When you abstract music to its basic elements, it’s simply a mixture of different sound vibrations, frequencies, and sometimes lyrics. Somehow, these three items are combined in infinite ways to produce unique listening experiences, and I feel that it’s these unique productions that bind us together as a community.
While I do enjoy listening to music, I would describe myself as a casual listener. Finding new music has never been a priority for me, and I often play music as background noise and shuffle through the same playlists. There’s a comfort in listening to songs you know well because you know what to expect. But last week, I embarked on a new adventure: broadening my music taste. And while there are certainly more “scholarly” goals I’ve been meaning to get to—starting to listen to a new podcast, reading a book lent by a friend that I promised to read, studying for impending midterms in the coming weeks—I felt a strong and immediate urge to strengthen my relationship with music.
Throughout this journey, I’ve turned to my friends for song recommendations. It’s interesting to see the kinds of songs people share with you, knowing that their recommendations are a representation of themselves. There’s a certain vulnerability that comes with sharing your music with others; it’s like sharing a segment of your soul, which is why I always appreciate it when people take the time to share their favorite songs with me.
More vulnerable than simply giving music recommendations is sharing music you’ve created yourself. And still, Stevens has a large array of talented students who are happy to share their unique music on both small and large platforms. There are numerous ways that students are musically involved on campus. The Stevens Dramatic Society, Stevens A Capella, the Audio Engineering Club, Stevens Underground Music Awareness Committee, the Stevens Orchestra, the Stevens Jazz Band, the Stevens Concert Band, and the Stevens Choir are just a few ways students can practice, perfect, and present their music skills.
Stevens students, however, are not confined by the construct of student organizations, and many of them find their own means of sharing their music, whether that be through open mic events, social media, or even large-scale music listening apps like Spotify. Since the transition back to in-person classes last semester, students have not shied away from sharing their talents. With the hope of promoting Stevens artists’ hard work and dedication, The Stute has featured current bands, singer/songwriters, independent artists, and upcoming music-related events at Stevens in this week’s issue.
It’s quite rare that I think deeply about the music that I’m listening to, but I’m learning that listening to music with intentionality improves the experience. There are tons of videos on YouTube detailing the history behind albums, websites that examine and interpret song lyrics, and interviews with artists that explain the origins of a song. Understanding the experience behind the song makes it much more meaningful and easier to connect with. This may be why I’ve felt immediate connections to the music created by Stevens students. Whether they’re my friend, a peer in one of my classes, or a student I’ve never met before, I feel connected to their music regardless of the topic. And I’m willing to bet that many other Stevens students feel the same way.
In one way or another, we’ve all been living the “Stevens experience;” we take similar classes, convene in the same study areas, and going to a small school means that our social networks have a ton of overlap. So if you’re like me and are craving new tunes, listen to some installments by Stevens music-makers and feel the connection. You won’t regret it.
The Stute Editorial is an Opinion column written by the current Editor in Chief of The Stute to address and explain editorial decision making, discuss news and media issues, and develop a sense of trust and transparency between readers and members of The Stute.
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