When people hear the word hack, they might think of techno artists Orbital and The Prodigy or maybe a hacker in a black hoodie. However, there is a whole lot more to musical hacking than those two things.
Most creative industries have a tight-knit group of tastemakers and movers and shakers. These are the powerbrokers who have their fingers on the pulse and can sniff out fakes in a heartbeat.
1. Start with a good playlist.
A good playlist can make a huge difference for anyone using Musically, whether they’re going through a breakup, having fun at a party, or even just working. But there’s a lot of music out there, and finding the right songs for your playlist can be difficult.
But there are some tips that can help you create a good playlist. For example, you should try to stick to a theme when choosing songs. This will ensure that your playlist stays focused and doesn’t get too confusing. Additionally, it’s a good idea to include some upbeat or energetic songs to keep the energy going.
Another tip is to make sure that your playlist has a good mix of genres. This will allow you to appeal to a wider audience and hopefully get more people to listen to your playlist. Additionally, you should also consider the tempo of your playlist. You want your playlist to be easy on the ears, so avoid using any songs that are too loud or long.
One last thing to remember is that it’s important to update your playlist regularly. This will keep it fresh and interesting, and will also ensure that the algorithm will continue to show your playlist to others. Also, don’t forget to add a description to your playlist to help encourage people to listen.
There are a lot of things that go into creating a good Musically playlist, but the most important thing is to have fun with it! And don’t be afraid to experiment with new sounds and styles. You never know – you might find a whole new genre that you love.
It’s also important to think about how your playlist fits into the bigger picture of the music industry. While it would be cool to hack the system and become a huge star, that’s not really possible. The truth is that the people who run the industry are a tight-knit group of tastemakers and movers and shakers who have their ears to the ground. They know who-knows-who and will shut the door on anyone who tries to game the system.
3. Make a good mix.
There are some heuristics that are immune to hacking, like the ability to make a good mix. A well-made track will stand out compared to its peers, whether it’s through better bass or louder snare drums.
But one heuristic that’s extremely vulnerable to hacking is visual exposure, or the idea that if you see an artist everywhere, they must be a big deal. Follower count is a dangerously powerful number that has turned musicians into content-producing machines.
4. Have fun.
Hackers have always had a great sense of fun. In the early days of the MIT hacker movement, they played practical jokes on the university’s dot-matrix printers and explored the rooftops and tunnels of the school. More recently, they’ve used their skills to play music on the piano and other instruments, and to create visual art that combines code and imagery. They’ve even hacked people on musically!
This weekend, hundreds of people met in Cambridge MA for the Boston Music Hack Day 2013. The event was held at Microsoft NERD – a fabulous facility that makes it possible to host all kinds of programmer events.
The hacks ranged from games to music learning tools and programs designed to create, manipulate and remix music. One of my favorites was String Theory – a musical instrument and sound sculpture built from yearn and stretch sensors and powered by an Arduino. Another was a terminal application that lets you rearrange music.
There were many other amazing hacks – too many to cover here. I’d like to give a special shout-out to the organizers of this event, Elissa and Matt. They did a lot of work behind the scenes, including finding the venue, wrangling sponsors and volunteers, making a mega Costco food run, dealing with A/V, running registration and designing t-shirts. They are the unsung heroes of the hacker community!
Music Hack Day was an incredibly successful event and I’m proud to have been a part of it. If you’re interested in going to a future event, check out the schedule here. There’s also a list of upcoming hacker conferences.
Trying to hack musically can be tricky, especially since the platform has some pretty strict Terms of Service. If you break any of those rules, your account could be deleted or suspended. That’s why it’s important to be aware of the rules and follow them closely. If you do that, you can have a safe and enjoyable musically experience. Good luck!