How well do the people closest to us really know our music taste? They might know our favourite food and daily routines, but when it comes to the songs we play on repeat and the artists we listen to in private, Spotify might know us best.
That’s the idea behind Spotify’s Your Spotify Knows You Best campaign. Four Nigerian content creators, Tobe Szn, Demi AK, Amy and Salem, put their partners and siblings to the test, challenging them to predict their favourite artists, repeat tracks and everyday listening habits. The results brought a few surprises, proving that even those closest to us might not know our soundtrack as well as Spotify does.
Here’s how their loved ones fared.
Knowing the Person Behind the Playlist
Tobe Szn’s sister knew about his determination, his instinct to stand up for others, and the ambitions he had carried since childhood. She was also familiar with his interest in Afrobeats, Jazz and Gospel.
His listening history offered more detail about his musical preferences. Among the tracks in the mix was Jay-Z’s Oceans, while his sister correctly identified Ayra Starr as his favourite Nigerian non-Gospel artist.
A Confident Prediction Falls Short
Demilade, popularly known as Demi AK, had a confident challenger in her fiancé, Jeremy, who rated his knowledge of her at 10 out of 10 before the challenge began.
He described her as organised, curious and well-read, and expected her musical preferences to include Taylor Swift and Sabrina Carpenter. Her listening history revealed a wider mix, with Taylor Swift, Davido, Timbaland, Pitbull and Bad Bunny among her top artists.
Pitbull’s Hotel Room Service even featured in her morning routine. Despite his confidence, Jeremy finished with a score of five out of 10.
Music Taste Changes, Too
Amy’s sister recalled her as a determined and outspoken child who had grown into a calmer adult, increasingly focused on work and content creation.
She expected Amy’s music taste to centre on Afrobeats, R&B and Gospel, but scored six out of 10 when asked to predict her preferences.
Familiarity Has its Limits
Salem’s wife knew the details of his everyday routine, from his early morning walks and preference for fried yam with egg sauce to his reading habits and evening listening sessions.
She could also identify Nobody Gets Me as a song he plays repeatedly. She knew that Gospel and older R&B were his go-to genres on difficult days. However, identifying his other repeat songs and estimating how many hours he spent listening proved more challenging.
Salem ultimately awarded her points out of love, adding a light-hearted end to their challenge.
What Our Music Says About Us
Our music taste has a way of revealing sides of us that even our closest friends and family might miss. They may know us inside out, but our favourite artists, repeat songs, and listening habits can tell a different story.
