HaveYou Unlocked/LockedYour Music Playlist in a Bottle?

Last year, music streaming service Spotify uncorked a whimsical and interactive gem - the ability to lock your favourite songs in a time capsule. Not a few jumped on it, exploring the future nostalgia (thanks Dua Lipa) that came with such a feature.

Imagine locking your musical vibes in a gumball machine, a bottle, a jean pocket, a lunchbox, or even a teddy bear for an entire year. Now, this year’s options have elevated the creative storage game with a wheelie bin, a snow globe, a rice cooker, a flip phone, and yes, a bird’s nest. Quirky, right?

Next, listeners are asked to select three songs to begin the playlist adventure. But here’s the twist— the playlist adventure is shaped by curated prompts. For instance, you can be asked to select a song that reminds you of your favourite person, or a song you need to hear live this year. In my case, I chose the live performance of Flavour’s ‘Big Baller,’ (it’s my current music obsession).

The prompts make the task fun, ranging from the peculiar to the romantically whimsical to even the future. I particularly liked the prompt about a song that one can play for aliens when they visit the Earth. Oh, another favourite was “a song you’re going to kiss someone to this year,” (curly toes anyone?). Then there is the prompt about a song your great-grandkids will be confused by. I definitely chose ‘Divano’ by the French new-age musical band Era, the group that brought us ‘Ameno’ which had a terrific comeback three years ago, thanks to Goya Menor’s remix. I can imagine the look on their faces when they see me swooning to a song whose lyrics are basically indecipherable.

These prompts make Spotify’s Playlist in a Bottle unique, and not just another mixtape. Of course, one can always play their favourite songs by searching for them or by curating a playlist. With Spotify’s Playlist in a Bottle, however, memories are captured in musical notes, making it a melodic time capsule.

If I decide ‘Peru’ by Fireboy DML is my ode to my favourite person, unlocking it next year becomes a cherished moment, a flashback to the decision I made in the past. As Spotify’s Managing Director for SubSaharan Africa, Jocelyne Muhutu-Remy puts it, it allows listeners to “connect with their musical selves from the past.”

Now that last year’s playlist pioneers have unlocked their auditory treasures, the musical adventure is open for a revisit. And for those who missed the initial voyage, good news – the interactive feature is back until January 31, 2024. Just remember, you can only lock your music once, so choose those songs wisely to rekindle the musical notes of your past self.