The Music
Ever find yourself in a shoddy mood? I guarantee there is a piece of music out there that could turn that around.
Music can take us anywhere. A flashback to a memory, or a place completely constructed within our imagination. It can help us empathise with the creator and think and feel things we’ve never experienced ourselves. It’s shared amongst millions, from countless different walks of life, yet it doesn’t fail to have any less impact from one individual to another. Music brings us together.
How can this be? As I sat in my room staring at the wall, a more frequent pursuit than I should admit, I played an album I hadn’t listened to in a while. Almost immediately, my foot started tapping, my head started bobbing, and before long, I found myself engaged in a dance battle with myself in the mirror. And afterwards, I felt great! I’d had some exercise, which is always good, and listening to feel-good music naturally enhanced my mood. I felt the joy and unlimited options the creator must have felt making it.
In films and television, music can completely shape the mood of the scene. A scene that is supposed to imply sadness, with some funky upbeat tracks layered on top, unless satire, would create confusion. Music has the power to shape our environments.
The Science
Music releases three chemicals: dopamine, serotonin, and oxytocin. It’s these chemicals that give us pleasure, motivation, and the feeling of connection to others. Like any piece of art, those of us who take the time to look deeper can see the sweat, time, and care that went into every second of the final piece.
It can feel like music can take us to places and memories because it does! Music engages the hippocampus, the region of the brain relied on for the processing and accessing of memories.
A good playlist can also improve focus. Instrumental music or sounds of nature can limit our chances of reaching for our phone or sneaking down to the fridge for a quick snack during deep work.
Most importantly, it helps us process thoughts we didn’t even know we needed to process.
How did I go from doing nothing to dancing around in 10 minutes? It was the specific music I was listening to. One such song is called “Die With A Smile”. I know there are websites out there that tell you the meaning of songs, but I often like to take my own. To me, it’s about making the most of every single moment we find ourselves in. When our time does come, we know we’ve made the most of every moment.
Music can tell us stories, and in that moment, the story of this song encouraged me to make the most of my own story.
I was in Stockholm the first time I listened to this album from start to finish. I had a friend who lived out there and we’d gone to visit him. This specific day was our day home. We’d been out late the night before, the sun was coming up, and I’d found myself lost in a city I’d only seen for the first time three days prior.
Every time I listen to this album, I’m taken right back to that moment. Feeling slightly worse for wear, but knowing I’d made the most of my time. Knowing, if the time did come, that I’d die with a smile.
When you flashback to a notable memory in your life, does a soundtrack run alongside it? Why not revisit that piece of music today?
Note: I’ll link the album down below. It is an absolute masterclass. The creator, FKJ, was a sound engineer before becoming an artist, and every sound is carefully considered. I hope you feel its power, as I have countless times.
Sources:
https://www.mobiliseonline.co.uk/amp/the-power-of-music