How to enjoy music again?

Submitted by theketchupvoid t3_10wvfea in Music

I wasn't sure which subreddit to talk to this about, hope this is fine.

I used to love music. I used to spend hours upon hours researching, reading, and listening to music in some form or another. I liked playing instruments as well. But I'd say that for the past few years, it's been harder and harder to enjoy or follow new music and music news.

It's partly because some of my favorite artists turned out to be, for lack of a better term, pieces of shit. As I got older and older, more of the artists in my music library have been dropped due to their proclivities in some form or another.

When I looked at my music library yesterday, while I like the music that's there, I kind of feel like I'm not truly enjoying it like I used to. I feel like I'm just passively listening to stuff rather than having fun with it. In a way, it's like I'm listening to music in gray rather than listening to music in technicolor. There's no soul to my music listening now- I don't know how to explain it.

I've tried separating the artist from the art, and I couldn't. Art to me is intricately linked to the artist, and in many ways are a part of them.

How do you guys enjoy and listen to music today? I'd like to learn what I can do to try and get back into my favorite hobby again.

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ToxicAdamm t1_j7p7ihj wrote

Sounds like you're too up your own head about it. I would recommend going the other way and forgetting about music completely. Over time, you will come back around.

It's no different than food, art or love. Sometimes our brains just need a break from it in order to find our passion again.

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AnHeroicHippo99 t1_j7p88ia wrote

I would try to find new music to enjoy, either through some algorithm or recommendations from friends or internet strangers. And when you do find something you like, maybe stay away from Wikipedia articles so you don't accidentally ruin it by learning one of them is a serial killer or whatever.

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Foxyglove8 t1_j7pat66 wrote

I got back into music by listening to mixes/playlists on youtube because someone else has done the effort and you can just relax and appreciate someone else's music choices. If I particularly liked a song I'd look for similar songs on soundcloud and it's great how many amazing songs you can find just on the recommended list. I also love making my own mixes/playlists which is really fun I think. Like someone else suggested, you may just need a break and you'll get back to it naturally :))

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[deleted] t1_j7podwt wrote

When I feel like this I stop listening to music and try studying art, reading poetry or other books, engaging in art films, etc.

Either that or delete your entire library and start fresh.

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Positive-Owl-5 t1_j7prlas wrote

Try the free radio stream of KEXP Seattle definitely help me find new genres. ✌🏻🎶

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SadAcanthocephala521 t1_j7pxf2n wrote

Maybe it's time to branch out and find new genres to enjoy. Musical tastes should evolve as you age. I've gone through classic rock, adult alternative, electronic/ambient, folk, even some old country. Find some good public radio and you'll find tons of good music, if you can't you can listen to mine via the radiogarden app.

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PossibilityRough6424 t1_j7q6way wrote

Well , I used to be rock guy and suddenly I'm tired and I'm enjoying a lot electronic, just try to listen another kind of music

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RagingLeonard t1_j7pjz1o wrote

Maybe approach it in a less cerebral way. Find something with a great groove (Funkadelic or Big Brother and the Holding Company come to mind) and just let the music wash over you.

One thing that I do to reignite my passion for music is to go really deep into an artist's catalog, find those lesser known songs and look for the beauty in them.

When in doubt, play some King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, they have about nine million records that slip between various genres and I've never heard anything problematic about their personal lives.

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skeptikern79 t1_j7pif0d wrote

Isn’t a lot of artists pricks? Since I don’t know them personally I can enjoy their music without being bothered by whatever crazy shit they’re doing when they’re not recording. I don’t care about their lives or opinions.

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