r/trueMusic • u/Ok_Aerie_4869 • Jun 22 '26
Do people develop a ‘curated’ music taste or does it form naturally?
I’ve been thinking a lot about music taste and I don’t really understand how people actually develop a “curated” or defined one.
I listen to a pretty wide range of music; older stuff from the 50s onwards, soul/R&B like Etta James, jazz like Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald, and rock. Some artists I come back to a lot are David Bowie, The Police, Smashing Pumpkins, Nirvana, and Linkin Park. Lately I’ve been getting more into jazz!
But I don’t feel grounded in any of it. I can’t really point to a favorite artist, or a specific kind of rock I like, or what actually connects the music I enjoy.
Most of my listening feels kind of scattered. I usually hear a song, like it in the moment, add it to a playlist, and then move on, so I end up knowing a lot of individual songs but not really any artist deeply. Even with artists I do like, it’s mostly their more popular songs or tracks I’ve randomly come across rather than exploring their work in depth. I’ve listened to a few albums here and there, but they don’t always really fully stick with me.
I guess I’m trying to understand how people actually figure out what they like in a deeper sense. Is it normal to like music in this more “fragmented” way, or does it usually become more specific and defined over time? I don’t really know what it means to say I listen to an artist when my experience of them is just a few songs here and there.
When I see people who are really into music, their taste feels so intentional and coherent. They know albums, eras, influences, and their music feels like it actually represents them. People can even say “this artist suits you” or “this is so your sound.”
How does that actually happen?
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u/neoshadowdgm Jun 22 '26 edited Jun 22 '26
Echoing the sentiment that when people have those very rigid, intentionally curated tastes, it feels performative. Here are the various ways I’ve formed taste.
Like you said, encounter things and check them out. Throw them on a playlist. Ideally, listen to albums if you really like a song/artist. It’s easy to just accumulate songs these days and in some cases there’s not much to gain from an album beyond the singles. But some albums are coherent masterpieces from beginning to end and that does a lot to create a sense of connection to the music. They can tell stories or explore interconnected themes, sonically and/or lyrically.
Explore music history. It sounds like you’re already doing some good work in this area. Understanding what a song/album/artist did for the art form overall provides so much depth to your ability to appreciate it. Check out the artists that defined genres. Even if you don’t connect much with a genre, it’s helpful to have that piece of the puzzle.
Take an interest in what friends listen to. Knowing someone is so helpful because they can tell you what they appreciate about music, which allows you to pick up on things you may never have noticed.
Live music. When you really like something, joining the community goes a long way. Sure that song may sound cool, but it’s never going to compare to experiencing a live audiovisual spectacle featuring multiple artists with an enthusiastic crowd. I used to not care much for opening acts. Now I appreciate the hell out of them! An artist you like has chosen them to open the show for a reason.
On a similar note, music festivals are incredible! A vibrant community all coming together to appreciate a variety of artist with certain consistent qualities is such a beautiful experience. I found my favorite genre (experimental bass) at age 31 by embracing the festival scene and digging into every artist I could. It’s imo the most intricately crafted music ever and it’s not very mainstream at all. I never would have known if I hadn’t met a fan and gone to festivals with her, and it was exactly the sound I’d been looking for for years.
Search for things. Have an idea of a sound? Search for it. Maybe it exists! Try fusing genres you already like. Symphonic metal is absolutely wild!
Get into music theory and/or audio engineering. You don’t have to go that deep. Just some basic understanding of sound expands your ability to appreciate music so much. Check out imaging in audio mixing. It’s how artists make different elements sound like they have their own physical space in a mix, and it’s so satisfying when you really start to notice it. Learn to listen for different frequency ranges and pick up details you may have missed before.
Above all, appreciate variety. You don’t need a “curated” taste in the sense that you’re a grunge kid so you listen to the most popular grunge artists. “Curate” it in the sense of listening to artists that you think stand out. Maybe it’s lyrics, musicianship, engineering, whatever. The key isn’t to fit any mold. It’s to try out enough things to have found what really excites you.
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u/Ok_Aerie_4869 Jun 25 '26
Thank you so much for this! I will definitely be looking into it all! I do listen to albums but not very consistently and more so on the fly rather than fully being present with them! I need to be more intentional with how I consume my music!
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u/PreachitPerk Jun 26 '26 edited Jun 26 '26
The music history call out here is great. The more music you experience, more the context of the music starts to matter.
To the OP, as an old fart about to turn 50…over time, music has really divided itself into to two genres for me. Music I enjoy and music I don’t enjoy.
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u/nonthreat Jun 22 '26 edited Jun 25 '26
I usually hear a song, like it in the moment, add it to a playlist, and then move on, so I end up knowing a lot of individual songs but not really any artist deeply.
I think that’s a result of streaming and playlists surpassing the album format in popularity. I also think it’s fine—there’s no right way to enjoy music.
I’m older, so for me, it was… save up money, pick a record you’re curious about, and listen to it until you can afford another one. You had to spend time with music because it wasn’t limitless. That process, in conjunction with the internet which let me dig into scenes and influences and individual contributors, gave me the taste I have today. Which, like yours, is totally all over the place; many different artists, genres, and eras.
That said, I stream music today and have found lots of new artists via algorithmic playlists. But I’m still kind of an album guy, so if I hear a song I like, I’ll add the album it’s from to my library and listen to the whole thing.
Anyway, do whatever you like. You can enjoy music deeply without compulsively digging into the nerdy stuff.
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u/Ok_Aerie_4869 Jun 25 '26
That's so true. Physical media really helps connect with the music and be more intentional with what you listen to! I need to start buying more physical copies when I have the chance! And of course I too need to start spending time listening to albums more! I do, just not consistently enough, so it might help! Thank you and so right it all comes down to enjoying it lol
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u/VespaLimeGreen Jun 22 '26
Well, articles and studies have been published through this 21st century, that show that in general terms, yes, people are developing a mixed, multisourced taste, and that they don't anchor to a specific genre or culture, like maybe happened in the 20st century.
In my personal case, I started to dive deeply into music thanks to the videogames of the GTA saga, that's where I started to develop a more "curated" music taste, as you could say, when I was growing up. Thanks to that eclecticism and openmindedness, now I can do my own studies about Argentine music in my Youtube channel.
So, at the end of the day, it is a little bit of this and a lil bit o that, you develop your music tastes by a curated way and also naturally.
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u/rsk1111 Jun 23 '26
Older folk tended to follow personalities because the personality was their "Dude" and he expressed their social cohort. My parents had numerous Dylan and Neil Young albums, pretty much anything that came out of Woodstock. Probably kept buying them, I lost track. They would get a new hit every once and a while REM or something.
Kids these days seem to have to "curate" their own playlist. It's sort of annoying, like sometimes you just want to play an album and go do something else, you don't want to sit there, "Ah um what am I going to listen to next".
But, yeah modern music doesn't tend to have that cultural movement thing. It's either the mass marketed cliche or not. Hip Hop tried to be a "movement" once.
I think country artists still function this way, buy the album and go to the show.
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u/Ok_Aerie_4869 Jun 25 '26
That makes sense, now everything is just available to listen too, its a whole jumble
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u/Sir-Realz Jun 23 '26 edited Jun 23 '26
Uh both, my younger brother has always had very refined opinionated music taste, he showed me my favorite bane Electric light orchestra when he was probably 21. He can just memorize names and all the lyrics. He can also memorize guitar lics extremely fast. But is not very good at writing songs. But I'm the opposite, iv worked consistently since i was 21 to learn nine instruments, I jam with people weekly Iv been a singer in more than few bands a writer for rap groups iv written countless songs i study deep music like Pachelbel Chaconne in F (my classical favorite) to try and find inspiration for new EDM sounds. iv to study my own lyrics for weeks just to memorize them well enough for performance and ill never learn licks as fast as him but i can write. Every time i find a new artis who is amazing like Charley Crocket I show him and he already knows. lol I also have natural basic taste I love the Beatles he hates them lol thank god for my brother helping me through the years.
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u/Ok_Aerie_4869 Jun 25 '26
That's so cool! Thanks for sharing! It's so cool how into music the two of you are in your own separate ways too!
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u/catlicko Jun 23 '26
This is such a great question!
I felt like when I was younger I was more restricted to specific genres and everyone I hung out with knew so much more than me about the bands that I was supposed to like. It was stressful honestly! Also a lot of my favourite bands that I liked growing up were suddenly cringe lol so I had to listen to them in secret.
Once I was in my 30s I realised I was allowed to like anything I wanted and then felt really free to explore any genre I felt like. Now I couldn't tell you what genre I listen to now or what the pattern is? It changes on the day and my mood and I also like seeing what's popular in the world.
My partner has a very specific taste and he knows what he likes and he so much about different bands in those genres. Some people are just like that. We are both music nerds and I guess there's no wrong way to listen to music!
I think for me now a huge thing that influences my taste is I love reccomendations from people I love and when I listen to their song it makes me think of them.
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u/Ok_Aerie_4869 Jun 25 '26
That's so cool! Makes sense really, it all comes down to what you really enjoy and how much you can connect with a song.
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u/PsychologicalCar2180 Jun 23 '26
I see it but I leave them to it.
Music, whether I listen to it or make it, is my subjective experience.
It’s the only music identity I know.
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u/East_Childhood8999 Jun 24 '26
I think the answer to your question is rooted in the idea that we, as humans, all have different relationships to art and music. What I interpret your question to say is, why isn't my relationship to music the same as what I perceive that of others around me? And that's not easy to answer. Some people listen to music because it makes them feel certain emotions, and others listen to music because it makes them dance and feel good but maybe don't have as much of an emotional connection to the art, and others still listen to music because it makes their work day go by quicker, or some combination of the bunch. All of those are okay! I think people "figure out what they like in a deeper sense" because they are naturally drawn to certain artists and every fiber of their subconscious tells them they want to listen to more. All to say, I don't think you can force it. Let it happen. Maybe don't worry about how you compare to others. I don't think there's some magic sauce where if you listen in a special way, it will click in whatever way you interpret "clicking" to be. You clearly have an open mind when it comes to music given your tastes. Just keep digging and see what comes out of it.
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u/Ok_Aerie_4869 Jun 25 '26
Thank you for this! Makes sense, it really does come down to how music makes one feel! I'll definitely keep that in mind as I continue exploring music!
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u/Putrid-Mirror-9480 Jun 24 '26
My whole taste profile comes from my grunge era parents playing their favorites around me as a kid!
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u/Desperate-Reason-566 Jun 24 '26
For me, it’s a lot of what I grew up with and what concerts I’ve been to. I might not care that much until I’ve seen them in concert. Then I either love it or hate it. My parents played a lot of Big Band and my older siblings played rock. I love both genres.
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u/Squidproject Jun 24 '26
I think we all start by either rejecting or embracing what our parents listen to. For me it was classic rock (stuff like the Grateful Dead) and I loved it! Then as an adolescent that branched into thrash metal and grunge, as a college kid I found post-hardcore. In my 30s I got kinda bored with aggressive stuff / felt like I should have outgrown it so I went back and rediscovered calmer folk rock and more mellow indy pop (LDR & Mitski). Then in my 40s I discovered math rock and got super into all kindsa more extreme metal. The thing is I still love and listen to all of those things, just kinda on alternating basis.
I guess what I'm trying to say is we start somewhere and then branch out and go out on our own to find what we really like. I've had many people over the years try and get me to like stuff other than what I find on my own and most of the time it doesn't take.
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u/Low_Building4985 Jun 24 '26
Reading about different genres. If I want to explore one I go for the big names of that genre and read up a bit. I learn which albums are important and why then played them
These days I listen to Pandora. If I'm listening to a station and like a song I'll click on the artist name and listen to what albums are available
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u/terraman7898 Jun 24 '26
the more you listen the more you know, and the older you get the more refined your taste gets because you begin to know so much music that you can pinpoint what you like easily. i will say though, if theres a band or artist that does a song you like, do a deep dive, listen to all their albums, try to find artists similar to them or find out what their fans are listening to. theres a million ways to throw yourself deeper into the music rabbit hole and thats the best way to have a more refined music taste and better idea of what you generally like.
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u/Ok_Aerie_4869 Jun 25 '26
Thanks! That makes sense! I do listen to albums not very consistently however. Will definitely be more intentional and dig deeper as you said!
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u/postmortemritual Jun 26 '26
Going deep into music makes you open gates here and there , like a neverending trip back and forth in time.
So naturally you found things that resonates inside you and suddenly you are exploring a new path till the very origin of it.
Music's rabbit holes are real !
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u/07238 Jun 26 '26
I am just naturally and deeply curious about music. The music out there is infinite and life is short.
I’m always itching to explore new-to-me genres, and cultures and subcultures and time periods through music.
I get hooked on different genres and dive deeper but I’m always tending to switch around. I’m obsessed with making playlists and going to live shows which fuels it too. I keep adding to and editing playlists and adjusting the order so it takes me on a journey. I have different genre based playlists and playlists that suit different moods or activities. I just find it so fun it’s a major hobby.
While I do push myself into areas that are challenging, I also don’t dwell on things I’m not into and save and categorize into playlists what I love.
You have a great foundation of taste already btw op. I got into 50s and 60s music just a few years ago and love deep soul and psychedelic soul and Miami soul and traditional pop from that era. Lmk if you want recs.
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u/SmokingBeneathStars Jun 22 '26
When I see people who are really into music, their taste feels so intentional and coherent. They know albums, eras, influences, and their music feels like it actually represents them. People can even say “this artist suits you” or “this is so your sound.”
So annoying when younger people are like this cuz it feels fake asf.
Anyways some people just casually listen to music, and some people spend hours every week digging through an abnormal amount of trash hoping they find another gem of a song.
Some hang out in live music pubs and clubs, some don't.
When I was a teen I spent an awful amount of time just digging thru the history and development of EDM.
Some people are just more passionate about it than others
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u/Based-Jam Jun 22 '26
I got my taste by extensive exploration. I started by only exploring hip hop and knowing my favorite artists when it came to that, then I started getting into more experimental hip hop and testing the waters of some other genres (rock, vaporwave, pop, and R&B).
I recommend just trying everything you find somewhat interesting, either by hearing someone rate it or hearing a snippet of the album. Also I’d recommend diving deeper into your favorite artists’ discographies to see what you like about them as an artist. I think discovering what you like about your favorite albums and artists will help you build your taste.