You Contain Multitudes

 My music taste is confusing. When I tell people I listen to the group 100 Gecs to study or that I nap to obscure anime soundtracks, their reactions range from weirded out to concerned. I listen to country music or alt-rock when i’m happy and rap music or Broadway musical soundtracks when I’m sad. Even though this variety confounds people and makes my Spotify Wrapped almost entirely un-Instagramable, I wouldn’t change my taste in music for anything.

Music is a universal language that has the power to evoke emotions, bring people together, and even shape our identities. While some people enjoy listening to classical music, others prefer rap or heavy metal and others prefer a mix of all genres or a select few. 

Our music tastes are often influenced by our personal experiences, memories, and emotions. For example, someone who grew up listening to country music may have a strong affinity for that genre, while someone who enjoys electronic music may associate it with a certain type of social setting or party experience. For me, some songs from Arctic Monkeys or Halsey take me right back to my middle school days of big t-shirts and bigger emotions.

Our cultural background can also play a significant role in our music tastes. Different cultures have their own unique musical traditions and styles that can influence what we enjoy listening to. For example, someone from Latin America may have a stronger preference for salsa or reggaeton music, while someone from Asia may enjoy J-Pop or K-Pop. However, it is wise not to fall into the trap of thinking that someone from a certain cultural background only likes one kind of music or prefers music from their culture. I have Black friends who hate rap and only listen to K-Pop and Latino friends who prefer Tyler the Creator to Pitbull.

Overall, our music tastes are influenced by a variety of factors, including personal experiences, cultural background, social context, and exposure to new styles of music. The worst thing you can do for yourself is close yourself off to new adventures and genres. I think music is a very important part of life and I think the time to experiment with music is now. There are so many new amazing artists that you would probably love if you took the time to give them a try.

Give it a shot!

Marguerite :)