Why Your Spotify Algorithm Might Be Killing Your Creativity

In episode 18 of Signal Chain Stories, Mordio and I got real about something that's been gnawing at both of us lately: how the way we consume media directly shapes our creativity as artists.

Mordio made a switch that got me thinking. He completely ditched Spotify and built his entire music library from scratch using Doppler – including only tracks he intentionally bought. No algorithm. No endless scrolling. Just his curated catalog. The result? He started seeing patterns in his own taste he never noticed before. Patterns that are now directly influencing his ambient music direction.

Here's the thing: When you let algorithms feed you content, you're consuming what they think you should hear. Not what you actually need. Music becomes content. Endless. Disposable. And somewhere in that flood, your inner voice gets drowned out.

I've been feeling this with YouTube too. It's so easy to fall down rabbit holes – one minute you're researching MIDI controllers, the next you're watching dystopian AI takes at 2 AM. The algorithm wants your attention, not your growth.

So we asked ourselves: Is my current media consumption damaging my artistic perspective, or enhancing it?

If you're feeling creatively stuck right now, check your consumption habits first. What are you feeding your brain? Are you in the driver's seat, or is the algorithm? Because the artists who thrive long-term aren't the ones consuming the most – they're the ones consuming intentionally.

Mordio put it perfectly: "You have to believe in your taste. That's the only thing that makes you unique as an artist."

This episode really hit home for both of us. If you've been feeling the algorithm fatigue too, give it a listen. We dive deep into phone addiction, real-world inspiration, and why building your own curated world might be the creative reset you need.

You can also find the podcast on Spotify and all other streaming platforms: