Have you ever asked someone what kind of music they listen to and they answer with “Whatever really. Whatever is on the radio.”

I hate that.

I take pride in my music selection. Seeking out new artists, finding new talent, appreciating a new sound… These are all things someone in the scene lives for. But I am surrounded by people who may not have the time or interest to really get passionate about music.

Music may not affect them the same ways, maybe even down to the chemical level in their brains. Often, people turn on music just as background noise to what is going on around them. For example, they’re driving or they are at a party.

It’s not that music has some greater defined purpose or that music is going to save your life, but finding new music can be like meeting new people. Sometimes, you can meet 20 people all in one week, say at a new job, and not one of them sticks out. Then you meet someone else and their personality is a total fresh breath of air, you connect in ways that you just don’t with most people. You have the same sense of humor and similar interests. You’ve made a new friend.

That’s what it can be like because that’s exactly what bands should be. The music you listen to should be personal to you in the same way your close friends are. If you like to party, you have friends you go to party with, you also have music you party to. If you are going to study, there are friends you know you can study with; you also have music you play when you study. Yet, this music selection should be personal to you. One-hit wonders come and go and albums that only have two songs worth listening to are all over the place. But taking the time to find music you really connect with and enjoy because it means something to you on a personal level just makes the musical experience all the more worthwhile.