Ask HN: How do you discover new music?

At the left end of the dial

Right. Believe it or don't I'd avoided Spotify until this year. I'm shocked at how bad it is at music discovery for me. Not useless; but close to useless. Sigh.

last.fm : Search for an artist you like and look for the "Similar to" bubbles.

Like I have since I was 15. I wander into town. When I lived in a small town without any real culture, there was a group of kids and young adults that threw punk shows at the local Masonic hall for $5. Being the charitable sort of group they’d rent their halls to the local kids pretty cheap until they got sick of them and then the kids would move onto the next hall and cycle back when they were forgiven. I was lucky that way.

And yes that kind of thing still happens, and yes it happens everywhere. You might have to catch a ride to the next town over or something, but it’s worth it.

When I got a bit older and moved to the city I wandered around town, I checked the local papers or websites for show listings. Every venue lists their shows—usually in a central culture rag in town. If you’re lucky it’s good, if not then whatever—you spent the night out of the house and not on your phone.

Don’t look for recommendations and don’t lean on an algorithm. Get out there. When you do find something you love it is pure magic and no recommendation engine will ever come close again. It’s your life. Music is magic. Go for the magic.

1. Search for your favorite artists/songs/genres on https://volt.fm

2. Click on any of the top listeners

3. If you like their taste, save their top songs as a playlist (and select the option to always keep it up to date)

Disclaimer: I'm the founder of volt.fm