Why you should open yourself up to more genres

At the age of twelve I was well versed in all things R&B and pop, after growing up with the likes of Neyo, Usher, Rihanna, The Pussycat Dolls and Katy Perry. Now from what my parents have told me, it is pretty clear I’ve always loved music, because baby shops was jamming to Dilemma by Nelly and Kelly Rowland every time it came on TV. But still my knowledge of music was pretty limited to Pop and R&B as well as some disco tunes from the 70s and some other bangers from the 80s to 90s with full credit to my parents. But years later, 11 year old me is sent to boarding school and my real musical journey began. At this point my favourite song was ‘Turn around by Ne Yo and Conor Maynard’ and it was illegally downloaded to my blackberry. Luckily my friends introduced me to a whole new world of music. By this time I was listening to the pop duo Hall and Oates, and waking up to the sounds of St Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band by the Beatles. As well as making a weird music video to Madness’s ‘Baggy Trousers’. By the time I was 13 I was convinced I was indie and retaliated against my very understandable pop roots. (Never gave up R&B though so I guess that say something about the smooth sounds of Usher). My life was now 'The Wombats', and the 'Arctic Monkeys'. Which were all great and I loved every moment of that phase but for some reason I felt I couldn’t like more than one genre therefore I had reject the others that were ‘less favourable’, but to who though?

Anyway I hit 14/15 and now I’m obsessed with pop music again but a more specific type, electronic. No I do not mean my love for edm/house which stemmed from the likes of Calvin Harris and Avicii. No, I became obsessed with pop trio Years and Years; seeing them in concert twice in one year and embarrassingly having a fan Tumblr account of almost 1k followers… Aside from that, I then again thought this genre was my life leaving alternative/indie music in the dirt.

Then at 15 I fell in love with rap and alternative r&b. Discovering Travis Scott for the first time and being infatuated with Drake and Futures mixtape what a time to be alive.

Around this time I finally found the sense to stop caring about what people thought and finally began to listen to all the different variants of music I liked. This prepped my ears for some great albums to come such as 'A Seat at the Table' - Solange and Process - Sampha. Albums that were an accumulation of different sounds and styles. (Wow i sound pretentious).

Finally at 16/17 I took my love for exploring music further and delved into the world of rock music after watching a documentary and hearing the Foo Fighters ‘Best of you’. I then turned into an Oasis super fan and to all my friends that I bothered I am very sorry.

In this same year, my friend introduced me to country music and I used to claim to hate country without ever hearing a country song. It is safe to say I no longer feel that way. And I think the genre thrives due to its ability to tell a story no matter how weirdly southern and pointless they may seem such as the banger 'Beer Money' by Kip Moore

Now after this long winded explanation what I am trying to say is that we should be more open to hearing new sounds and new genres, instead of limiting ourselves to one thing because know ‘it works’. 13 year old me would be so mad I listened to Taylor Swift's new albums but in fact these albums intrigued me enough to make me want to delve into the folk genre more. Artists like MGK who started as a rapper and explored other avenues are the reason I’ve been compelled to listen to pop punk. Yes it can be frustrating at times when people mock you for your new interest, in a genre or artist that seems outside of what is acceptable, but who defines what is acceptable? Your friends? Society? The person you like who you are trying to impress (which I can relate with because that is how I discovered Joey Bada$$). I've realised that we define what is acceptable for ourselves and so to me it is acceptable that I like One Direction and Tyler, the Creator all at the same time.

It’s fine if your not ready to admit to other people you like country, or whatever but after I stopped caring, I began to enjoy music a lot more (it is clear from the fact that a literally blog about it). So I’ll put up with my friends teasing me if it means I get to go home and listen to Taylor swift’s ‘betty’ and feel something.

I think any genre can speak to anyone you just have to be open to it. I love sad music (let me say emotive so I don't sound like I am sad all the time). I love emotive music and so any genre can communicate the same emotions in different ways. So if you wanna do something new in 2021, listen to something new. Feel free to DM me for a suggestion or, listen to that album you've heard great things about but it's 'outside of your aesthetic'. Life is too short to depirve yourself of the beautiful things it has to offer, and that includes music.

Till next time! (I hope that isn't in another 6 months)

Sope xx