I plan to spin tracks in the future, but as of now I am compiling tracks into a playlist via soundcloud. However, what I’d like to know is finding an efficient way of music discovery. Currently, I am using the following to discover music:
Apps:
Soundcloud’s explore (trending songs, audio, and categories)
SC is limited on the discovery department because the search feature which does not find similar songs, but only finds the exact word that I look up ex. House, which the word house will show up based on the artist ex. Swedish house mafia or title of the song with the word house in it. However we all know there are many house songs without the word house in it. I am emailed them recently about their limitation.
Rdio’s music discovery feature
simple, but only for the well establish artists
Currently, I am looking into last.fm and keywording music discovery in google.
Sometimes I’ll just browse beatport find stuff by following similar and such and just go check the pools I’m on to see if their on there if they are I will download there of course…
Usuing this method between iTunes and beatport has led me to some great track finds i consider it kinda modern diggin
Go to beatport, put those songs in your playlist in your cart. (don’t worry you won’t be buying them unless you really want) At some point, go to “check out” and there will be a list of songs recommended to you based on what’s in your cart.
Check out the labels/artists on your list and the rest of the songs they have to offer…you can do that on beatport, perhaps soundcloud, juno and discogs.
A way I like to discover, especially genres I know little about, is listening to recorded livesets. Find some artists you like and look up sets. There are lots of tracklists out there and Soundhound/Shazam can be a lot of help when there’s no tracklist.
beatport everyday, listen to every new track that comes out in the respective genre you play. it takes me about half hour every day to go through trance and most of the psy and chillout stuff. monday is the busiest day, that takes a few hours. the rest of the week is pretty easy
i like to join groups on SC that feature “mixtapes” of different genres, DL and listen to them in my free time and in the car etc, then when i hear a song i like i either shazzam it or check their playlist, or in the rare case that neither shazzam can tag it nor the person lists the tracks i ask the person the name of the track in a comment at the tracks play start on the timeline.99 percent of the time i can find out the track. this has been great at helping me find tracks i wouldnt find in other places. it also helps because since its a DJ mix u can usually count on finding some similar artists while youre at it. mind you im not saying to go Download every song if you like a persons mix, but just the ones here and there that really stand out to YOU.
I look for artists I listen to and follow them on their soundcloud. From there, you can branch off to see their likes, their posts and find similar artists. Some of them will have mixes on their with new tracks you can discover. I find must of my new stuff this way and then I also use bandcamp, beatport, traxsource.
if youre looking for top 40, hip hop, r&B, and breaks, try DJcity and Clubstarters.