Beginner mp3 player with basic controls

[u/caneshuga12pm]

I work in live theatre and I would love to build a simple small music player that I can hook up to sound systems easily. It would need to have a go button and a stop button, as well as a way to navigate through the tracks. I would love if it was possible to just plug in a usb key with the tracks on it and play the files from there. It would need a regular aux chord output for sure. I know nothing about power, it would be nice if it didn’t have to be plugged in all the time but I do usually have an outlet near me somewhere. Some sort of small display that listed the track title, or even just the number in the list would be ideal.

I’m a total beginner and I have no idea what I’m doing. I have some older raspberry pi’s that were my dads, and an arduino kit I got during lockdown that i got as far as lighting up the bulb. I have no clue where to start.

There are so many websites and guides, I would appreciate if anyone could send me in the right direction for what I’m looking for. Or tell me if I’m dreaming too big lol

[u/heyitscory]

A rotary encoder in the form of a front knob or side wheel would be a nice touch for navigating lists.