Discovering Yourself Through Sound

There are many aspects of a person that can reveal a lot about their personality, such as their hobbies, who they hang out with, their interests, dreams, and aspirations, and many details that shape and define them. However, one key aspect that can show not only someone’s character but also who they are as a person is music. Music either defines us, making us into who we are, or is defined by who we are. That said, many students around Ferguson listen to music not just to hear melodies but to feel emotions that only melodies can provide.

Moving up the ladder of grades, we start with Freshman Sophia Jarquin, who usually tends to listen to country music, a genre known for its dance moves. It has both traditional lyrics and harmonies, which consist of resonator, electric, steel, and acoustic guitars, banjos, fiddles, and harmonicas. Though she doesn’t specify her favorite songs or artists, she explains that she listens to country because her “dad used to listen to it a lot. It makes me really happy because I love dancing to country music and doing line dancing.” Country music not only brings her happiness but also evokes nostalgia and motivates her to do something she loves: dancing.

Sophomore Dorian Torres prefers Indie Folk, a blend of Indie Rock and Folk. It commonly uses instruments such as acoustic guitars, banjos, ukuleles, and mandolins. The lyrics tend to be emotional and tell stories in a traditional folk style. He mainly listens to Adrianne Lenker, the lead vocalist, guitarist, and songwriter of Big Thief. She also has solo albums like Abysskiss, Songs and Instrumentals, and Bright Futures, which earned her a Grammy nomination for Best Folk Album. Torres says he listens to this style “because [he] likes calm, soothing music…it does affect me as a person because it helps me concentrate.” Listening to this music positively influences his focus on schoolwork and has helped him become more centered.

For upperclassmen, Junior Owen Lopez shares that he prefers music that is either romantic or sad romantic. He listens to Juice Wrld, an American rapper known for hip-hop and alternative songs; Mitski, who makes alternative and indie rock; and The Marias, an indie rock and pop band. His taste leans toward indie rock and alternative. He mentions that “Condone it” by Juice Wrld and “Francis Forever” by Mitski are two of his favorites. “Music either makes me really happy or sad,” Owen says, using his music choices to reflect his mood.

Finally, Senior Adrian Rodriguez gives a more detailed response. He states that he prefers “the more experimental side of music,” listening to artists like Joey Valence Brae, Tyler the Creator, and bbno$, as it makes him feel motivated to move with the rhythm. He also lists artists such as Rio Romero, Arctic Monkeys, Will Wood, Fish in a Birdcage, The Vanished People, and Pantera—further diversifying his taste with Japanese vocal synths Hatsune Miku and Kasane Teto. When asked why he enjoys this type of music, he responds, “I can’t exactly point out what I like about these genres, especially since I’m not able to find a common thing among all these artists, but I just like music that gets me hooked. I think it’d be anything that pushes my emotions to the front of the stage—just anything that sounds raw and real and alive and unfiltered; whether it’s beats, screaming, synths, singing, or guitars.”

Music is a wonderful medium, capable of telling stories with deep lyrics or connecting deeply with the soul through simple melodies. It can evoke happiness, nostalgia, sadness, restlessness, and concentration. Overall, music not only influences our mood, but our taste in music often reflects our entire identity.