After Google bought Songza back in July, it was only a matter of time until we started to see some of the service’s features start trickling into Google’s Play Music apps. In an announcement today, Google says it’s done just that.
It should come as no surprise that Songza’s most popular feature, the ability to select contextual playlists tailored to specific activities, moods and times, has now been integrated into Play Music. As with Songza, the music curated by actual people rather than just an algorithm.
This means that instead of just looking through your current music or through its store, typing into Play Music’s search bar now recognizes different keywords you can use to trigger a playlist. You can search for things like ‘working out,’ ‘napping’ or even ‘chillaxing’ and the app will play something to suit your needs.
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This comes in addition to Instant Mixes you can make based on particular songs or artists, a feature already available in Play Music.
You can also now download and reorder the full contextual playlists, something you couldn’t do on Songza before, giving users a bit of the best of both worlds.
The app is also getting a face-lift with a new Material Design look to match Lollipop’s aesthetic. The main change happens in a redesigned Listen Now screen, which will suggest new releases and provide you easier access to recently played music as well as new releases and other stations you might want to check out.
The new design and features are rolling out today to both Android and iOS versions of the app, in addition to the Web app. Amidst tight competition from other music streaming platforms, these new features could help make a case for music lovers to choose Google’s service over others.
Read More: An in-depth guide to Google Play Music All Access
➤ It’s Tuesday morning, play music for a bright, sunshiny day [Official Android Blog]
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