The data is securely locked in and disclaimers are popping up on social media. Yes, the much-anticipated Spotify Wrapped has arrived. The year-end musical roundup has held us captive since 2016, and the reason is crystal clear: it allows us to delve deeper into our own psyche. Analyzing our typically private, headphone-clad listening habits, the streaming app transforms them into a show-and-tell, statistic-packed slideshow summarizing the last 11 months.
Depending on whether your top song, artist, genre, or podcast is boast- or roast-worthy, it can trigger an almost overwhelming urge to share on your Instagram Story. Perhaps it’s the confirmation you needed to cement your superfan status in the community of Swifties or a chance to publicly showcase your unique taste in music. On the flip side, it can equally fill us with fear and has created a wave of preemptive excuses on social media ahead of results day.
Last year, Spotify shared in-depth insights on our “audio aura,” music moods broken down into six colors from high-energy orange to calm green. It also revealed 12 distinct music personalities, including The Shapeshifter that chases newness and The Alchemist, who constantly creates unique playlists. The Spotify Wrapped 2024 report skipped these in-depth insights (much to the consteration of some social media users . . . ) but according to therapists, our results can still tell us something about who we are.
Experts Featured in This Article
Becky Spelman, PhD, is a psychologist based in Ireland and the founder at Private Therapy Clinic
What Spotify Wrapped Results Really Say About Who We Are
“Our top artists, genres, and songs can offer insights into our state of mind throughout the year, reflecting our moods, interests, and experiences,” psychologist Becky Spelman, PhD, tells PS. “They can potentially trigger negative emotions during certain periods of the year if the songs present a reminder of difficult times.” The impact of our song choices isn’t just day-to-day but comes into play during various ups and downs we face throughout the year, shaping our overall mental and emotional well-being. Certain songs can evoke nostalgic or bittersweet memories.
This year’s Wrapped looks back at how your listening habits have changed throughout the year. And when you think back to what was going on during the months they spotlight, you may be able to connect the dots and figure out why you were listening to, say, The Tortured Poets Department on repeat in June (when you were going through a breakup) and Chappell Roan or Charli XCX in September (when you were getting back to dating again).
Another trait Spotify Wrapped is great at outing is habitual repeaters. Confession time: I’m one of them. I tend to have one album that becomes the soundtrack to a certain chapter of my life; I listen on loop, especially if I’m feeling nervous. And it turns out, there’s a reason for this. “Listening to the same song on repeat could indicate a strong emotional connection or resonance with the lyrics. It allows the listener to dictate their environment and find comfort in repetition and familiarity. It can also suggest that the listener has a desire for control,” Dr. Spelman says. In situations that make us feel uneasy, it makes sense to turn to something that provides comfort, without fear of a random, new song disturbing your peace.
Of course, it’s not just your Wrapped that unearths some truths about your well-being — how you react to it is part of the allure. While it’s a popular way to bond with others over a universal shared love of music, it can make us feel pressure to fit in. “Feeling anxiety over unconventional artists or songs in your Spotify Wrapped could indicate a desire to appear cool or conform to societal expectations. It may reflect a person’s need for validation and a fear of being perceived as out of touch,” Dr. Spelman says. “It can reveal aspects of our psyche, such as feelings of pride or superiority, insecurity, or vulnerability. It cleverly exposes our music preferences and can evoke various emotions and self-perceptions.” Which is the reason it’s worth showing to your therapist. While you might withhold thoughts and feelings in a session, Spotify Wrapped exposes them via the medium of music.
Spotify Wrapped itself may bring up mixed emotions, but it shouldn’t dissuade you from listening to the music that gets you going. Be your authentic self and lean into that random musicals playlist you love or the ’70s soul that features highly on your Wrapped. Besides, the positive impact music has on our mental health, from reducing stress and alleviating anxiety to being a form of self-expression and stimulating dopamine release, is far superior. So, if you’re still belting out “The Bar Song” in the shower every morning, then own it. If you don’t want to share it with the world, send it to your therapist instead.
— Additional reporting by Mirel Zaman
Siobhan O’Connor is a PS contributor.
Mirel Zaman (she/her) is the health and fitness director at PS. She has over 15 years of experience working in the health and wellness space, covering fitness, general health, mental health, relationships and sex, food and nutrition, spirituality, family and parenting, culture, and news.
