The Best Spotify Playlists to Break Free of the Algorithm

It’s all too easy, when you’re searching for the best Spotify playlists, to get lost in a sea of generic, bland, AI-recommended options. Playlists with stock artwork and songs that blur into each other, with names like “Rainy Day Songs” or “90s Rap Workout” that betray the dearth of soul and inspiration to be found therein.

Thankfully, there is better stuff out there, and human curators that are deeply embedded in the music scene—and some are famous musicians themselves. The best Spotify playlists will stretch your musical taste, delight your ears, and introduce you to songs and artists you’d never heard of before. Don’t just settle for the first thing that comes up on your home page – have a listen to these instead.

The 100 Best Songs of the 2020s So Far (Pitchfork)

Whatever music you’re into, Pitchfork’s probably got an enormous Spotify playlist to help you get deeper into it—genre-specific collections, year-end roundups, and selections from albums awarded Pitchfork’s highest honor, Best New Music. A recent highlight: The playlist version of Pitchfork’s list of the 100 best songs of the 2020s, a typically eclectic list that takes in everyone from Lana Del Rey to Playboi Carti. It’s a great way to brush up on recent musical history, and maybe get acquainted with a banger or two you missed in the moment. Listen here.

Habibi Funk

Founded by the German DJ Jannis Stürtz, Habibi Funk is a record label dedicated to reissuing old Arabic pop that would otherwise be lost to time. Its catalog is always reliable, consisting of vintage disco, soul, funk and more, but with a Middle Eastern flavor in the vocals and melodies that makes it stand out from the usual Anglo-American stuff. The label’s Spotify playlist is a great primer on these sounds. Listen here.