The Real-Life Soundtrack #1
RLST is the human version of Spotify's Discover Weekly. This AI-free 10-song playlist brings back the magic of discovering new favorite artists through passionate conversations with music buddies.
Hi! It’s so nice to meet you!
I’m Cristian Amaral. From now on I’ll hit your inbox weekly with 10 handpicked musical recommendations taken from my extensive background.
Think of me as a passionate music researcher who will bring you a refined selection of songs from different genres and decades.
I truly believe in those two things:
Music is the opposite of prejudice, the way it touches human souls while making no distinctions. So you'll find here an open-minded playlist with classics and obscure gems.
There's no AI or algorithm capable of replacing human sensibility.
There will be no frontiers in this newsletter. Eventually, you'll detect a pattern (most of my favorite genres orbit around rock 'n' roll), but I might surprise you sometimes.
I consume pop music as much as I challenge myself with strange, aggressive songs.
Not to mention that I'm Brazilian. I grew up surrounded by incredible music. I'm very proud of my heritage. 💚
That being said, I think I have some intriguing thoughts and perceptions to share, and I'll put them to the test with The Real-Life Soundtrack Newsletter.
RLST was made to fit smoothly into your crazy daily life. It will be short, right to the point, yet plenty of emotions and discoveries.
And the best of all - there won't be any AI or algorithms guiding my recommendations. If you're tired of misguided suggestions from Spotify or YouTube Music, you're in the right place, my friend.
I'm honored and grateful for your attention. I sincerely wish to make it up to you by bringing some pleasure to your life - the kind that only good music can do.
So let's add some new songs to the soundtrack of your life! 🔥
🔎 Here's what you're going to find on The Real-Life Soundtrack:
Hidden Treasures
(Why does no one else talk about this?)
Brazilian Spice
Sonic History
Discoveries of the Week
🤔 Hidden Treasures
(Why does no one else talk about this?)
Remember those albums you treasure and NOBODY talks about?
Mannequin (2013), from Sun and Sail Club, is one of those. There are top-notch instrumentals, driven by powerful riffs and tons of groove. When there are vocals, it's always with a vocoder (that ‘robot voice’), and believe me: it works!
These guys created a new - yet familiar - exciting type of heavy music. And I'm inviting you to join the cult.
🇧🇷 Brazilian Spice
If you haven't heard Outras Palavras (1981) from Caetano Veloso yet, I'm pretty sure you won't think: "Oh, this reminds me of something".
The voice, the metric, the melody, the backing vocals, the band... Everything here is so unique! 🤯
I won't even mention the lyrics. Caetano mixes languages and creates words. That’s why translating Outras Palavras ("Other Words") into English won’t make sense.
So, sit back, take a deep breath, have a glass of wine - or whatever your ritual for consuming incredible music may be -, and enjoy this Brazilian masterpiece. I would love to hear from you after this transcending experience.
💎 Sonic History
A time machine of musical goodies.
60s
Care of Cell 44 - The Zombies (1968)
Oh, this melody! This is beautiful on so many levels... You know what? Listen to the Odessey and Oracle from beginning to end. This is a true timeless classic.
70s
Dancing Madly Backwards (On A Sea Of Air) - Captain Beyond (1972)
A hard rock powerhouse sounding like no one else. This is one of the cornerstones of my music foundations.
80s
Der Kommissar - Falco (1982)
What can I say about this German gem? Back in 1982, it was so avant-garde, and today still sounds cool as hell. The rap-like singing, the synths, the energizing melody... I love it from top to bottom!
90s
The Riverboat Song - Ocean Colour Scene (1996)
This track combines everything I like in a rock song. I can't think of adding or removing one inch of this masterpiece. Seriously.
2000s
Let Thy Will Be Done - Von Hertzen Brothers (2006)
Damn, I love those Finns! If you like crescendos and apotheotic choruses, I present your next favorite band. This is energizing, extremely well-played music made by talented musicians. You'll hear a lot about the Von Hertzen Brothers here.
2010s
Call My Name - Priest (2017)
When the combination of pop and electronic music reaches perfection, we have Call My Name. If it hits you the same way it struck me when I first listened to this, you'll play this song on repeat for a while.
2020s
Hey Nari - Altin Gün (2021)
There are a few artists that pump up my heart every time there's a new release. Altin Gün is one of those. Allmusic perfectly defined the band: 'Part Dutch, part Turkish combo dedicated to updating the psychedelic sounds of '70s Turkey, adding deep funk and synthesizers to the mix'. You'll be hearing a lot about Altin Gün here too.
🤯 Discovery of the Week
That! Feels Good! - Jessie Ware (2023)
I can't get enough of this! It's groovy, funky, sexy, the kind of song that lifts any party. Just perfect!
🎧 Experience The Real-Life Soundtrack #1 playlist on your favorite platform:
Spotify | YouTube | Amazon Music
This was the first edition of Real-Life Soundtrack. I'm very excited about transforming this newsletter into a movement to revive those wonderful conversations about music we had among friends, but now on a global scale.
I like Spotify and YouTube Music, but I don't need them to tell me what to listen to. My repertoire is vast enough that I don't need an algorithm, and I'm sure yours is too. So let's share our experiences and enhance the soundtrack of our lives!
You'll always be welcome here with a free account. But if you consider supporting The Real-Life Soundtrack with only 7 bucks a month, it'll mean the world to me. Think of this as an act of resistance against musical recommendations made by AI and algorithms.