Love languages describe how people receive and express love in their relationships. There are five common love languages — words of affirmation, quality time, physical touch, acts of service and gift giving.
But, I would argue that there is a sixth: making someone a playlist.
Music is the way I connect with people. After meeting someone for the first time, I often ask them what type of music they listen to or what artists they enjoy. I do this because music is the gateway to the soul, as it reveals information about who a person truly is. Music can portray something deeper about the type of person they are.
A study published by the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology in 2022 explained how certain personality traits are associated with different music styles. It found positive correlations between extraversion and contemporary music, between agreeableness and mellow music and between conscientiousness and unpretentious music.
Because music can be such an important element in someone’s identity, the act of making someone a playlist should be held to the highest standard. It is an intentional and thoughtful gift that requires reflection and introspection about your connection with someone else.
Music has the ability to describe the indescribable.
The way artists can make a melody and stitch lyrics together to make something meaningful is as if they are creating a different language. Plain sentences do not have the same strength or the same emotional effect. Communication through music and playlist-making give people the courage to express their emotions, even when it's difficult.
Throughout my life, I have made a considerable amount of playlists for people. Some for my friends, others for my family — and a few for the occasional love interest. All these playlists have varied genres and song selections, but they all have one thing in common — they were made for people I care deeply about.
The time and energy I put into making a playlist for someone feels like an art form, and takes days for me to fully master. I pay attention to every single detail — from the title of the playlist to the order of the songs — and every decision is purposeful.
