Are you as particular about the songs you play as I am? Now I know that sometimes my choice in music may not appeal to you… or everyone in my class for that matter.
I like the music… that I like 🙂
Do you have this same problem? How can I easily find music that I like, without spending a huge amount of time sampling hundreds of songs?
Occasionally I'll like a track that was suggested on Facebook, or one that's included in a playlist from another Instructor I follow on Spotify. But I don't find either method very efficient.
Lazify is a tool for Spotify (they call it an App) that creates a playlist of complimentary tracks, based on one “root” / “seed” song. I've been playing with it and have already discovered a bunch of songs that I've added to my Future to Use playlist, where I keep all of my new music ideas.
It's really easy to use:
In Spotify > RH side bar click App Finder.
Scroll down and select Lazify.
You'll now have a Lazify link added the side bar.
To create a new playlist, drag any track up to the Lazify link > the main window will display your new playlist. The drop-down offers options for the number of tracks. There are options to drag the whole playlist into another of your playlists, or select Save and Lazify will add this playlist to you others.
Here's the results for a playlist based on Heart — Barracuda as the root track. I'll let these tracks play in the background, until I hear something I like…
I'm hearing from Instructors outside of the USA who are switching from Spotify, over to Deezer.
Hi,
I have had Spotify for a long time now and have created lots of different playlists. I have recently just converted into using Deezer, however, it would be much easier for my Spotify playlists to be on Deezer instead!
Is this possible? If so, how do i do it?
Thanks
Cydnie.
Cyndie we created an ICI/PRO playlist conversion tool for just this occasion 🙂
Here's the steps to convert your Spotify playlist to one Deezer can play.
Step #1 Open and log in to Deezer in a new tab – clicking this link will do that for you. Note: Deezer is different from Spotify in that Deezer is a web application, vs. Spotify, which is a program that you install on your computer. Yes I know that Spotify also has a web version… I never had much luck using it and suggest you install the full program if you want to run Spotify on a laptop.
Step #2 Clicking this link will open our conversion tool in another tab. Scroll down the page and you should see that you're logged in to Deezer and a Please enter Spotify URI dialog box like this:
If you don't see this click the Log into Deezer link or refresh the conversion tool page.
Step #3 In Spotify, Right Click the playlist you want to convert and select Copy Spotify URI.
Step #4 Back at the conversion tool, Paste the URI you copied and click Convert. It will look like this:
Step #5 Success! Click the link to see your new Deezer playlist 🙂
A few notes:
Despite a lot of programming time, we weren't able to get Deezer to carry over the name of the playlist from Spotify. Renaming the Deezer playlist is a snap using the edit option shown below.
Check your new Deezer playlists for accuracy > differences between each service's music library and Meta Data = not every playlist will convert perfectly.
Any other questions?
Feel free to contact us like Cydnie did – we're happy to help.
So I'm sitting here putting together my class for tomorrow and I stumbled on this great track that I'm going to use as my playlist's intro-track. I wasn't looking for one, it just kinda jumped out and hit me between the ears saying; “lead with this one!”
What got my attention?
Few or no lyrics – so I can give an overview of the class
Tempo @ 90RPM or above – this one is right around 100
Needs a little punch that will get everyone's attention, when I crank it up 🙂
The track is called (appropriately enough) Intro from the band The xx, which will cross-fade into Little People — Start Shootin'. Next up will be The Weeks — Buttons where we'll do a series of openers to complete the warm-up, which will have us ready for some work.
Here's the whole playlist made up of (IMO) awesome, but unknown music… except the track Lana Del Rey — West Coast – Rob Orton Mix (doesn't she remind* you of Tori Amos?) which I've used before. My class is at 6 am tomorrow if you want to hear it on the very powerful sound system I have to play with at Life Time Fitness 🙂
*I've always loved Tori Amos — Cornflake Girl for a longish 5 min climb > turn it up and let everyone just pound to the top. Also, if you've got a lot of rhythmically challenged people in your class, Tori Amos — Spark is a great waltz where you can help all the men riders learn to follow the; one, two, three, one, two, three pedal strokes. It sure helped me.
Every once in awhile a really good person comes along in our industry that gives more than they receive. That's who is providing our Free Music Friday selection, and in fact a HUGE selection!
I found out about him on the Indoor Cycling Instructors Facebook Group. He remixes other DJ's mixes to make them more ‘cycle friendly' and he does it so well because he's an instructor himself.
I've been mixing in 3-4 of his mashes in each of my classes and without fail they say, “Great music!”
Deezer is very close to launching here in the USA. How close? Close enough to have changed their landing page from; coming soon… to offering you an opt-in form so you'll be notified as soon as they do 🙂
Streaming service Deezer closes Canadian office
Music streaming service Deezer has closed its Canadian office as part of a consolidation under its new North American headquarters in San Francisco, but says it will continue to operate a full service in the country.
A Deezer spokesperson said Deezer has laid off a small Toronto team that included managing director Justin Erdman but “Canada remains a very important focus.
“While our local management activities are moving, Deezer will continue to provide music editorial expertise on Canadian artists, reviewing established and emerging home-grown talent for music fans in Canada and the rest of the world.,” the spokesperson said.
At first glance, Deezer seems to be a carbon copy of Spotify; same monthly costs, similar device apps, similar catalogs, etc… I have been told that Deezer is going to update their app to include a cross-fade. IMO cross-fade is a must have!
But wait to see what happens next with Deezer. The industry experts I've talked to say Deezer is a more progressive company (read open-minded) which could/should lead to more third party software providers and App developers choosing to work with them. Just maybe we'll finally see an Instructor focused device applications like ClassBuilder or the Schwinn Class Tamer running Deezer music.
Here's an example of what I'm talking about. This iPad DJ mixing app called edjing runs Deezer, Soundcloud and your local iTunes MP3s. I'm dying to try it… but I can't right now because the app knows I'm in the USA.
Spotify plans Canadian launch The online music streaming service Spotify is hinting that it will be coming to Canada soon.
The online music streaming service Spotify is hinting that it will be coming to Canada soon.
The company, which was founded by Swedish entrepreneur Daniel Ek in 2006, pioneered the concept of granting Internet users access to a huge catalogue of music they could freely stream without having to purchase songs or albums a la carte.
Spotify had signalled in 2009 that it was looking to move into Canada within months but never did. But a number of competitors did launch in Canada in recent years, including Deezer, Rara, Rdio, Slacker, and most recently, Google Play Music.
No launch date for Spotify in Canada has been released but the company says users will start getting access to the service in the “coming months.” Canadians can register for early access at Spotify.ca
Let me know if you're in Canada and see that link not working – it's redirecting to the .com site so I'm not sure if I have it correct.
If Spotify follows their typical, controlled launch process – they will invite the early subscribers first. So sign up so you'll be notified.
