Music has always been a driving force in my life. In film, music is what not only sets the tone for a scene, but also drives the pace of any action going on. Think of any Tom Cruise Mission Impossible or James Bond action scene that doesn’t have some intense song blaring as our hero nearly escapes death, I bet you can’t. Music in a way drives all of our lives in that way. Whether it is listening to that "Get Up" playlist to make get you ready for the day, or singing along to that favorite church hymn at Sunday service, music is essential to life.

Music always had a great effect on me; even at a young age I couldn’t stop myself from dancing anywhere I was (and age hasn’t changed a thing either). I think I partly get that from my mom because she always loved dancing and listening to music, and while my dad wasn’t too favorable of the dancing aspect, you could ask him the name of any oldie and he knew it by heart. Music ran in my blood and it always had me jumping at every rhythm and beat. However, I never had a true appreciation of music until I got much older.

I found that my first introduction to liking specific songs and tracks were, and don’t start a riot after what I say, listening to CDs of the Kids Bop remixes. (I was like 10 years old, can you blame me). Eventually I moved on past my Kids Bop phase once I realized there were actual people out there singing these real songs. Band of Choice? Linkin Park all the way! You could imagine my face when I found out that the band had more songs than Bleed it Outand that they were all compiled on one CD.

As a child I couldn’t do much in terms of get experience in live performances, because I was still just a child. To be honest my first concert experience was the Ally and AJ concert featuring Corbin Blue. Let me tell you, that concert was “LIT” and little 12-year-old me had the time of my life. From there I moved on to the Jonas Brothers (a timeless classic) and then finally I had the opportunity to go to a real concert to see the All American Rejects, with parental supervision of course.

That concert opened my eyes to what a band could do with their music and turn it into a show. Everything was so amazing from the lights, to the giant AAR sign behind them, to just being able to see the people who make music you love right in front of your eyes! I wasn’t just a 13-year-old kid in a nightclub surrounded by drunk people listening to a band, I was living the music, live and in person.

From that point on I got into my rap phase and thought that Eminem’s Crack a Bottlefeaturing Dr. Dre & 50 Cent was the first song to ever feature multiple artist on one song. “Like, seriously, are y’all listening to this!? How has no one ever thought of doing this before!” After I had listened to as much Eminem as I could I would mostly concentrate on listening to single tracks and radio hits just because that was the only music I was familiar with.

The album that finally changed my perspective of music wasn’t necessarily and album, but a soundtrack. The soundtrack to the movie Dazed and Confusedliterally shook up my entire way of living. For the first time I saw how multiple songs could coincide with one another to create 57 minutes of pure joy and rock and roll.

Once I got to college music became absolutely vital to my life. Now you cannot even catch me a day without having my headphones plugged into my ears, just drowning out the rest of the world. All my childhood experiences molded my way of listening to music. I have learned to appreciate entire albums as art pieces and expressions of the artists view of life, like Kendrick Lamar’s Damn.

I have learned how to appreciate all sounds in association with music like The Stanger Things Vol. 2 Soundtrack, which if you have not listened to it you are missing out. It might just be a compilation of synths and sounds, but I guarantee you it is an emotional rollercoaster to listen to and is so peaceful at the same time. I have gone out of my way to see my favorite artists in person like Chance the Rapper, and Young the Giant. Being able to live the music not just listen to it is something I will never forget.

Music has shaped the way I live since day one, and I encourage you to not just listen to music, but create the soundtrack to your life and let it guide you.