When I was younger, I really didn't care about music at all. I heard the pop tunes from the Top 40 radio, and I went on with my day. I didn't really see what music had to offer, maybe it was because what was on when I was younger wasn't as good as what's being offered today. Maybe it was because I was ignorant. Maybe it was because I couldn't process the complexities of what I was hearing. All I know now is my opinions of music from when I was younger to now has taken a complete 180.

It all started my freshman year of high school, I started to ditch the radio for easier conventions like Pandora on my iPhone. Quickly, I learned that Top 40 radio wasn't the only thing out there. There was so much more, there were so many more artists and genres of music that I hadn't heard until I started to take the time during my free time. I found several artists throughout platforms like Pandora, like Two Door Cinema Club, Yelle, Vampire Weekend, Florence + the Machine. I started to build up this music resume, I had listened to over 150 new and different artists that year. I expanded my palette, I had finally left behind the status of being an everyday listener, or a sheep as many call it.

However, I took this new found love for music even farther. I became obsessed with certain artists, most notably, Marina and the Diamonds. Now, if you read my last article, you would notice that I gave Marina and the Diamonds (Marina Diamandis, the Diamonds are the fans) the top spot for her album, "FROOT," but this was only partially (literally 5 percent) bias. This album is just amazing, and I'll get into it later.

Marina was born in Abergavenny, Wales in 1985, and is based out of London, she started her career in the music industry in 2005 after realizing that becoming a pop artist would be a great bonus to her passion in life, songwriting. And this is where my obsession with her changed my life. Her strong focus on songwriting made me pay close attention to the lyrics of her songs as well as other artists' songs. It was so odd to me how someone's song could mean so much to me, and how much it could relate to my life.

She changed the way I listened to music and how I processed it. I don't look at music as, "oh this song has a really good beat! I can dance to it!" or, "wow, this is catchy!" anymore, I more so look at what the artist is trying to tell me or convey to me. I read the song for its meaning, I look at all the layers. And, for that reason, to make a quick point, that is why "FROOT" was my album of the year, the depth behind every song, the fact that she wrote the whole album by herself, and poured her emotions and thoughts into every single lyric, she created a completely genuine record.

Anyways, back to the main point of all of this. Music is an important tool, it's an art form. There is so much behind it, the lyrics, the production, the artist and then some. There are so many ways to immerse yourself into this world. There are so many ways to express yourself through it as well. I'm glad I found my niche in the music community, and I'm glad I found the artists that I look up to today. Their music and artistry inspires me every single day. They are my muses.