For many, making a playlist isn’t a random assortment of songs; it’s an art. Playlists can be for the gym, lonely late-night drives, staying inside on cold rainy days, or those warm summer nights surrounded by a campfire and friends. The right mixture of specially selected songs can take these moments and turn them into unforgettable memories that will forever be engraved within the soundtrack of your life.  

“I love listening to music before my wrestling matches,” Ethan Lou (‘24) said. “I will listen to music to hype me up or to calm my nerves.” 

So, how do you perfect a playlist? What steps are taken to ensure that the playlists you make are just right? 

 First, start with picking a tone or vibe for the playlist. Nathan Pugmire, a junior at Damien High School in La Verne, whose music taste expands throughout many genres, has made over 50 playlists. With each new playlist Nate tries to push the boundaries of interpretation and the emotions of the listeners, learning to perfect his craft each time.  

“I love making playlists,” Nathan said. “It is a great way for me to build my music taste and get to know new artists under the genres I am looking into.” 

When making a playlist, you need to pick a genre of music to be the theme of your playlist. Then, you can add music either from your favorite artists or any new artists that interest you. Finally, pick the songs that you like from each artist that you feel are meaningful and add to the tone of your playlist. Repeat these steps if needed, making changes to perfect the playlist’s style and expressiveness. Each playlist should have a little bit of you in it. When you or other people listen, they should have a sense of what its message is. 

“Creating my own playlist is way better than listening to the radio,” Nathan said. “I can skip any song that I don’t want to listen to, and every song is a song I personally chose to add.” 

When customizing a playlist, you have the freedom to be creative, as you can add or drop any song. Music is a key part of our lives, as it can change or set the mood at any time.