I’ve always loved curating #music, from making mixtapes as a kid to building playlists that reflect my moods, seasons, and energy. But lately, I’ve found myself relying on #Spotify’s Discover Weekly, marveling at how well it seems to know me—until I started questioning if I’m truly discovering music or just passively consuming it. The rise of algorithm-driven playlists and even AI-generated artists has blurred the line between authentic discovery and convenience. This realization led me to reflect on how passive consumption shapes not just how I listen to music but how I eat, shop, and engage with the world around me. In this piece, I explore the subtle ways I’ve tried to reclaim intentionality in a world that constantly pushes us toward ease. Are we really listening—or just letting the algorithm hum along in the background?