To find new music, I like simply talking to people and asking them if they would recommend something for me. While travelling in Peru and Ecuador, there is a mónton of music that is completely new to me. Here are some of the recommendations I´ve received from a Peruvian, a group of Argentinians, and two new Chilean friends:
- Eva Ayllon
- Lucha Reyes (video)
- Charly Garcia
- Andrés Calamaro
- Los Cafres
- Fito Paez
- Los Pericos
- La Renga
- Gondwana
- Chancho en Piedra
1. I ask for recommendations from people who I think will have either similar musical tastes... or from people who might have some insider music knowledge. Last.fm does show people other users with similar musical interests, but what I like about just asking people is that there is an element of randomness thrown in and I might find something completely new. Also, I can get a sense of how excited someone is about a certain artist. I don´t know of any current efforts by Google, last.fm, or Pandora, to use ´´excitedness´´ or other emotions to refine their recommendations.
2. The more someone knows me, the more likely he or she will be to know what kind of music I will like. Even asking strangers for recommendations, with just a short conversation they can quickly widdle down a long list to something that´s customized for me.
(3.) There is also an ´´anti-filter´´ effect associated with asking for recommendations. People can recommend music that might not be readily available for streaming or downloading on the internet. In Peru, I have received plenty of recommendations of artists that I can not readily find (for streaming) online.
p.s. I also love using hypem.com with its social-filtering abilities to find new music.
Please leave a comment with your own recommendations because I know my lists are incomplete!
Posts
