an ode to music

I’ve always held such a high appreciation for music in my life. I remember parts of my life based on the music that played during those times. Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Sweet Home Alabama reminds me of childhood road trips to Florida, Eazy-E’s Boyz-n-the-Hood plays in my dad’s Impala while we cruise at car shows, Al Green’s Let’s Stay Together lingers in the background when my mom and I cook together. This is the magic of music; its importance.

Since moving to Chicago, my understanding and the effect music has had on my life has increased significantly. On a daily basis, I’m surrounded by those who express themselves through music by playing it, composing it, or mixing it. I, however, haven’t been blessed with the ability to express myself through musical talents; Instead, I’ve been given the ability to write.

Exploring music through journalism had never occurred to me until this year when I finally opened myself up and began going to more shows, exploring more artists and sitting in on recording sessions or jam sessions.

Through these experiences, I discovered a need to share this creative process with people; to capture the essence of what music means to people and write about it in an exploratory way.

When I’m at shows, my body gets this exhilarating sensation. When a song plays, and a specific guitar riff or drum pattern plays, or I see a musician’s face light up when they’re performing, it’s a serotonin release. These are the moments I want to capture in writing, the moments where music makes a moment in time feel absolutely perfect.