Individualism & Spotify Blends

Have you ever taken a StrengthsFinder test? You know, the book that half the corporate jobs out there had their new hires take for onboarding? If you haven’t, it’s basically a professional personality quiz they use to gauge who they’ve got coming in. Once you’ve finished, they give you your top five traits and a bit of an explanation of each. I took my first StrengthsFinder when I got my first internship some 11 years ago and again some time later, so I don’t really remember my results except one; Individualization.

Individualization, according to StrengthsFinder, is being infected with fascination with the unique qualities of each person you meet. It means that you steer away from generalizations and realize the nuances in between. It’s a practice in observing everyone’s motivations, style, and aspirations, and tailoring your approach to fit that jigsaw piece.

Ever since I got that result, I’ve been obsessed with applying it to my everyday relationships and friendships. Understanding that nobody is black and white, they are the many shades of grey in between, has done wonders for my friendships. If you’ve ever felt that I knew exactly what to say to you, or send you, it’s because I care enough about you to observe these qualities and tap into what makes you, you.

As far as I understand.

I’ve said it before, but my favorite thing about music is how it lends itself easily to being a shared experience. Of course creating music is collaborative, but listening together is also one of the best shared experiences. For me, sharing music is my favorite form of intimacy, it’s personal for me. I truly enjoy hearing what my friends like and then recommending them new stuff depending on what they like. Last year, Spotify launched their best feature to help make this happen, and I made the change.

Up until about last May, I was strictly an Apple Music guy. I only had a premium Spotify account so I could convert all my playlists over for my friends that don’t use Apple. Some random day last summer, Miles sent me a link from Spotify for a “blend playlist.”

When I clicked the link, I was transported to a playlist crafted from our individual taste, but acknowledged the shades of gray that exist between. Our profile pics were used to show us which songs came from whom and which ones we shared. The blend also made individual recommendations for us, depending upon what I listened to, and how it related to Miles’ overall taste.

There was just one problem: my side of the playlist was kinda lacking and outdated. The playlist updates every day, and gets a better gauge on your music taste the more you listen to Spotify. This made me start listening to current projects I was into on Spotify, as well as digging into some of my old tastes. While I was doing so, I started to make radio stations from older songs and…..man….Spotify makes insanely good radio stations. I started finding copius amounts of new music in short amounts of time with a whole lot less work. Everyone around me was getting more and more links of music than they’ve ever gotten before because I was ridiculously excited to share.

My enthusiasm carried over to my blend with Miles, which got infinitely better in the matter of a week. After this, I started sending everyone that I knew used Spotify a blend link, just to see where our tastes met. For someone like me that’s obsessed with getting a better feel for my friends, it’s a godsend. Diving into where our tastes intersect brings a bit of a better understanding of the other person, and vice versa. Conversations are sparked about specific artists and albums, different genres are introduced, and I’ve been put onto a new song with each blend I share with someone.

For me, there really may not be any greater joy than watching somebody enjoy something I do. Being able to share what makes me happy and see it make them happy is therapeutic for me. It puts me at ease. Anytime I send something and someone lets me know if they like it or not, it helps me make their next recommendation. It helps me get a feel for what they’re into and what they aren’t. Cause boy, when I start to nail those recommendations, their positive feedback feels amazing.

I think we could use a little bit of individualization in our everyday lives. Maybe not as compulsive as mine, but I find that empathy is an essential component of it. Having that fundamental concern for the next person is the basis of understanding who they are and what makes them tick. Understanding that everyone is doing their best everyday, regardless of how it looks to you. Once you understand that nuance, you’d be surprised how much shit will start to make sense.

If you’d like to make a Spotify blend with someone, follow these steps on your phone:

Open your app, and hit the search button (magnifying glass at the bottom of the screen)
Select “Made For You.” It’s usually in the second column on the third row.
First thing you should see here is “create a blend”
Note: Make sure you copy and send this link via text, trying to send it via Instagram or Twitter won’t work.

Sorry for the delay, I got uninspired for awhile.

It’s great to be back.

-E.