Once again, I am hit with the absolute and utter chaos that were my poor music choices over the course of the year — Spotify Wrapped has dropped. 46,603 minutes, 6,442 songs, 2,806 artists and 93 albums later, my comprehensive review was ready for me to explore.
Spotify released the year’s music review on Dec. 3 with new statistics, including a “listening age” based on the user’s most-listened-to albums, an archive of AI-curated memorable moments in the year and six clubs to represent the various types of listeners.
My stats for this year were interesting to say the least. Toby Fox, Puzzle, Tame Impala, Daft Punk and Twenty One Pilots were the artists that showed up at the top of my list.
Fox is a video game developer and composer, known for his critically acclaimed creations, Undertale and Deltrarune. Not to out myself as a self-proclaimed nerd, but Fox has some of the best songs for studying and locking in. With moving instrumentals and uniquely addicting time signatures, his music is something that I know I can always count on when needing to sit down with my flashcards or never-ending homework sets.
Something a little more niche, Fletcher Shears is the mastermind behind one of my favorite electronic rock projects — Puzzle.
If I had a dollar for every time I mentioned Puzzle in conversation, I would be able to pay for every student’s tuition.
I adore Shears’ distinct synthesizer sounds and mesmerizing vocal style, where I am instantly taken to my happy place when I put on my headphones. Shears and other minds behind this type of music coined the term “vada vada,” meaning pure creative expression, when describing the total freedom that these sorts of projects have to offer to their listeners.
If you are into George Clanton or Panchiko, I recommend the various projects of Shears and his twin brother, Wyatt. Puzzle, Enjoy, The Garden and Turkey are all projects developed by them and have changed my life for the better.
A large attribution as to why Kevin Parker of Tame Impala was my third artist is due to his new album, which was released titled “Deadbeat” (even when it was an OK album to begin with). Regardless, the slower pace of many of his earlier albums is always fitting for late-night car rides with friends as we continue to procrastinate the growing pile of homework waiting for us back on campus.
Another hyperfixation of mine is the French electronic duo, Daft Punk. Did I cry when they broke up in 2021? Was I jumping for joy when I saw Thomas Bangalter do a set with DJ Fred Again? Has Daft Punk been on my Wrapped for the past six years now? All questions lead to a resounding yes, where much of my inclination toward music comes from these two incredible musicians.
To wrap it up, Twenty One Pilots made yet another appearance in my Wrapped in the fifth spot on my list. Tyler Joseph and Josh Dun have a special place in my heart, and my parents and I have the tradition of seeing them every time they tour (we are on concert number four).
For my top albums, Fox and Puzzle both make appearances. Video game soundtracks are a recurring theme for me, largely because they are often devoid of lyrics to help me stay focused while studying. Other soundtracks include pieces from “Sonic Mania” and “Silent Hill 2,” both of which I’m attached to because my sister and I grew up playing them together in our living room.
A new feature included in this year’s Wrapped was clubs — curated and assigned to the user based on the emotional feel of their music. I was placed into “Cosmic Stereo Club,” which “traverses terrestrial barriers with music,” and my seating is “entirely bean bags,” according to Spotify.
With all of those statistics, my Spotify Wrapped came to a close. Is it as perfect or as niche as I had hoped it to be? Not even close. But it’s distinctly me, and no one can deter me from my authenticity.
Kaelyn VanderSpek 
Isa Darisay