The following piece is an opinion and does not reflect the views of The Eagle and its staff. All opinions are edited for grammar, style and argument structure and fact-checked, but the opinions are the writer’s own.
We hear music in many places: our friends’ cars, at events and even the Terrace Dining Room on campus. However, everyone has unique music tastes, and people rarely venture outside their favorite genres. This reluctance to explore new music may seem harmless, but it limits our ability to connect with others or experience the full benefits of music. Everyone, especially young people, should explore new artists, genres and songs to connect with others and improve the overall quality of their lives.
When people actively seek out and listen to new kinds of music, they create opportunities to connect with others. A 2011 study suggests that shared music preferences are linked to social attraction, with another study discovering that adolescents attribute more importance to music than older individuals.
A lack of familiar music can prevent a short trip to the grocery store with a friend from being perfect. It is much more difficult to enjoy unfamiliar music than it is to enjoy familiar music. If a person and their friend each only listen to one genre, confronting this unfamiliarity could be a common occurrence.
Additionally, listening to music together impacts chemicals in the brain related to connection, which, I believe, allows us to strengthen the bonds we already have. It is much easier to do this when people enjoy similar genres. Sharing music between friends is also a method of learning about new music — someone can ask their friend about a song they don’t recognize but enjoy listening to, which expands their music taste by introducing them to an artist or genre they may have never otherwise considered.
Music can also break language barriers. In my own life, music has been a connection between my grandmother and me. She barely knows any English, and I don’t speak her native language of Telugu. One of the few things we can easily connect on is Indian music. Even though we can’t easily communicate, we can always put on a track from one of our favorite movies. Indian music allows me to stay connected to my culture, which is usually difficult to do while living in the U.S. It also strengthens the connection I have with my grandma, which might otherwise be difficult to maintain due to a language barrier.
Music can serve as a language of its own. Take Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee’s “Despacito” as an example. As most of us probably remember, the song took over the music scene in 2017. The song was the highest-viewed YouTube video at the time and still retains its position as the second-most viewed video on the site. Though the song is primarily in Spanish, it topped the U.S. charts and those of plenty of other countries, demonstrating music’s ability to completely transcend the bounds of language.
Exploring new genres can also show how interconnected music is. When listening to music in my friend’s car, I heard an indie song that sounded similar to a rap song I like. After looking it up, we found out that the indie song was a sample, which is where one artist uses a melody from another artist to create a new song. This similarity motivated me to listen to more indie music. While listening to new genres and music, it is normal to stumble upon songs that sample or are sampled in songs you already know. This similarity can act as a motivator to listen to new genres and as a way to appreciate the interconnectedness of music, as it did for me.
Music is known to influence mood and motivation, and one study found that distinct genres can elicit different emotions. These findings further support the claim that listening to new music is beneficial. An example that demonstrates this could be someone who only listens to indie music. Because of indie music’s calm and relaxed tone, they might have trouble using music as a motivator in the gym. In this case, rap or EDM might be more effective genres.
On the other hand, a rap fan might have issues studying due to how upbeat the genre is. Someone studying might benefit from listening to indie or classical music that is more calming and allows them to focus. By expanding their music taste, people can match their listening habits to their needs, whether that is powering through a gym session or cramming for finals.
Listening to new kinds of music is a way to connect with others, learn more about music in general and stay motivated. Instead of sitting in a friend’s car and ignoring unfamiliar music, ask that friend about the artist. Search for songs that sample your favorite tracks. Exploring new music is worth the time and effort — you might find your new favorite song or strengthen bonds you already have.
Avyay Sriperumbudur is a sophomore in the School of Public Affairs and College of Arts and Sciences and a columnist for The Eagle.
This article was edited by Quinn Volpe, Alana Parker and Abigail Turner. Copy editing done by Luna Jinks, Olivia Citarella, Emma Brown and Nicole Kariuki.
