I have a wide range of interests, music being one of them. I do think it’s weird to say that “music” is one of my interests, but I can’t think of any better way of saying it. I’m not interested in the history or compositions of one specific artist or genre, instead I’m interested in curating as wide and eclectic a taste in music as I can. I often find people who have completely shut themselves out of listening to more than one genre. To me, it seems that these people have found one genre they like and are content with listening to just that until the day that they die. I am definitely not one of these people. When I find one song I like, I have to discover the whole genre and history behind it. This has led me to having a somewhat “weird” taste in music. I like music from all around the world, even in languages I don’t understand. To some people, I understand, this is unfathomable. To them, music is just another way to express and enhance the written word. To me, music is about so much more than that! To me, one of the most important qualities a song can have is sounding good to my ears. I sometimes go the extra mile to look up the meaning behind certain lyrics, but I’m also completely content with not knowing. The actual sound is enough for me to enjoy a song all by itself.
I’m not going to go on a diatribe about how listening to diverse music allows you to experience and learn from many different cultures and how that makes you a more informed person. I definitely think it’s true, but I also think it’s quite an obvious fact. Another benefit of listening to diverse music is having a wider ranging catalogue. When I’m in the mood for a certain sound or feeling, I know the exact genre and sometimes the exact song I need to play to scratch that itch. Listening to highly jammable music is just good for the soul, I think. There is a certain feeling and headspace it puts you into that is just unmatched by most other activities on this Earth.
Lastly, I have a secret desire that I go to a club in some foreign country, and they play a song that I already know and am a big fan of, and I’m then able to start a conversation with the locals over it. Listening to music from outside your cultural context and comfort zone is one of the best things you can do for your mental wellbeing, I think.