Each week Ranya Khoury sifts through the dregs of the Internet to bring you the very best in playlisting.

In just a few days, the first weekend of the 19th annual Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival will kick off at Indio's Empire Polo Club. Amidst packing and planning, you’ll probably catch yourself dreaming of the revelry to come. And we all know it's best to prepare yourself with a few playlists that highlight the artists you’re eager to see. Lucky for you, Coachella has a set of curated playlists on Spotify, saving you valuable time to apply sunscreen and count your Advil.

I got the inside scoop from Sam Schoonover, who dished on the magic that happens behind the scenes. As part of the digital team at Goldenvoice, Schoonover recently took on the role as head playlist curator for Coachella’s Spotify page. His interest in curating playlists, however, started long before his involvement in digital media. As an elementary school kid passing around mix-CDs to friends, Schoonover quickly realized his passion in helping others discover music. “To me, playlists are a really easy and effective gift to give people who love stories. I think about all of the elements that go into creating a playlist—the music, playlist title, description and imagery”; all play a role in how the story is told. “This helps people connect on a deeper level. For Coachella, I based the playlists' themes on experiences that everyone shares [at the festival]; the grass, the shade, day parties, sunsets, bright lights and big sounds.”

It wouldn’t be Coachella without the famous multi-genre lineup. “The popularity of [this type of festival] has taught people that it’s okay to love multiple genres of music”, said Schoonover. With such a diverse lineup, Schoonover decided to connect each theme with a certain genre. For example, his Sundown Sounds playlist is rife with hip-hop and dance music, featuring artists such as Vince Staples, BROCKHAMPTON, Petit Biscuit and Kygo.

Aside from his work at Goldenvoice, and the time spent managing his own playlist network, Sam surrounds himself with fellow music lovers. In doing so, he’s been able to connect and collaborate with creatives at places like Splash House. Since 2014, he’s been part of the Splash House team in charge of organizing the lineup. To check out his full portfolio of endeavors, visit his website here.

As for this year's pilgrimage, put down the body paint and check out the sonic goodies right here.