Dear Spotify, we need to talk

Why are you the way that you are?

Credits: Cottonbro Studio / Pexels

Dear Spotify,

I vividly remember the first time I saw you. You were dressed in green with a shade of gray that I cherish and hold close to my heart. I crossed the borders for you (with a VPN), just to spend quality time together. You tamed the pirate in me and treated me with music I’d have had to put extra effort to find elsewhere.

When you finally decided to visit me here in India, I was on cloud nine. Little did I know it was a short-lived joy until I realized you forgot the check-in baggage at the airport. It took us years of legal battles to finally get our stuff back. Was all that for nothing, Spotify?

Looking back, I know exactly when things started going wrong in our relationship — the moment you started pushing podcasts. And don’t tell me I never warned you. I had tried convincing you to stop overdoing podcasts, but alas, it fell on deaf ears.

Did you ghost me, Spotify? When did my words stop mattering to you? You made promises you didn’t keep and here I’m, screaming to a screen on the internet. Speaking of ghosting, I even wrote you an open letter a couple winters back, in hopes of hearing from you. Months passed and years went by in vain, as I continue tuning in to music at 320 kbps, which you claim is “Very High Quality” (Narrator voice: It’s not).

I understand what’s going on. You’re now listening to the investors you told me not to worry about, aren’t you? Did our relationship mean nothing to you? As The Verge rightly pointed out, your “new” design is “part TikTok, part Instagram, and part YouTube”. And look what you have become:

You’ve changed, Spotify. I don’t even recognize you anymore. Credits: Spotify

Who are you trying to impress, Spotify? The investors? TikTokers? Instagrammers? YouTubers? I know it’s hard to hear it, but let me say it out loud: In pursuit of chasing new shiny things, I think you lost elements that made you you. Your consistency across platforms, your neat interface, your seamless casting experience? Are you willing to throw that all away to entice a bunch of new users? You’re better than that.

I think it’s best for us to take a break. And no, you don’t have to worry about me. I’ll date your cool cousin Apple Music for now. I think we might hit it off. 🙈

Not yours anymore,
Subin

P.S: Treat time! I watched a movie called Triangle of Sadness last night. It’s a brilliant take on classism, gender roles, and interpersonal relationships. I later got to know it is one of the nominees for the 2023 Academy Award for Best Picture. The best part? It’s now in a cinema hall near you. Trust me, you won’t regret it (excluding a specific disgusting 15-minute segment. Alright, won’t give spoilers. Off you go, back to doomscrolling). Until next time!