10 Apps Every Music Lover Should Download Right Now

By Deanna Young

Not too long ago, we were thinking about the 10 awesome apps that we wished existed, and hoping that some aspiring developers would get to work. Luckily, there are already lots of amazing music-related apps available, so, whether you want to snag last minute tickets to a sold out show or make music on your phone or tablet, here are 10 music-related apps that you should download right now.

Official website: www.spotify.com/us/

This app needs little introduction unless you’ve just re-surfaced after spending the last decade under a rock. Cell phones should really come equipped with this mobile music staple, but since they don’t, go ahead and download it for free to access an endless and regularly updated selection of music at your fingertips.

Official website: smule.com/apps

It’s 2014 and anyone can be a DJ. But, can they be a musician? Well, yes and no, but Ocarina 2 is the latest in a series of apps that offer users the chance to at least give it a shot. With Ocarina 2, you can blow into the speaker of your cellphone and follow the cues on the screen to play your device like an instrument. 2014 is the year of the amateur iPhone artist... maybe.

Official website: thrillcall.com

A great app for the last-minute music lover, the Thrillcall app is an extension of the popular site which functions similarly to apps like Bandsintown, boasting minute-to-minute concert updates according to location. What sets Thrillcall apart is the exclusive user access to opportunities like concert tickets for sold out shows. It’s currently only in four cities (San Francisco, New York, Chicago, and L.A.) with plans to branch out in the near future.

Official website: midomi-ultra-iphone.soft112.com

Midomi ultra is basically Shazam on steroids. If you like music and hate feeling like every good song you’ve never heard of before is taunting you like, "You will never get this! You will never get this!" when you walk into a cool restaurant or store, then this app might be worth the $4.99 price tag. Its most unique feature is its ability to pick up on hums and spoken voice, along with its super quick song recognition feature.

Official website: timbre.fm

Honestly, if you don’t have an app that conveniently offers a comprehensive list of artists in town, well, you’re late. “An app for music lovers by music lovers,” Timbre was created in 2012 and the sleek design and all-in-one concept allows for easy navigation and multifaceted use. Bonus: If you’re a Spotify premium subscriber, you can listen to full tracks from the artists you search.

Official website: blipinteractive.co.uk

So your parents aren’t sold on your dire need for a home studio this holiday season? Well, before Willow and Jaden Smith became the best thing Will Smith gave to this world, it was his line, “parents just don’t understand.” For a small fee of $13.99, however, Blip Interactive brings creative and functional music tools to the palm of your hand. Create mixes and upload them directly to Soundcloud with this innovative application for iOS.

Official website: fingerlab.net/website/Fingerlab/Musyc.html

Music-making made easy for the visual learner. Using your touch screen, you can lift, drop, and do virtually anything with a number of shapes, each of which makes a different sound. They come together to create (potentially beautiful, but more than likely average at best) melodies.

Official website: soundcloud.com/mobile

Spotify and iTunes are great, but any real music fanatic needs to stay up on SoundCloud to really know what's going on. The phone app is everything you'd want from SoundCloud on a phone—new music, trending songs, easy access to playlists, and a conveniently organized layout. This is a must-have for music lovers interested in staying up on independent music that often isn't available anywhere else.

Official website: soundwave.com

Just as Instagram was intended to be a social media platform for photographers and creatives (rather than a place to post bikini pics), Soundwave is a place for music lovers to interact and explore. Soundwave allows you to discuss and share your favorite tracks with your Twitter and Facebook friends. Discuss, discover, and share your music with like-minded people for free today.

Official website: mindie.co/

Mindie is a video sharing app that places emphasis on song choice as well as the actual visual itself. Advertised as the “everyday music video,” with this app you can use your amateur setup (your cell phone) to create amazing videos (extreme exaggeration) and share them with friends. You can also hear the music while you record, a universally experienced #firstworldproblem with Snapchat.