5 Reasons to get Spotify

PUBLISHED May 17th, 2013 03:52 am | UPDATED January 21st, 2016 07:09 am

It’s a fine weekday morning and the team at City Nomad HQ are sitting around discussing the funky music we’ve discovered through the web portal Spotify since its debut in Singapore. Cue a collective eureka moment: ‘Hey, we should probably write something in our lovely new music section to tell people about it’…

In case you’ve been living under a rock and haven’t heard people sing praises of the awesomeness that is Spotify, it’s essentially a music app that let’s you listen (for free) to most music around the world, and helps you discover new tracks too. Here is a list of five reasons why Spotify rocks our socks off:

ONE: Spotify Radio

Spotify Radio takes your own music taste and helps you discover new stuff.

Example: I throw in one of my favourite songs by Mumford and Sons (Hopeless Wanderer), and in a grand total of one hour I discover 8 new bands that I’d previously not heard much about (hello Noah and the Whale, The Black Keys, Phoenix, The Civil Wars, We are Scientists, The National, Lumineers and AWOLNation). As it offers up new songs you might fancy, you can like or dislike the song so that Spotify’s clever bots will tailor your account to better understand your music taste. Holy crap. In technology terms, this is the most sophisticated and accurate way for you to discover cool new music based on your own tastes.

TWO: See what your friends are listening to

Imagine. You’re on the bus/MRT and someone next to you is listening to their iPod, while having one of those mini-rockouts that looks a bit like a politely restrained epileptic fit. ‘What is that song?’ You wonder. The only option is to try and catch a nonchalant glance at their gadget screen without appearing overly creepy… but damn! The ever-present anonymous commuter elbow blocks your view; now you will never know what inspired that stranger’s fleeting boogie. But fear not: there is a better way to seek out a new groove. Spotify lets you see what your Facebook friends are listening to in real time, so you can either a) stalk their playlists, or b) mock them as they play Justin Bieber’s ‘Baby’ for the sixth time in a row. Also you can do this from the comfort of your own home and look a bit less deranged on public transport, which is always a plus.

Essentially, when you get bored of your own stuff you can tune into someone else’s workout mix, or driving soundtrack, or chill out music. It’s a great way to discover new artists (or acquire viable blackmail material).

THREE: Access on your mobile devices

Oh, the wonders of Spotify Premium. You cheapskates out there still using the free version: UPGRADE! It’s glorious!

Not only can you download the Spotify app and stream music on the go through your phone/iPad/widget of choice, you can also set your playlists to ‘offline mode’. So when you’re in a dodgy 3G area or want to access your music outside of a WiFi zone, it’s waiting for you like an old friend. The best thing about this feature is the ease of making an on-the-go playlist that you can listen to straightaway, without having to own any of the songs. An example: Last week I used the WiFi at Changi Airport to make and download a playlist to my phone, so I could listen to it on the plane in offline mode. You too can do this! Top tip: Search for the Darth Vader entrance music from Star Wars and cue it as your first track. Press play just before take-off. Laugh evilly/cower in your seat.

You can also download it to as many devices as you like, so long as you’re only using one at a time. I now have Spotify on five computers, two phones and an iPad (these may not all be mine). Thus my wondrous playlists are accessible to me anywhere and everywhere (dun dun DUN DUN DUN).

FOUR: Spotify Inbox

Remember the good old days when we made mixtapes for each other as clumsy declarations of teenage lust? Consider this the 21st Century alternative. If there’s a song on Spotify you think your special buddy or crush will enjoy, you can send it to them through their Spotify inbox, along with a personalised message.

FIVE: Spotify is the new Yoda of music

Ooh, that’s a nifty track. What’s it called? Who’s it by? Okay, got it. But wait – who are these guys? Click the biography button and Spotify will tell you where they came from, what made them famous, their best-known songs and their entire back catalogue. Plus there’s a related artists section that is actually accurate, which is great for when you’re having a nostalgia binge and rediscovering, say, the joyous disco boogies of the 70s. Sing it with me: Dance! Boogie Wonderlaaaaaaaand…..

Getting a Spotify account is a piece of cake – simply click here and create an account. Once that’s done, you can download the software to your laptop at the click of a button and you’re good to go. Top tip: if you prefer your music advert-free or want to get the phone app, select the Premium option and it will arrange a direct debit of a mere $9.90 from your bank account every month – minimum fuss, maximum joy!