I’ve always been given strange looks when people look through my music library. Either they have never heard of the artists I listen to, they would never expect me to listen to certain genres or they are generally disgusted with my taste in music.
If you take a peek into my Spotify, SoundCloud or iTunes playlists, you’d be amazed. My fangirl days are evident as you scroll past Big Time Rush or Justin Bieber. Some might think I’m an angry human being as Asking Alexandria, Pierce the Veil and Escape the Fate appear on the screen. Turns out, you don’t need to have multicolored hair, black skinny jeans and piercings to enjoy that kind of music, contrary to popular belief. I also adopted my parents’ tastes in music with rock and roll and country spread across my libraries. Acoustic bands like This Wild Life and covers make me wish I would’ve learned how to play the guitar while growing up; likewise, acapella music from Pentatonix makes me feel like I didn’t sound like a dying animal.
When I say, “Let’s listen to some throwbacks,” that could range anywhere from the middle school Iyaz, T-Pain and Akon jams to 90s hits from Third Eye Blind, The Goo Goo Dolls and blink-182.
Christmas music will dominate my playlists from November - January. Country music will take over June - August. The rest of the year is more or less a free for all. A night out constitutes hip-hop jams or Martin Garrix, and a night in calls for the mellow The Neighborhood. A breakup demands Drake or Gnash. There is an artist to correlate with every mood, season, day or occasion.
My diverse music taste is more than likely the reason I never get the AUX chord during car rides. If I do have the privilege, I usually cater to the other passengers to avoid that awkward moment when you’re the only one jamming out.
On the plus side, I never complain about others’ tastes in music, and I’m always up for concerts. Concert tickets from Of Monsters and Men, Bon Jovi, Warped Tour, Luke Bryan, etc. line my wall, and I have plans to add more. I’m always open to new music and I love meeting people with a different taste than my own.
On a more serious note, I hope to use this love and interest for diverse music to create a career. No, I do not want to sing. I’m aware of my talents, and singing is certainly not one. But I would enjoy music journalism. And with that, I’d like to encourage anyone reading to follow suit and follow a career that interests you. Happiness and enthusiasm overpower the sulking employee any day.
