, and it's one that I enjoy in particular. I have 52,521 songs in my [[The best part about Apple Music is that its algorithm is Trash|Apple Music]] Library as of writing this post. That's 115 days worth, and I can confidently say that I've listened to every single one of those songs at least once.[^1] If you've trying to find music, here's a few quick tips. ## Bandcamp[^3] If you're trying to expand beyond the top 50 and videogame soundtracks, [Bandcamp](https://bandcamp.com/) is the place to start. Frankly, Bandcamp could be the only tip I give in this post. Bandcamp is filled with an unbelievable amount of music of any kind of genre all over the world. Explore the space. Go to the [Discover](https://bandcamp.com/discover) if you wanna look at stuff by genre, or whatever is best selling. Then do something that may feel unintuitive: *judge the ~~book~~ album by its cover*. Literally 90% of my library is just stuff that I thought had cool cover art and ended up sounding cool too. If you want a more curated eye, check out [Bandcamp Daily](https://daily.bandcamp.com/). I go here all the time to find new collections in genres I like, or just to see the album of the day. The Bandcamp curators are honestly god-like at what they do, and reading the actual history behind the albums in some of the lists have gotten me into genres I never thought I'd care for. Once you've found something you like, make an account and buy it. Yes, buy it. Even if it's available for free, throw a dollar their way. Support an artist! It's nice. Plus as you add albums to your Bandcamp library, you'll get a weekly email from Bandcamp itself that will throw more albums you might like your way, and expand your horizons further. Yippie! I love Bandcamp. ## Reddit Hang on don't close the tab!!! Reddit is honestly great for music if you already have a genre in mind. Plus the communities tend to be smaller and more intimate. [r/Hiphopheads](https://www.reddit.com/r/hiphopheads/)...well, it used to be like that before it 5.1 million subscribers, but either way it was an actual lifeline for me when I was alone and isolated a a Black kid in college.[^2] You'll see when new albums in that genre come out, youtube videos to songs you might enjoy, and so on. Here's a bunch more subs I like: - [r/listentothis](https://www.reddit.com/r/listentothis/) - [r/futurebeats](https://www.reddit.com/r/futurebeats/) - [r/postrock](https://www.reddit.com/r/postrock/)  - [r/postmetal](https://www.reddit.com/r/postmetal/) - [r/experimentalmusic](https://www.reddit.com/r/experimentalmusic/) - [r/BandCamp](https://www.reddit.com/r/BandCamp/) (hehehe snuck it in again) - [r/chillwave](https://www.reddit.com/r/chillwave/) - [r/BlackMetal](https://www.reddit.com/r/BlackMetal/) - [r/blackgaze](https://www.reddit.com/r/blackgaze/) - [r/electronicmusic](https://www.reddit.com/r/electronicmusic/) ## Your Friends So simple you might not have thought about it. Plus it's a win/win for both parties involved. No one ever wants to hear about the music you like unprompted, okay? It's like telling somebody about the dream you had. So if you give me the opportunity to tell you about the music I like? I'm taking the weights off like I'm Rock Lee. --- Those are my three biggest suggestions outside of making friends with the hippie that runs your local vinyl store. Skip stuff like Spotify - its algos are trash and it's getting filled with more and more AI slop with every passing day. There's more to it than that of course, like the actual act of hosting and listening to stuff - but that's a post for another day. I think music is important and lovely and you should always have more of it in your life! It takes a bit of work to find stuff you like, especially at first. And you'll find your tastes change. But as you build a library, it becomes a record of your life and its phases. The fact that I can listen to **MOVIN!!** by Home Made Kazoku and instantly be transported back to when I bumped it nonstop while playing **Dragon Quest Heroes: Rocket Slime** is a testament to its power, in my opinion. Hope this helps! [^1]: I know this for a fact because I have a Smart Playlist in Apple Music that is only songs I've never listened to in my own library LMFAO [^2]: I know everyone on the site was more than likely white back then, but at least they liked hip-hop and didn't call it thug music or whatever lmfao. [^3]: There's nothing wrong with just listening to this of course