Today someone asked me what kind of music I liked. It doesn’t sound like something worth posting in a blog about… but it turned out to be… and I’ll tell you why.
One of the main points of conversation that I default to when meeting someone new or getting to know someone better is to ask them what kind of music they are into. Now I didn’t realize until today, when I thought about it, that the reason I do this is not because I really want the information, but its actually because I am trying to establish a connection with someone through something I might have in common with them. When I find someone who starts spouting off bands that I know and like, I get super excited about the idea of carrying on a conversation with them about something very familiar to me. It becomes way easier for me to really bond with the person.
So, people have asked me this question before and I usually say something like “well I pretty much like anything,” or some other basic answer that implies that my musical interests are so broad that it’s difficult to narrow it down. I don’t do it on purpose. I’m usually just caught off guard and so I settle on a short answer to keep form boring the other person, or simply that I would have a hard time coming up with enough examples to represent all that I appreciate in a world of lovely noise.
Today, however, a friend of mine asked me what music I liked. I replied this time with a “well, that depends.” It got really weird from there. I asked her if she meant out of music that I really respect and appreciate, or music that I usually listen to on a regular basis (how could anyone even think of it that way?). I don’t know why I complicated it like this since my normal aim is not to be complicated with my answer. Needless to say, it sort of created a confusing picture for her of what interests me musically. After we talked about it for a little bit, I named off some bands that she hadn’t heard of and it felt kind of awkward and unresolved. It came to my realization that they way I express myself in this situation is completely and ridiculously off-putting. Even when I go my normal route with a simple answer, it doesn’t really allow people access to one of the most important parts of me.
The truth is that people identify themselves with music. If someone wants to know what suits you, it seems to me that it’s really an attempt for them to look into you and find something that they can relate themselves to. Music is so powerful that just talking about it connects people. I think that we are all aware of this and I think it leads people (myself included) to try and impress everyone with their selections. I’m willing to bet that every single person has got their “guilty pleasures’ of music that they really like but are too ashamed to say it. I say we give it up. If you like something you should admit it and be prepared to show people why its awesome. For all you know there are other people that really like it too but are also too afraid to say. Or perhaps they’ve made up their minds about music that they would really like if only they took some time to actually listen to it. That kind of situation has potential to turn into a really valuable relationship.
From now on I’m going to be completely honest with what music I like. If that means admitting that Katy Perry makes me squeal, or that Coldplay deserves every ounce of the fame that they have, it’s a small price to pay for finding someone that doesn’t snicker at me when I say so.
After my short experience today I feel compelled to organize my thoughts and to reexplain what music I like and try to answer people in a more direct and intelligible way. Here goes:
I like music with a good beat and bass that you can feel in your chest. I like a song that is catchy and refuses to let me forget it. I love when no matter what the words are, you sing them when you hear it because it just feels right. I like music that sounds big, when it sounds like it’s playing from the tops of mountains. I like music that makes me move my feet without me knowing. I like music that is complex and that shows me something I’ve never noticed even after the thousandth time listening to it. I also like music that is simple and is easy to connect with. I like music with words that compel me to be more than just a person, but to be a hero, or a lover. I like when music flows up and down and in and out of reality and takes me with it. I like music that inspires people who then write more music that inspires people. I like music that can be played in any language but can still evoke feelings in everyone. I like music that makes you happy and sad at the same time. I like music that is timeless and speaks to generation after generation, forever. I like music that shapes humanity.
-trey
We wanted to take some time to update some of our lovely fans about our progress as we write and record some tasty new tracks! Over the past few weeks we’ve been piecing together a lot of ideas into what will become our second album. We are taking time to refine themes and moods that we want to convey but a lot of other interesting and surprising things are popping into our heads with every recording session.
In a time when the future is uncertain, with warfare, police brutality and the threat of the economy tanking for good, we haven’t allowed those topics to dissuade us from writing, but quite the opposite, we’re using their influence to create a dark undertone to our new songs. The emotions associated with these topics are definitely universal, so it’s interesting to take real feelings of fear and uncertainty and tell a story that seemingly has nothing to do with events in the real world. This, paired with the fun and high-energy electropop that friends and fans have come to expect, reaches for something familiar with past recordings but also something fresh and refined.
Another change we are making during this process is that we are incorporating a lot of talent from friends and sweet local bands. We are but two and it is definitely helpful and encouraging to know so many other musicians who are willing to collaborate and make great music with us. We are trying to have as much fun with this as possible and friends make everything more fun. Expect to see a list of credits and thanks in our album jacket and website when this is complete.
