My earliest memory of listening to and enjoying music was when I was traveling in my father’s car to visit my grandmother at the age of three or four. My father was a teenager in the early sixties, and he liked to revisit the popular rock n’ roll of that time. His favorite album to listen to on these journeys was a collection of Elvis Presley’s early hits on tape.
Today, like my father, I also like to listen to music if I am driving. Another time when I listen to music is when I am at home on my computer. I rarely listen to music when I am walking or travelling on public transport with earphones. I talk about music with friends often, I practice playing music, and I regularly go to see live music and to festivals. I think that I listen to music for different reasons. When I return to the pop music made half a century ago that my father introduced me to, I feel comforted by the familiarity of the catchy melodies. In contrast, I am filled with excitement when I search for something more contemporary, music that has been made in the past year or so that makes use of new technologies and effects. Music to listen to before I go to sleep is usually low in tempo and peaceful, for example, jazz ballads played on the piano. In short, listening to music is comforting, exciting and relaxing for me. It is also a communal experience. It is very nice to have friends with whom you can talk to about music, and who like some of the same music as you.
The way in which I have listened to music over the past ten years has changed considerably compared with previous generations.
My father used to collect records, the next generation collected tapes, and then people began to collect CDs. I know some people older than me who have collected hundreds of CDs that usually lie idle in the bedroom of their parents’ house. I often ask people my age and younger how many CDs they own and the answer is always the same, just a handful. In the space of a decade or so, the practice of collecting music as a physical product has been almost obliterated, and in its place music is typically streamed from sites like Spotify or Grooveshark, or downloaded as a file from iTunes, or illegally. Although it is more convenient and easier to search for music on the Internet, I still think that one may be more likely to stumble upon a new find, or buy something that otherwise may not catch your attention, while browsing in a record store. And despite the fact that many music-streaming and downloading sites do make recommendations, the idea of browsing in a large space where people discuss music seems almost romantic to me. To discover new music, I usually ask friends what they are listening to. I read online magazines and blogs and follow playlists. I am also connected to some of my favorite acts on Facebook, and sometimes benefit from this access to discover what they like listening to. Furthermore, when an act I like is touring, I always make sure to check out the supporting act on the tour. Even though selling records in stores seems to be a dying trade, the possibilities for discovering new music are many.
One of the main reasons why I identify with the music I like is because I often feel that the people who made it have tastes in music that are similar to mine. When music is made with passion and energy, and when the listener can tell that the musicians believe in the piece of music they created, that they have an honest piece of music to communicate with an audience, I automatically identify with the music for its genuineness. It is also nice to appreciate the level of study and craftsmanship that has gone into the creation, be it in the form of musical study, or mastering the use of new technology to make music. I value originality in contemporary music just as much as I value contemporary acts continuing and exploring older musical forms.
As far as how music identifies me is concerned, most importantly, I believe that it can foster and enhance our relationships with others. A big kick I get out of music is sharing the experience with others. This can be talking about current acts with friends, and finding out if they are playing live shows, or entering websites and forums to discover and share music with others online. When I was younger, I was interested in the lifestyle choices, political views and fashion tastes of my favorite artists. I wanted the music I liked to identify me in a more obvious sense. Although I no longer see musicians as moral compasses or fashion gurus, I do maintain an interest in what drives a musician, and what changes they may make to their musical direction. This can be quite inspiring.
