When someone asks me the standard getting-to-know-you question "What kind of music do you listen to?" I often reply with a laugh and begin my answer with "Okay, don't hate me, but..." This kind of response is what comes with a lifetime of listening to several different, opposing genres, a lot of which aren't generally enthused about by mainstream folks or the general public. If you know me well, you know I can go from rapping Eminem's "Without Me" to playing Claude Debussy's "Cannon in D" on the piano in 2 seconds flat--and I'm good at both. However, there are moods and reasons for each genre I listen to.

1. Country

From my experience, country can either be loved or despised by the person I'm talking to, and I never know which way they're going to swing. Personally, I tend to be very lyric-focused, especially as an English major, and country fulfills the word nerd that lives within my soul. I usually listen to country in my car. This is for various reasons, but the base of them is that there are at least 6 country radio stations that reach Stockton, California where I live, work, and get educated. Plus the catchy tunes are great for long drives.

2. Rap

This blonde-haired, hazel-eyed former Lutheran School girl ain't afraid to stumble over the lyrics of Eminem's "Rap God" or bust out all the words to Iggy Azalea's "Fancy" at the top of her lungs! As I mentioned earlier, I'm a huge fan of lyrics, and with a fast rhythm and a lot of words, rap is music I can definitely get into. In fact I'm known for surprising my friends by busting out my rap skills unexpectedly at parties, in the car, or even just while hanging out at someone else's place. Besides those, I find rap to be the perfect shower music; the fast beat wakes me up and keeps me moving, ensuring a quick shower.

3. Classical

Admittedly I don't so much listen to classical as I do play it. I began playing the piano when I was 8 years old, and my older, mid-80s piano teacher, Mrs. Covey, loved the classics. From Chopin to Bach and Bethoven to Debussy, and all the incredible composers in between, classical music has been my jam ever since. Sadly, Mrs. Covey passed away in 2009, but her effect on my life continues to impact me to this day. Even now whenever I feel stressed or anxious, I like to sit at the piano and tap out any of the many tunes she taught me in those 6 years; it always calms me down, and I think it would make her proud.

4. IDM/Techno

A friend of mine introduced me to IDM and techno last semester, and I'll admit, I never expected to listen to it once. However, a few months later, here we are; I listen to it every other day. See, I'm one of those people who has to have some sort of background noise anytime I do any sort of work. In fact, I wrote this article 30,000 feet in the air while listening to the crazy-making noises of the plane, the passengers, and the crew. However, the problem here lies in getting distracted. With any sort of TV show, movie, or lyrical music, I tend to get easily and quickly distracted. Then again, if I try listening to classical music, I get very bored and sleepy due to the mellow tunes. With lyric-less IDM/techno, I can focus on my work, and the fast, hard beats keep me pumped and interested. It's the ultimate win-win.

5. Aternative Rock/Pop

From Panic! at the Disco to 3oh!3, to Fall Out Boy to Ke$ha, this pseudo genre of music has nothing if not catchy tunes and complicated lyrics. This music gets me hyped and ready for anything, which is why I use it as my go-to workout playlist. You can never be less than pumped when Brandon Urie's voice comes soulfully through your earbuds!

Music is a benevolent presence in my life, whether I'm playing it, listening to it, or (badly) singing along to it. It's a creative cultivator and an outlet for stress as well. While my expansive and not altogether complementary taste in music may seem strange, it helps me get through the day, and really, that's about all I could ask for.