If you’re anything like me, your music listening habits are somewhat…unique…

Basically, there are very few times in my life when I have a particular song or artist in mind that I HAVE to listen to at that particular moment.  More often than not, what I want to listen to is based on vague feelings or snippets in time (which might explain why I have an iTunes playlist labeled “Cool Fall Days” and another labeled “High School Girls”.) 

While this makes for some very descriptive (if somewhat odd) playlist titles, it also means that sometimes I can’t find exactly what I’m looking for- either because I don’t have time to sit down and make a playlist for it, or I haven’t discovered that one song that really captures what I’m feeling.  (P.S. note to Tim Cook, if you’re somehow reading this: find a way to make uploading all of my previous playlists easier.  I’m sick of reconstructing ALL of my playlists every time I get a new computer- it’s getting old.  End rant.)

What were we talking about again?  Ah yes, SONGZA– the single greatest invention since sliced bread.  Songza is free, internet based radio for those who don’t have a particular artist or song in mind, but know what kind of ambiance you’re looking for.

Here’s how it works- fire up their app or webapp, and you’ll get a pleasant dropdown menu with 5 or six options.  Songza knows what time of day it is, and asks you what kind of music you’re in the mood for at that particular moment.  For example, today it said:

It’s Wednesday Late Morning.  Play music for:

Working to a Beat

Working in an Office (SFW)

Drinking Gourmet Coffee

Hanging Out at Songza

Taking a Sunny Stroll

When you choose one of those options, Songza gets even more specific on you.  In this case, I chose “Taking a Sunny Stroll” and the software cheerily came back with: “We’ll play you music for an easy stroll on a sunny day. Just pick a style”:

An Uptown Jaunt

A Woodland Hike

A Classic Pop/Rock Walk

A Synthy Strut

A Dreamy Wander

Once you pick one of those options, the software gives you the choice of three different playlists that meet the criteria you selected.  That’s it- just hit play and jam on.

Just like most other music apps, you can save your favorite playlists, buy songs you discover in the app, and sync up with your friends on Facebook/Twitter/social media if you’re so inclined (be careful though, I total got caught listening to a playlist called “An Evening in 1960’s New York” that way…you’ve been warned.)

Check out their webapp here, or download the application for Android, Amazon Kindle, or iOS here.

 

p.s.- I might love Songza so much because my all time favorite category is “Walking Down the Street” and has the following AMAZING subcategories: “Rockin’ Leather Pants, Walking Away from Explosions, Struttin’ Down the Street, Swaggin’ Down the Block and…the best…Escaping a Cyberpunk Dystopia…for those times when you suddenly find yourself in the Matrix.