How, and why, to create a Spotify blend playlist

The digital era has revolutionized how we flirt. Hitting on people now transcends the apps, in an inarguably humiliating combination of tasteful thirst traps, subtweets, and carefully curated emoji reactions. I firmly believe you can tell immediately when someone has a new crush because they start posting on their Instagram Stories about 10 percent more often.

For me, all of that is, at its core, boring as hell. The only way I actually want anyone to flirt with me online is with a Spotify blend playlist.

Like the mixtapes of our forefathers, sharing music is still the hottest way to tell someone you’re into them. But mixtapes and personalized playlists take a lot of time, effort, and knowledge of someone else’s taste — which you might not have in the first few weeks of dating. So I’d like to introduce you to the premium alternative: Spotify blend playlists.

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Blend allows two Spotify users to merge their musical tastes into one curated playlist. It creates what your music might sound like if you were to, say, pass the aux back and forth during a road trip, or while you’re cooking dinner together. Basically, a blend is going to show you what music you two have in common — and it gives you a fascinating opportunity to see if you like what that looks like. For instance, when I blend with my friend and bandmate Michael, we get a playlist full of Tyler, The Creator and bubblegrunge; when I blend with my friend and roommate Izzy, we get a lot of Doja Cat and indie pop. 

Spotify blend is the hottest way to digitally flirt with anyone, full stop. You can romanticize your relationship through it, make fun of each other’s music taste, and lean into what you have in common.

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“The fun thing about music is that it can take you to a time and place, and you can relive those shared moments and experiences with someone else through a song,” Spotify Associate Designer Rosie Maharjan said when the feature was released in June. “Blend is a simple way to show someone you’re thinking about them. It’s small but so thoughtful and offers an avenue to get to know new friends or catch up with old ones.”

To use the feature, click the search button in the middle of your bottom menu on the Spotify app. Then, scroll down to “Made for you.” Now, you should see a section titled “Made for two,” which will include all of the blends you’ve made so far, and an option to “Create a blend.” Click that, choose the option “invite,” and send it to whoever you think is hottest. Once they accept, Spotify will automatically generate custom cover art and a new playlist that combines your listening preferences and tastes.

I’m not saying creating a Spotify blend with someone you think is hot is the only good way to flirt with someone online today — I’m just saying it’s the best way.