The Power of the Playlist: How Curating Music Is an Art

by Ally Gagne '26 on February 26, 2026

A&E - Music

My Spotify interface is a sacred space. I have been perfectly curating my most impressive playlists for years, and I take pride in the upkeep of these greats. Being the busy senior that I am, I haven’t been able to sit down and comb through my playlists in the way that I used to. This is something I’ve decided I need to get back to, because I can’t sleep knowing that there are people out there with better playlists than me.

My playlists are much more than combinations of songs. To me, they are my own art projects. A good playlist is supposed to be able to transport its listener to a time or place outside of themselves, or make them feel a specific way that just one song can’t do alone. Playlists are an important part of knowing and loving music, and I’m going to let you in on the secrets of how to build a darn good one.

Step 1: Listen to entire albums.

In order to build a good playlist, you have to build a good mental music library first. What helps me when I’m building my playlists is visualizing a library in my brain, giving artists their own shelves with the songs of theirs that I know, and pulling down my favorite records off the shelf. No good library has empty shelves! But seriously, to be able to compile a group of songs into a playlist, you need to have a good enough baseline knowledge of artists that you like, or at least be open to diving a little deeper into some new songs.

Step 2: Decide where you’re going…or don’t!

Oftentimes when I’m building a playlist, I know the exact moment or place I’m trying to encapsulate, and I have to start by closing my eyes and bringing myself there. For example, one of my favorite playlists that I’ve made is called “Force 5,” the name of a small surf shop I grew up going to every summer on vacation. Every memory I have of going into that store is centered around the music that was always playing in the background, and how that music made the environment feel. Having upbeat, beachy music playing in the store made sense since it is a surf shop, but that background music became so crucial to my experience in the store that now whenever I hear it, I’m brought right back there. That’s why I decided to create that playlist, to transport myself not just to Force 5, but to a warm summer day, just from hearing that music.

Sometimes when I go to create a playlist, I don’t necessarily have a specific time or place in mind that I’m trying to recreate, but more so a feeling. Music carries a lot of power with it, where it can evoke some pretty strong feelings through just a few notes, and sometimes creating a good playlist is about finding the right songs to go together that all evoke that same feeling. Without necessarily knowing exactly where I’m going at first, sometimes I find that the best playlists get made by picking a few songs that feel the same, and seeing where that takes me. I have synesthesia, so when I listen to music, I not only hear it, but I also see it and truly feel it in a way that many others don’t. I find this to be a gift, where I get to listen to music with a much different perspective, and sometimes it even helps me categorize music in a specific way that makes sense to me. Some of my best playlists only make sense to me, but that’s the beauty of a good playlist, because at the end of the day, it is truly for YOU. How you want to interpret music and categorize it is up to you and only you, making playlist building a very individualized experience.

Step 3: Always keep listening and adding

One of my biggest tips I can offer once you start making a playlist is this: a great playlist is never truly done. Even when you feel like it’s complete and the story you’re trying to tell has been told, there is always room for improvement and new additions. Once you know where you’re going (or at least have a feeling), then it becomes easy and honestly so fun to start compiling songs. The act of building the playlist itself is, at least for me, therapeutic, where I get to go back and enjoy listening to some of my old favorites while discovering and loving new songs too. The great thing about music is that it’s always evolving, and there is constantly great new music coming out that you can experience. If you continue to be curious, you’ll find that there is an infinite pool of music out there if you just dive in, and swimming through it is the most fun part!

A Christmas (Play) List

by Sophia Caneira ’29 on December 11, 2025

A&E - Music

Music of Christmas (1954) — Percy Faith and his Orchestra

In my family, we aren’t allowed to head downstairs on Christmas morning until we hear the opening notes of Percy Faith’s “Joy to the World.” My dad pops the disc into the CD player and queues up the Music of Christmas album, and only then can we head into the family room to open our stockings. Listening to Faith on Christmas morning is one of my favorite family traditions—one started by my great-grandfather, who played the album for my dad when he was growing up. Likewise, I hope to carry on the tradition with my own kids. Hearing Faith’s “The First Noel,” “O Holy Night,” and “Oh Come, All Ye Faithful” instantly reminds me of my great-grandfather and provides a reminder of what Christmas is all about.

The Nutcracker (Complete Ballet Score) (1995) — Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, David Maninov

Another album particularly close to my heart is composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker score. As a lifelong dancer, the familiar tunes from Clara’s magical journey hold for me both inexplicable joy and bittersweet nostalgia. One of the most recognizable tracks from Tchaikovsky’s score is the “Pas de Deux: Dance of the Prince and the Sugar-Plum Fairy.” This one is my favorite by far, yet regarding tone, it is completely different from the rest of the ballet. Amidst an otherwise upbeat, festive score, the movement is incredibly tragic. It is a beautiful piece because of its melancholic sound. The melody builds to the end of the song, giving me chills every time.

A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965) — Vince Guaraldi Trio

Of course, Christmas cannot be had without classic movies like A Charlie Brown Christmas and their soundtracks. The smooth jazz composed by Vince Guaraldi has become iconic—the piano melody of his song “Linus and Lucy” is particularly well-known. I have found that this album is also great for studying during the Christmas season—festive, but not too distracting (although, whenever I hear “Christmas is Coming,” I’m always struck with the desire to get up and dance). Guaraldi’s score perfectly complements a timeless, feel-good Christmas movie that reminds us of the true meaning of the holiday—not Snoopy’s commercial quest to win an award for the best Christmas decorations, but the love Charlie Brown shows to a little tree no one else wanted.

“Christmastime” (1998) — The Smashing Pumpkins

Another one of my favorite holiday numbers is the somewhat obscure “Christmastime” by none other than The Smashing Pumpkins. I used to be stuck in my ways when it came to The Smashing Pumpkins—my sister and dad both loved their music, but I was far from convinced. A few years ago, however, I heard the song “Christmastime” on a Christmas music compilation CD, and my sister asked me, “Do you know what band this is?” I was horrified to learn the very band I had sworn not to like was responsible for such a beloved Christmas song. Eventually, I accepted my defeat and grew to love all of their music.

“The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas To You)” (1960) — Nat King Cole

Perhaps my favorite Christmas song of all time is none other than “The Christmas Song” by Nat King Cole. Each time I listen to this masterpiece, I am captivated by the wistful melody. Cole’s voice is so beautiful, and his piano in the bridge is incredibly emotional. I find it remarkable that artists like Cole have created such melancholy and sentimental music that still feels appropriate for the holiday season.

“Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” (2004) — U2

“Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” seems appropriate as the closer, given that it is the final track on one of my family’s favorite Christmas CDs. As is expected from The Edge, the guitar on this track is explosive. Bono’s vocals are heart-wrenching. Like many Christmas songs, “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” has been recorded by many artists over the years, but in my book, U2’s rendition outshines them all.