Slave to the Algorithm

Help. I'm stuck in a Spotify loop, mapping my ever changing mood

As a 53 year old working in the marketing industry, I'm now constantly aware of my age compared to colleagues and clients. Of course, it comes with a lot of experience and hopefully, some worldly wise. I've always believed that if you're working, you're being paid to learn. I've never understood a Luddite mentality, a determined willingness not to try new things even if you then reject them - at least have a look. Conversely, I'm also aware of working in an industry in constant flux - now more than ever. "Ooh shiny" is a bad agency trait - so there's a balance to be struck.

I love Spotify and in particular the 'Discover Weekly' playlist which pushes new, old and interesting music at me. I'm lucky that I can plug myself in when I'm writing documents at work, trying to concentrate. As it happens, it's been particularly busy of late and when I'm really concentrating, I tend to gravitate to increasingly obscure Russian Orthodox 'Sacred Music'. It's a long story as to why, but I've alsways find it calming and because it's in Russian, I'm not distracted by the words (ooh shiny).

As a legacy of art college in the early '80s, it's fair to say, I do like a bit of 'miserable', (Cocteau Twins, Smiths et al), but I'm now creating a perfect storm of melancholy with suggestions from Spotify of pieces like 'Sorrow' - A reimagining of Gorecki's 3rd Symphony. or artists like 'A Winged Victory for the Sullen'. Sums it up really.

So how do I break out of this cycle without causing other unforeseen consequences for weeks to come? STEPS greatest hits, ELO's entire back catalogue? Too far.

It feels like a reverse of 'Cold Turkey' is required, gradually reintroducing things to nudge the algorithm - but not too much mind.

Perhaps I've just unwittingly created a whole new sub-genre of Spotify Playlists designed to move your 'Discover Weekly' tunes.

Meanwhile. Heaven knows I'm miserable now.