diff --git a/packages/frontend/src/App.tsx b/packages/frontend/src/App.tsx
index 6e16b9f..7df6c84 100644
--- a/packages/frontend/src/App.tsx
+++ b/packages/frontend/src/App.tsx
@@ -130,7 +130,8 @@ const RekordboxReader: React.FC = () => {
     loadNextPage,
     searchSongs,
     searchQuery,
-    refresh
+    refresh,
+    switchPlaylistImmediately
   } = usePaginatedSongs({ pageSize: 100, playlistName: currentPlaylist });
 
   // Export library to XML
@@ -209,6 +210,10 @@ const RekordboxReader: React.FC = () => {
     // Clear selected song immediately to prevent stale state
     setSelectedSong(null);
     
+    // Kick off data load immediately to avoid delay before backend call
+    const target = name || "All Songs";
+    switchPlaylistImmediately(target);
+
     // Navigate immediately without any delays
     if (name === "All Songs") {
       navigate("/", { replace: true });
diff --git a/packages/frontend/src/hooks/usePaginatedSongs.ts b/packages/frontend/src/hooks/usePaginatedSongs.ts
index 88f8a95..1f4f45c 100644
--- a/packages/frontend/src/hooks/usePaginatedSongs.ts
+++ b/packages/frontend/src/hooks/usePaginatedSongs.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import { useState, useEffect, useCallback, useRef } from 'react';
+import { useState, useEffect, useLayoutEffect, useCallback, useRef } from 'react';
 import { api, type SongsResponse } from '../services/api';
 import type { Song } from '../types/interfaces';
 
@@ -139,7 +139,7 @@ export const usePaginatedSongs = (options: UsePaginatedSongsOptions = {}) => {
   }, []);
 
   // Handle playlist changes - streamlined for immediate response
-  useEffect(() => {
+  useLayoutEffect(() => {
     if (previousPlaylistRef.current !== playlistName) {
       // Update refs immediately
       currentPlaylistRef.current = playlistName;
@@ -160,6 +160,25 @@ export const usePaginatedSongs = (options: UsePaginatedSongsOptions = {}) => {
     }
   }, [playlistName, initialSearch, loadPage]);
 
+  // Imperative method to switch playlist and start loading immediately
+  const switchPlaylistImmediately = useCallback((targetPlaylistName: string) => {
+    // Update refs immediately so effect does not double-trigger
+    currentPlaylistRef.current = targetPlaylistName;
+    previousPlaylistRef.current = targetPlaylistName;
+    currentSearchQueryRef.current = searchQuery;
+
+    // Clear state for instant visual feedback
+    setSongs([]);
+    setTotalSongs(0);
+    setTotalDuration(undefined);
+    setHasMore(true);
+    setCurrentPage(1);
+    setError(null);
+
+    // Start loading right away
+    loadPage(1, initialSearch, targetPlaylistName);
+  }, [initialSearch, loadPage, searchQuery]);
+
   return {
     songs,
     loading,
@@ -174,5 +193,6 @@ export const usePaginatedSongs = (options: UsePaginatedSongsOptions = {}) => {
     searchSongs,
     reset,
     refresh: () => loadPage(1)
+    , switchPlaylistImmediately
   };
 }; 
\ No newline at end of file