“Shake it off”, a song by Taylor Swift that my family could never escape, as I played it over and over again, it was my favorite song at the age of ten. My parents probably got sick of hearing Taylor Swift’s voice more than mine but as a young girl I always used music as a way to get away from any minor inconveniences I had going on, and that is when I realized how much music mattered to me.
Music helps people stir up strong emotions, and listening to your favorite type of music can improve moods and also reduce stress. The type of music someone listens to reflects the type of person they are. In my life, music shaped who I am today, going from early 2000’s pop to alternative, and country.
In my childhood, I always remember sitting in my moms bed while she got ready for the day. She always played 80’s rock and I hated it. It sounded so old fashioned to me and boring. As I sat there, usually watching some type of show, all I heard was eight minutes of “American Pie” piercing my ears, reminding me how much I hate other types of music rather than pop. Along with my mom, dad listened to the same kind of old rock music, which made me dislike it even more.
Fast forward a few years in middle school I listened to more indie music such as, Mac Demacro, Cage The Elephants, Vance Joy, and Arctic Monkeys. My music taste then was definitely influenced by influences on Tiktok, as Tiktok started becoming a popular app for pre-teens.
Starting high school in 2022, my indie rock love stuck with me, but folk music also came into the picture. Artists such as Phoebe Bridgers, Adreianne Lenker, and Noah Kahan’s music started making their way on my playlists. My spotify was then filled with a mix of indie and folk, and quite frankly, I loved it. Music that had more meaning in the lyrics started becoming more important to me, as I related it to my life. Music was a cure to my mind, just like it was in the beginning.
Now, I find myself listening to modern country artists, such as Zach Bryan, Tyler Childers, Morgan Wallen, Jason Aldean, and Ty Myers. I never saw myself as a country listener, but country music is such a big part of my life now. My 2025 summer consisted of going to different country concerts with my friends, buying cowboy boots and cute country outfits. Country isn’t my only type of music I’m into now, but like mother like daughter, I find myself listening to a lot of 80’s rock. 80’s rock, improves my overall mood and encourages me to look on the bright side. Now that the first music I was used to hearing came full circle, I am happy to say I know all the words of “American Pie” by Don Mclean, and I wouldn’t want it any other way.
