What’s it like to listen on Lute?

Have you ever turned on the car radio during a road trip just to pick up the local flavor? Have you ever tried a dish you couldn’t quite pronounce at a restaurant you’d never been to? Have you ever gone with friends to a show having never heard of the band before? Have you ever gotten lost on purpose? Have you ever been a member of a CD of the month club? If you’re guilty of any of the above, or if current online musical offerings are failing you in some way, Lute may offer the perfect solution. A serendipitous blend of live music from talented performers scattered across the globe. A chance to explore, to discover, to wander, and to say, ‘Thank you’.

What kind of music will I hear?

Classical cello. Barrelhouse blues piano. Ambient synth and ethereal vocals. Hand drums and free verse. Italian folk songs. Rock electric violin. Sitar duets. Gamelan music. Combos. Soloists. Studio performers. Central Park buskers. Jazz saxophone trios. Steel drums and birdsong. Guitar on the porch. Xylophone on the roof. Offerings from around the world, around the clock.

Eclectic, diverse, global, live.

What about audio quality?

Have you ever listened to a gritty, 1930’s recording of Django Reinhardt? If you answered no, you should, and then you’ll have a sense of how amazing music can sound, even at relatively lo-fi quality, when a talented player plays it. Smartphones are increasingly capable of capturing decent, live audio and, if you’ve ever spent hours scrolling through social media to watch clips of your favorite musicians playing in an intimate setting just for their fans, you already know how good it can sound.

Can I pick my own songs? Create my own playlists?

To a certain extent, Premium members can curate their own experiences on Lute: you’ll be able to select mood/vibe, and you can favorite an unlimited number of players as you come across them. That said, there is no searching for songs or performances (everything is live and delivered organically) and there’s no way to set up a playlist. You have about as much control as someone with a radio dial, only the radio is made of pure magic, with an infinite number of stations, all playing great music, live and in the moment, from talented artists all over the world.

How is this different/better than other options I have for my music?

We have no aspirations of competing with Tidal, Deezer, Spotify, Apple Music, or any of the other big players in the online streaming music space. If you want (as we often do!) the ability to search through and compile playlists from a vast catalog of music, you’ll have to go elsewhere. That said, when we’re mired in the depths of such behemoths, we feel confronted by the tyranny of choice and often wish there was someone combing through and picking out an eclectic mix of wonderful tracks we’ve never heard before. This is the competitive advantage of Lute: everything is made in the moment, by a live musician, so you’re guaranteed to hear new things. Also, we curate every single submission, so there’s a flesh and blood musical expert deciding whether or not a Lute Player gets added to the rotation or not. You’ll come to Lute for the curation, the variety, the serendipitous nature of a global shuffle, and the chance to learn about and support real musicians who need (and deserve) your support.