Music as Identity

A photo of the Chicago skyline I took

Making playlists and listening to music is a huge part of who we are as individuals. Music lets us create these kinds of songs that resonate with us in some way or songs that you just like the beats and you’re not paying attention to the lyrics.

For me, I just genuinely love music because it’s the one thing that will never judge me or make me feel out of place. Music has always been my safe place. My world is really my world and music is one constant thing that continues to evolve as I get older.

Collecting vinyl has made me go even deeper into the music. I love the fact that I have a physical piece of an album I love, and there is nothing better than listening to music on physical media. I’ll listen to a song and analyze the beats, the instruments, and every detail that makes it come together. I pay attention to the music in a way that makes me understand why it makes me feel something.

When I’m creating playlists for myself, I put songs in specific orders on purpose. I think about how I want each transition to sound, from the end of one song to the beginning of the next. It feels like I’m placing pieces of myself into the playlist in the order that makes the most sense for me. The songs I pick speak to who I am and how I see myself. Music is how I understand myself, and every playlist becomes another version of me.