Dale, che!

Cê não tava com a gente na Praçinha da Vila B no 7x1?

Things are totally out of hand, no doubt. I'm going full force into indie, community-based concerts now 'cause there's no way I can keep Ticketmaster in my payroll.

For very specific stuff I listen to occasionally, I keep a well-organized digital library. I miss spending time with it—reviewing and expanding my digital collection—so I might set aside time for that soon. It’ll be fun.

I also collect LPs and 78s, which are reserved for listening rituals. I’ve been making more space for those lately, and that’s where I go deep into the experience. I buy both old and new records, often directly from artists at concerts or through their websites.

I should add that I also have an actual radio in my kitchen, and I have a wonderful time listening to my city’s late-night broadcasts—real shows curated by people who care about and study their repertoire, no algorithmic slop. So there’s always an element of chance built into listening.

Still, I’m open to trying other platforms until I get a real sense of what’s out there. In fact, I’m excited to keep exploring. One thing is certain: I won’t be going back to Spotify. They offer the worst product, and they’re neither more affordable nor more user-friendly.

By the end of the trial, I decided to move on. I bought a new pair of AirPods and received three free months of Apple Music (my thinking was, this basically gave me a $30 discount on the earbuds). The sound quality there is solid too, and it integrates seamlessly with my computer.

My biggest concern was losing years’ worth of carefully curated playlists, but in a way, that loss felt liberating. Without playlists, I opened myself up to change.

First, I signed up for Tidal’s one-month free trial—just to ease out of my old habits without going cold turkey. The sound quality was noticeably better, which made me pay closer attention to the listening itself. That, in turn, became a joy on its own.