Is music the gateway into our souls?

Music is something that everyone has grown up on and as it changes throughout the years, we change with it. It is embedded in our lives, memories, feelings and our hearts. But can someone’s music taste tell you something about them and their personality?

I once heard someone say that songs are like bookmarks. They are embedded in parts of your life, a page in your story. You flip back to that bookmark and the memories come flooding back. Songs and music have such a long lasting effect that stay with us. That’s why I feel so passionately about music and why some songs have such a sentimental feeling to them. Each song in my life represents a different story. I’ve had the same Spotify account since I was 13 and it truly represents each year of my life since. I’ve still got to honour the Hannah Montana and Glee playlists that meant something to my 13 year old self and they still feel like a warm memory to me now.

I truly believe that everyone has that one song or selection of songs that hold a special place in their heart. It doesn't have to be your favourite song but one that has a memory or feeling attached to it. I definitely have a few. 'Under the Bridge' by Red Hot Chili Peppers is a top one. I've been screaming that song at the top of my lungs since I learnt how to talk. 'Fine Line' by Harry Styles takes me back to lockdown and my nocturnal sleeping pattern. I remember sitting by the window in my kitchen, wrapped up like a burrito in my blanket staring up at the stars with teary eyes. This song feels like a change is coming and that everything will get better, as life isn’t a fine line and we need those ups and downs. 'Marjorie' by Taylor Swift, which isn’t my favourite song of hers but holds such sentimental value. Swift perfectly sums up the feeling of grief and holding onto the small mundane memories of them and wishing you could go back in time to savour those moments. 'Ironic' by Alanis Morrissette will always be mine and my Dad’s karaoke song. 'Scott Street' by Phoebe Bridgers, 'Vienna' by Billy Joel, 'Ceilings' by Lizzy McAlpine. All of them stop me in my tracks, pierce my heart and wrench my guts. They hold me in their grasp as I shut my eyes, they hold me in their arms and hug me like a familiar friend.

I guess you can probably judge what my taste in music is by some of these songs. Sad girl anthems. Although, I like to call it 'Songs with meaningful lyrics'. I like to ask people if they are more of a sound person or a lyric person. Would you pick a song with a catchy beat over one with some of the most beautiful lyrics ever written. And I think this also tells a lot about someone. People who listen to the lyrics of songs I feel more of a connection to. They feel deeply and are probably empathetic and overthinkers just like me. Songs for some are just background music but for others it's the soundtrack to their life. I think genre also comes into play too because if you like jazz music you’re more likely going to prefer the sounds of songs.

I feel like getting to know someone's music taste is such an exciting and fun way to learn something new about them. Also music is such an important part of my life. Artists like George Michael, Abba, The Killers and Mick Jagger raised me. Whether it was my dad introducing me to pop rock at a young age, my best friend Daisy putting me in my indie music phase at 13 or re- finding my love for Taylor Swift at 16, I’ve grown up through my music. Music is a part of my everyday routine. I haven’t gone a day without listening to it. On the walk to Uni, in the library, hype songs to get ready for the club and even music with rain sounds layered on top to fall asleep too. I feel so deeply for music. So I guess when people don't really care about music or their taste differs so much from mine, a part of me is kind of put off. Now I’m not being judgemental because I know everyone has different tastes and I can appreciate different genres but if music is such a big part of my life and identity why shouldn't I consider it when looking at my compatibility with someone. I literally have tattoos dedicated to Harry Styles, Taylor Swift and Phoebe Bridgers, that's how much they mean to me. When someone is passionate about music and wants you to try something new and shares music they think you’ll like it’s such a beautiful thing. Me and my dad swap our CD collections, I give him one of my modern CDs to try and he gives me an 80s classic. He’s listened to decades of music but still wants to hear more. I feel like music is such a deep part of our lives and emotional states, it is like a love language when you share it with others and bond over it.

I think music is such a personal thing too. The fact that people feel so much for a song or artist that they want to create a whole playlist dedicated to them full of similar songs that create the same feeling. My favourite hobby is stalking someone’s Spotify account and their playlists. It’s like you've been allowed permission to look into their diary, a part of their heart. Seeing what song they're listening to at that moment in time can show what kind of mood they’re in or what style they are liking right now. Also the blend feature on Spotify is so cool as you can see what songs you and your friends have in common and suggest songs that both of you would like. *Disclaimer: This is not an advert for Spotify.

My favourite account to stalk is my best friend Eleanor’s, probably because she has 98% of the same music taste as me according to Spotify. She makes playlists just like me but hers are way funnier. Her morning playlist ‘I fucking love breakfast’ sets the scene of a sunny morning cooking breakfast with songs like ‘A Sunday Kind of Love’ by Etta James, ‘Dreams’ by Fleetwood Mac and ‘Someone New’ by Hozier. Now don't get me wrong she names her playlists the strangest things ever but it fits the aesthetic of the songs. Let's take her ‘PMS fuelled drama’ playlist. It's full of the most gut wrenching songs ever written by women such as ‘Complex', ‘Moon Song’ and ‘Night Shift’. The funny playlist name that probably didn’t take much thought is still something that she relates to. She’s experienced the stories in these songs at some point in her life and they have made her feel something. They give the same gut wrenching feeling as PMS and these female lyrics that are written so beautifully truly reflect what it's like to be a woman and the heartache and pain we feel.

I feel like my own Spotify is a delve into my life and soul. If you know me well enough you can probably guess what point in my life I was at when I made each playlist and the feelings I was experiencing at that time. It all starts with the pop music I grew up on. The pop music of the 2010s such as Jessie J, Pixie Lott and Little mix. These songs still make me want to dance around my bedroom like a little girl. Then there’s my 60s Soul music phase from the summer of 2017, the 80s pop music songs from my Mom and the rock songs that I'd listen to in the car on my Dad's iPod. Then of course the time I'd only listen to One Direction, Harry Styles and Taylor Swift all through lockdown.

We've also got the seasonal playlists- my ‘Morning Coffee’ playlist made for my January blues, my ‘Blue Skies’ playlist for those summer BBQs and my ‘Living in a 90s Rom Com’ playlist for those Spring morning walks to uni. All of these playlists have memories. My Christmas playlist reminds me of my first Christmas with my uni flatmates getting embarrassingly drunk, having food fights and dropping all the gingerbread men we made on the floor. My Pres playlist is full of girl boss anthems that me and my flat girls listen to to hype ourselves up for the club. Then of course… the heartache playlists. A playlist dedicated to the feeling of male validation and another to the feeling of being rejected that you cry to as you write painful words into your diary. Then comes the healing process playlist where the depressing Lana del Rey songs are eradicated and the ‘I'm so over him’ playlist follows.

Maybe it's just me whose playlists are an extension of their heart and life but I love that about myself. I feel through my music and love relating to songs. There’s this feeling like the artist is the only one that understands you and their words validate all your feelings and thoughts. You have this bond with them that only you feel like you share. Music is a reflection of who you are and what you've experienced and your music taste can reveal something deeper about you. Music sets the mood and when you're feeling positive and cheerful you're going to want to listen to Harry Styles and probably not Joni Mitchell. Also if you hang out with someone enough you’ll start to get to know some of their music and maybe try it out too which I think is so fun. It's a part of them that they've shared with you and that’s why I believe music is a love language.

According to the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry, an average person listens to 18.4 hours of music per week and hears roughly 1.3 million songs in their lifetime.

Music is such a beautiful thing, it captures moments, motivates us and surrounds our lives. It is everywhere. Whether it's from the busker on the street or through the speakers of the coffee shop. Take a walk down the street and you’ll see most people with headphones on, each with their favourite songs playing in their own little world of music and sound. Music is a motivator, it wakes us up and gets us going and who doesn't love a motivational gym playlist. Music stimulates our minds as we learn and analyse lyrics. Music can influence your mood and set the scene for the day. People use music for emotional regulation therefore we have an emotional connection to the songs we listen to. People’s music taste also reflects their personality too as seen in a study conducted by PhD student David Greenberg of the University of Cambridge. Greenberg noticed how people’s personalities reflected their preferred music style. More “systematic” people tend to prefer songs with more depth and complexity whereas more “empathetic” people prefer mellower and more emotional music. The more easy going people preferred jazz, folk and country with a more calming beat.

So if you ever need to get a better understanding of someone’s personality, take a look at their playlist next time.