Discovering music with Apple Music: from Autoplay to on tour

Apple Music, for me, is about much more than renting access to my favorite songs. The best case scenario for Apple Music, in my experience, is when it guides me to discovering my next favorite album or musician. After School Radio still does it for me, and access through Apple Podcasts is helpful for easily keeping up with the show.

More recently, it was just letting Apple Music recommend music after playing an album from my library. Within a matter of months, I went from first hearing this song on Apple Music while driving around to driving hours away to see the song played live.

Apple calls this feature Autoplay. “Autoplay takes the work out of choosing what to play next,” Apple explains. “Just play a song, then Autoplay finds similar songs and plays them afterward.”

I forget what I was originally playing — probably Taking Back Sunday or something — but it happened this year on July 4. I love to go for long rides to nowhere and just listen music and vibe. That’s how I discovered the post-hardcore act out of Atlanta called Microwave.

When “Bored of Being Sad” played, I remember letting it play out before going back to the beginning of the track and listening more closely. According to the Music app on the Mac, I added the rest of the album an hour later, and the play counts are respectable.

Fast-forward to October 29 when I drove to Birmingham, Alabama, to see the opening night of the tour that Microwave just concluded. I posted this on Facebook the next day.

I so enjoyed seeing Microwave perform in Birmingham last night to cap off a month of intentionally celebrating life!

Self-assessment that may be applicable beyond: birthday months since 30 have required extra care, not because of age, but circumstances and perspective. Last October, I wasn’t super content with my daily routine and trajectory: work, parent, sleep, repeat. It sure as hell beat the emotional rock bottom of years’ past, but it could not be sustainable.

I made a list of things that historically contributed to my identity and happiness with a goal of nurturing each one to get positive results. The list was pretty simple.

Spending less time at home (challenge of remote work) and more time in more places (perk of remote work). Things like motorcycles, tattoos, running, technology, rocket launches, sports, and travel. Building relationships, accepting love where it exists, and being a provider and protector. Work in progress, always, but progress no less.

The bulk of work and daily relationships are through screens. For that reason, I put a higher value on relationships that can be in-person, at least sometimes, without discounting my greater network of support. It’s just that shared experiences and time spent together are really living for me.

I discovered Microwave in June. Loosely psychedelic and lately low tempo with a back catalog of melodic emo with range. The experience of hearing a song (“Bored of Being Sad”) streaming on my iPhone while driving around last summer was the digital clue. Being in the room where the band performs while sweating and dancing with fans… that’s the good stuff. That’s the payoff.

More of this, please.

With gratitude, Apple Music Autoplay. Rock on, Microwave. These days, I’m obsessed with the back catalog. See also: this MacStories’ piece by John Vorhees that touches on some music-focused iPhone apps.

P.S.

To really follow the thread started with Apple Music Autoplay, I should add that my friend Astrid saw the last show of the tour in Orlando, Florida, this week after my music discovery turned into a music recommendation. My iPhone pic is featured at the top. I’m stealing her iPhone pic to close:

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