Track selection is everything. Whether you’re a DJ crafting a set, a choreographer trying to find the right song, or if you’re a videographer trying to find a song for the weekend recap - picking the right song can make or break your project.
I’ve spent countless hours on Soundcloud, Youtube, and Spotify trying to find good songs. I’ve learned that the best way to find good music isn’t by looking in just one place, but rather having a variety of sources to browse and choose from.
If I can’t find something I like within 10 minutes on Soundcloud, I’ll jump over to Youtube. If I don’t find something on Youtube, I’ll try Spotify. Eventually, I end up finding something I like.
Below is a list of 5 places that I use to source good music for a variety of uses:
Spotify - Create your own playlists, follow your friends who have good taste in music, or browse the Discover Weekly playlist to find new music.
Soundcloud - I used Soundcloud to find unknown/more underground artists and tracks. They also have playlists with new music as well.
Youtube - You can really get lost in Youtube and find amazing old and new music. Artists are always uploading their latest music video. This is my favorite resource for to find music.
Radio - I listen to 89.3 KCRW while driving in Los Angeles. They always play eclectic sets late at night or in early mornings. I always find a lot of electronic, down tempo, future bass, and r&b tracks here.
Stores - Forever 21, Starbucks, Zara - they are always playing high energy music that I’m not used to hearing.
Aside from the 5 places mentioned above, your friends and family are also a great resource. Hanging out with people that have completely different taste than you gives you a different perspective. Even if I hear something that I’m not sure if I like, I’ll shazam it, and give it a listen later on. Sometimes that track comes in handy weeks, months, or even years down the road.
Traveling is also another way to find amazing music. For example, when I was in The Netherlands, I listened to the local radio and shazam’d almost every song.
Aside from finding good music, it’s also helpful to know how to access or find the music once it’s on your computer. There were countless times where I had in my head but I couldn’t remember the name and where to find it. Having folders and playlists that you regularly access will prevent you from not being able locate a specific song in the future.
If you’d like to get an idea of the eclectic songs we use for our videos, check out our recaps or dance videos.