Research from McGill University shows that visual distraction increases musical pleasure by 18%. During Phase 2, put your phone face-down and just listen.
Spotify's autoplay feeds the same algorithmic loop. Turn it off in Settings → Playback. Let silence be the space between discoveries — not another recycled recommendation.
Staff picks bins contain human curation that no algorithm replicates. Stores like Amoeba, Rough Trade, and your local shop surface gems that streaming buried years ago.
Album credits reveal influence chains. When you see a musician played on five records you love, that's a discovery path no playlist will hand you. Follow the names.