A beginner’s Spotify titles in a nutshell

Graphic by Mariana Bermudez / North by Northwestern.

I must admit I am a beginner in the world of curated playlist titles, but don’t we all start that way?

Up until last year, every Spotify playlist under my name had a title limited to its surface-level genre, whether it was “Salsa Mix,” “Old School Reggaetón” or “Bachata Favs.” But as I continued to expand my music interests — whether from going on more car rides with my dad, watching early 2000s TV shows or learning a new language...