I have now been to eleven concerts, my phone says Spotify takes up 70% of my battery, and I constantly have random lyrics or scores running through my head. I connect to music, I am comforted by it, it makes me feel something. And that’s what it’s made to do. Every artist sets out to make an impact, make a difference in someone’s life, make them think, and I have done them all. But more than that I turn to it when in need.

When I’m on the road with people who apparently forgot how to drive, I turn up the music and have a concert in my car (surely being judged by said horrible driver). When I’m looking for a good time I pick my favorite playlist and immediately feel better. When it’s been a day from hell, I grab my waterproof speaker (best purchase by the way), relax in the shower and pretend I’m actually a good singer thanks to the acoustics while all my worries are washed down the drain and drowned out by my off key chorus. Music has done so much for me, so thank you.

Thank you Aerosmith for teaching me to ‘dream until my dreams come true’. Thank you Josh Groban for reminding me that I am loved and not to give up. Thank you All Time Low for telling me and others I love that ‘it only takes a little push to pull on through’ anything. Thank you to every song and artist I’ve ever cried to, laughed to, karaoked to and danced to.

There’s something unexplainable about the feeling of a drum beat beating overtaking your heart beat at a concert or letting a melody wash over you in the quiet of your room or getting chills from a perfectly crafted harmony. I wish I could put into words how much I appreciate artists and what they do, especially when it actually means something, not when they just talk about sex and partying and booze.

The real artists use their music and their talent to talk to people, tell them they’re not alone and that everything will be okay. Maybe it’s not so deep but just there to cheer someone up and give them something to enjoy, something to crank up with their friends or family, something to sing into their hairbrush. Whatever it is, it’s real, genuine, talent.

So here’s to the real artists, the ones there for me when I need them and who put on a dang good show live. I’ll never be able to thank you for sharing your music with me, I just hope you love what you’re doing as much as I love what you do.