Thanks to advances in AI technology, Spotify seems to have figured out that my mood is a rollercoaster, influenced by everything from the weather to the number of Canvas assignments due. The result? Daylist: a feature that turns your day into a playlist. “It updates frequently between sunup and sundown with a series of highly specific playlists made for every version of you,” Spotify’s website said. “You’ll get new tracks at every update, plus a new title that sets the mood of your daylist.”
I am a true Spotify warrior, and best believe I am inching my way toward maximizing my Spotify Wrapped minutes through constant music consumption. Though the feature has been out for over a year, I’ve remained curious about the results every day. What does Spotify think my vibe is in the morning versus at night? Is it accurate? Does it influence my mood or just reflect it? With those questions in mind, I decided to track a typical week, checking my daylist twice a day, Monday to Sunday. Here’s how it went.
Monday
Morning: “gentle soft monday morning”
Spotify said I listen to songs with coffee and mulled cider vibes, whatever that means. I’m greeted with “Terrapin” by Clairo, “Tttttime” by Faye Webster and “Comfort Me” by Malcolm Todd. Mondays are my “let’s pretend I’m OK” days, where I’m crawling out of bed, trying my best to be a functioning college student. The soft energy matched the way I move through Monday mornings: slow, tired and unsure.
Night: “thinking about them hopecore monday night”
This playlist said I’m leaning into dance rap and bachelorette party energy, with tracks like “Hoe Cakes” by MF DOOM, “Moonlight on the River” by Mac DeMarco and “Cigarettes out the Window” by TV Girl. Overall, a mix of upbeat and dreamy vibes. Was I feeling this upbeat? Not really. But the playlist gave me just enough momentum to get through homework while pretending the weekend wasn’t already behind me.
Tuesday
Morning: “chill hip hop jazz rap tuesday morning”
East Coast hip hop and lyrical vibes lead the way with “WHAT A DAY” by Tyler, The Creator, “One Wish” by Ravyn Lenae and “Psilocybae (Millennial Love)” by Childish Gambino. With an almost three-hour journalism class ahead, these chill vibes helped me make peace with sitting still for so long.
Night: “chill indie tuesday night”
Alternative R&B and indie mellowed things out with “Cheer Me On” by Malcolm Todd, “Sweet Life” by Frank Ocean and “Helmet” by Steve Lacy. This one was spot-on, exactly the kind of music I usually wind down with before bed. It didn’t change my mood, but it matched it perfectly.
Wednesday
Morning: “infatuated neo soul wednesday morning”
“Palace/Curse” by The Internet, “West Savannah” by Isaiah Rashad and “ENTROPY” by Daniel Caesar started my day with smooth, upbeat energy. I wasn’t necessarily feeling “infatuated,” but the soulful tone guided me through the morning with a little more grace than usual.
Night: “grind time football wednesday night”
According to Spotify, I needed dance rap and basketball vibes. “I Serve the Base” by Future, “Never Stop” by ian and “Neon Guts” by Lil Uzi Vert brought the intensity. Wednesday tends to be my busiest day of the week, so a playlist with high energy fit well as I tried to finish assignments and prep for the next day.
Thursday
Morning: “chill hip hop laid back thursday morning”
With songs like “Doves In The Wind” by SZA, “Waves” by Joey Bada$$ and “Kevin’s Heart” by J. Cole, this playlist leaned into steady, thoughtful vibes. I was easing into the day, trying to stay focused without overexerting myself. It didn’t necessarily shift my mindset, but it aligned with my slow approach to tackling the day.
Night: “movie soundtrack cinematic thursday night”
I’ve been hooked on the Sinners soundtrack, and Spotify clearly noticed. “Last Time (I Seen the Sun)” by Alice Smith and Miles Caton and “Pale, Pale Moon” by Jayme Lawson set a dramatic, main-character tone. This playlist didn’t just reflect my mood, it confirmed that Spotify was probably monitoring my Letterboxd.
Friday
Morning: “immaculate vibes r&b friday morning”
Spotify described this playlist as boujee and euphoric, and the songs reflect that: “Don’t Wanna Fall In Love” by KYLE, “Dreams, Fairytales, and Fantasies” by A$AP Ferg and “All I Want Is You” by Miguel. I didn’t wake up in the best mood, but this mix helped me fake one.
Night: “tough basketball friday night”
A sharp pivot from the morning, but a necessary one. “STILL IN THE PAINT” by Denzel Curry, “ILUV” by Yeat and “squabble up” by Kendrick Lamar helped me shed the long-winded week. I needed high energy, and Spotify understood the assignment. This playlist helped me flip the switch into weekend mode.
Saturday
Morning: “rhythmic nonchalant saturday morning”
Floaty and passion-filled tracks like “Real Man” by beabadoobee, “Sienna” by the Marías and “still love you (todavía)” by The Tulips. An unusual Saturday where I had no plans, no worries and no alarm. Spotify captured that perfectly.
Night: “r&b slow jams saturday night”
Smooth and introspective, this playlist featured “Use Your Heart” by SWV, “Waste My Time” by Essosa and “stranger” by Jhené Aiko. I wasn’t doing anything major Saturday night, so the slower pace matched where I was at.
Sunday
Morning: “alternative rap calm sunday morning”
This playlist had chill and experimental rap vibes like “Babies & Fools” by Freddie Gibbs & The Alchemist, “Creme’s Interlude” by Pink Siifu and “Amherst Station” by Westside Gunn. Since I was headed to work for a few hours, this mix helped me stay grounded while keeping my thoughts moving.
Night: “tough 808 sunday night”
Fraternity and energetic vibes emerged with “No Pole” by Don Toliver, “Mo Chicken” by BossMan Dlow and “EoO” by Bad Bunny. It’s like Spotify knew I was trying to psych myself up to face the horrors of Monday. Again.
After tracking my daylist all week, I’d say Spotify got it mostly right. Sometimes the playlist matched my mood perfectly; other times, it nudged me in a different direction. I didn’t mind when the music didn’t align with how I was feeling—if anything, it felt like a gentle push toward a vibe I didn’t know I needed. Either way, it shaped how I moved through the day. I even started looking forward to seeing what title I’d get each time. It was like a musical fortune cookie.
So yeah, maybe it’s cheesy to say “music gets me through,” but after this week, I’d have to agree.
