New music is a dopamine hit, and depth comes from repeat listening
Early note
Early guess. This note is early; the experiment below hasn’t been run yet.
I’m always hunting for my next favorite song, and the thrill fades fast. I suspect it’s closer to a dopamine hit than to real connection. The songs that mean the most are the ones I’ve lived with over many listens.
Two experiments to try
- A repeat-listening week with a single album.
- A “Slow Burn” playlist of songs I didn’t love at first but grew into.
The question underneath
While I build playlists, I keep asking whether I’m chasing or curating. Chasing feeds the hit; curating is closer to depth. I’m not sure the line is that clean, and some songs may land on the first listen and still last.
