Spotify Playlist Submission Guide

Thank you for your interest in my Spotify playlists! This guide is an overview of what I look for for my lists and the best ways to reach me.

No Songs Through Email or Direct Messages, Please!

I prefer using SubmitHub for its quick, efficient workflow.

I accept both paid (Premium) and free (Standard) submissions — but may not always have Standards enabled, depending on my workload. If my Standards aren’t open, please try again later!

As of September 12, 2023, I am only accepting songs for the following playlists. The rest will be back once life slows down again! Thanks for your patience!

Consider Fit Before Submitting

I evaluate songs based on TECHNICAL MERIT and AESTHETIC FIT. Very often, I’ll like a song, but won’t have a list for it. For me, the listener experience is everything, so I’m rigid in what I look for.

Please listen to the playlist you’re submitting to and verify that your work fits. Some things I look for are (but are not exclusive to):

• Arrangement
• Energy levels and flow
• Flourishes (e.g. noise crackle, nature sounds, etc.)
• Genre
• Instrumentation
• Lyrical style
• Mixing style and quality
• Mood
• Rhythm pacing and density
• Sound design
• Subject matter
• Tempo
• Tone and timbre
• Vocal tone and processing.

My Background and Motives

I’m a musician too, so I want to make sure you folks get value. Wherever I can give you a push, I will.

That said, my background means I’m very particular about songs, so I don’t flex on selection criteria often (if ever).

A few notes about my preferences:

• While I want to help all artists, I especially want to lift up minorities and fellow Canadians. If you belong to either group, let me know!
• I’m fond of non-English music! French, Spanish, and Korean are my favourites, but I’m open to all languages.
• Lyrically, I prefer abstractions and analogies over plain statements.
• I lean towards unique interpretations over soundalikes.
• I usually prefer modern aesthetics over vintage ones. When featuring retro content, I prefer modern polish in the mix.
• My lists include major and independent music, but I prefer promoting smaller creators.
• I’m sleepy and so are my lists. With exception of the driving and exercise ones, I strongly prefer slow, chilled, and mellowed music.

My Listening Environment

In the studio, I listen on Beyerdynamic DT 1990 or Beyerdynamic DT 1770 headphones and I run them through SoundID Reference so I can hear your work in a balanced, transparent way.

On the road, I use the Sony WF-1000XM3 earbuds or the Sony WF-1000XM5 headphones.

I Need to Hear Your Words Clearly

I care a lot about lyrical content, so I have a strong preference for songs with clear, unprocessed vocals. Please also send in lyric sheets if you have them!

Avoid Sending These Elements

Please know I seldom (or never) accept:

• Political content
• Hateful or malicious content
• Heavy use of vocal processing (e.g. autotune, etc.) or mumbling
• Unfinished or uneven mixes (PLEASE only send finalized audio)
• DEEP twang
• Recordings of birds or other forms of nature (e.g. running water, crashing waves, rustling grass, etc.)
• Recordings of kids playing
• Recordings of spoken word (in large quantities).

Send Finished Tracks Only

I realize folks look for pre-release feedback, but for playlists, I only accept finalized tracks. Happy to offer feedback and works in progress, but I cannot offer placements until the song is finished.

Not All Playlists Are Equal

Full disclosure: Flow State and Focus Instrumentals are my main lists and receive the most listens. (Flow Beats is said to do well too, though I don’t have a song in there to verify that data.) Please take this into account and make sure you’re getting the most out of your budget!

Playlist-Specific Tips

Each playlist has distinct needs. Here are some guidelines for the most popular ones:

Flow Beats

• Largely progressive house, deep house, and tech house, but can include other flow-centric genres.
• Songs are often under 128BPM.
• Instrumentation shouldn’t include aggressive or buzzy tones. (I love saws, but for this context, filtered please.)
• Atmospheric feel and organic sound design are encouraged.
• Repetitive motifs work if they evolve over time.

Flow State

• Largely lo-fi, ambient, and downtempo instrumentals. Sometimes future garage. Vocals can work in very small quantities.
• Leans towards clean, organic aesthetics instead of dusty, retro ones.
• Heavy pitch wavering and repetitive sampling are strongly discouraged.
• Harmonic progressions should resolve cleanly, pleasantly, and expand over time.
• Prominent, catchy motifs are great when used in moderation.
• Rhythms should promote momentum but not be so busy that they distract the listener.

Focus Instrumentals

• Gentle, slow, sparse, minimalistic, and unobtrusive pieces.
• Largely solo piano. On rare occasions, other instruments work but they must be INCREDIBLY subdued.
• Tempos should be slow and articulations soft throughout. Sequences rarely move quicker than eighth notes.
• Constant, unwavering motifs (e.g. repeating broken chords, arpeggios, etc.) seldom work because they can feel like marching. If they have flowing qualities, they may fit.
• Accepted songs have a minimum of drama.

Slow Down

• Largely ambient and highly subdued instrumentals. Imagine floating in still water.
• The mood should be peaceful and serene above all else.
• A minimum amount of fluttering or oscillating elements. Slow movement only!
• Noisy textures, bell-like tones, tense harmonies, dramatic shifts, and percussion seldom fit.
• Grand, cinematic ambience is better suited on Slow Down’s sister list, Freedom.

Cozy

• Imagine yourself swaddled in a blanket, cradling a cup of hot chocolate. If the song supports that image, it’s a good fit.
• Sleepy instrumentals. Not as minimal as Focus Instrumentals, but songs shouldn’t rouse listeners.
• Largely positive in mood, though some complexity through darkness is also okay! Brooding and lament are too far.

Laidback Lounge

• Imagine yourself melting into a couch, favourite drink in hand, and favourite person in the other. The night is full of discourse – and hopefully intrigue. That’s the vibe.
• Low tempos and groove are key. Sophistication and interest are important. Restraint is also appreciated.
• The mood is dark, ambiguous, and chilled. “Slinky” or “childlike” are too far on either side.
• Songs are usually hiphop or lo-fi instrumentals. Sometimes, R&B crooners make appearances.

Interested in the other lists? Please listen to their recent additions for reference.

Send One Song at a Time

Please send one song at a time. It’s best to get feedback on one track and tailor subsequent submissions with that knowledge. Save yourself money and time!

Want Specific Feedback? Ask for It!

I want you to get the most of our engagement. I’m not offering deep reviews, but if you want thoughts on specific elements, please ask and I’ll do my best where time allows.

Placement Duration

Ideally, placements will last for months. (Some songs have been in there for YEARS.) In practice, it depends on how well the song fits with a list’s overall feel.

Sometimes I make mistakes; additions may have shorter lives because they don’t fit as well as I originally thought. If I have concerns about longevity, I will always do my best to communicate that up front, but listening in context is the only surefire way to make sure things work.

As new songs enter, the lists change, so I regularly remove songs to keep the experiences tight.

A Perspective on Declines

If I decline your song, there’s nothing wrong with it and there’s nothing wrong with you — it’s just a mismatch of goals.

If you’re open to it, please review my feedback. I want to help you decide if I’m the right fit. If I’m not, I encourage you to send your music elsewhere to get the most from your time and budget.