From catchy pop songs to hardcore rap, music is changing how many people see the world. With streaming services putting countless songs at people’s fingertips, society is exposed to more and more genres. As waves of students move through high school, their identities start to mature, and so does their music taste.
Cultural background has a big impact on music taste for lots of people, including highschoolers like Jorshua Mendez Alvarez (‘28).
“I’ve been listening to mostly Spanish pop music to learn Spanish from it… but Spanish music is also just better in its own ways,” said Mendez Alvarez. “Spanish has become a huge part of my life, and listening to Spanish music that I’ve heard since I was a kid has really helped me learn more about [the genre].”
Other times, the major influences come from something as simple as the emotions felt while listening.
“I generally like very mellow, relaxing music; when the music is relaxing enough, I feel that I can really enjoy my surroundings,” said Maxwell Thomas (‘29).
Additionally, the music that people listen to can change with exposure to other genres.
“I would listen to… the most basic stuff, but then I heard artists like Jimi Hendrix, Charlie Garcia, and Marvin Gaye for the first time. They changed my music taste and my life,” said Andres Rodriguez Aponte (‘28). “It was listening to [these artists] and realizing that these guys can create music that makes you feel something instead of music that you just listen to in the background.”
Other students echo this shift; as they were exposed to more genres, their unique taste in music began to shift.
“I would just listen to anything my friends told me about, but I’d skip a lot of the songs in my playlist. However, recently, I’ve merged it into just a couple of different genres that I actually like,” said Collins Crow (‘27).
Many people believe peer pressure can also shape one’s music taste.
“I used to listen to more pop music with upbeat themes, but got judged pretty harshly. If it’s too popular, it’s seen as weird, but if it’s too niche, you’re seen as performative,” said Messier.
Despite this, some students argue that relationships can also help shape some students’ playlists, whether it be through social media or friends and family.
“My friends listen to different types of music too, so I get exposure from their music,” said Mendez Alvarez. “My family also has an impact on my music taste, especially my mom. She has always loved to listen to music when she does work around the house.”
Additionally, music has allowed some students to develop tighter relationships with others.
“I have grown a lot closer to some people because we have the same favorite artists. I’ve made a lot of friends because I was able to reach out to people and talk to them about our shared love for music,” said Keira Bassett (‘27).
As students get older, some believe that their music tastes will change to mirror the sounds they grew up listening to.
“I think I’ll end up listening to more of my dad’s music as I get older,” said Crow. “I’ve found myself doing that now… and it’s helped me to connect with older generations.”
As people grow older and discover new genres, some, such as Rodriguez Aponte, acknowledge that the shifting and swapping of music will continue, especially as new music continues to drop and new artists rise to popularity.
“Music is going to change, not stay static,” said Rodriguez Aponte. “There’s always new music coming out. A new song that comes out… could really click for someone.”
