Update - 11/20/2024

I got got by the AI music generation machine. I'm pretty embarrassed. Morehere. Keeping the original post below for obvious posterity.

The YouTube algorithm got me again and this time it is for some smooth jazzy bops. A curious YouTube channel and its videos cropped up in my feed under the name "what is ?" The thumbnails are retro and tactile. It sort of reminds me of the glory days of Poolsuite FM or that Wave Race 64 poolside video.1

Anyway, I finally clicked on (a). sip and was surprised to be met with exact kind of music I like to throw on in the background with whatever I am doing, like writing this very blog post. Then I was surprised to find the music on Music (or Spotify, if that's your jam). Instant add to my library.

I suppose I shouldn't be surprised. YouTube knows what I like to listen to thanks to years of on and off listening there. Even after years of living with the "algorithm," with all its ups and downs, it has a recommendation that leads to surprise and delight.

All I can figure out about what is ? is there are apparently in South Korea and uploaded all these albums within the last three weeks. Would love to find out more some day.

Footnotes

  1. I still love opening the Poolsuite FM app every now and then (Tokyo Disco channel til I die), but I still find it a shame that the founder and company fully embraced web3 and crypto. I still think the story of "summer vibes music app to sunscreen in Target" is a good branding lesson to study though. Such style. Much fun. ↩