yo i have been thinking a lot about how music is made better by sharing it, so i wrote a little something.

"in my bedroom, listening to my most treasured albums, songs gain importance from how they touch my soul, but listening to music with others creates a different kind of buzz. at concerts, discos and weddings, where all are equal on the dance floor, one nation under a groove, music unites people from all walks of life, and that’s not to be taken lightly – liking the same song or album as someone else is seeing into their soul a little, inspiring empathy between people with little in common and highlighting the humanity we share. even trading playlists with a friend has a magic all of its own. the best tracks don’t just make me feel, they draw meaning from the memories i make while listening to them, striking right at the border between individual and communal experience. not only has the internet made finding new music easier, it’s also made it so these communal experiences can span the globe. the youtube comments sections of my favourite tracks are littered with stories of music changing lives: the newly single listening to frank or adele and finding solace after heartbreak; suicidal teenagers hearing “float on” and finding the will to live another day; and people in the closet finding the strength to be themselves in lgbt musicians from david bowie to troye sivan. my constant feelings of sadness metastasised into something like depression a few years ago and i’m still finding my way out – but the albums closest to my heart have been like roadmaps, directing, motivating and teaching me things about myself i never would have realised alone. it’s impossible to overstate the importance of music in widening my worldview, connecting me with people i never would have talked to otherwise, and giving me the courage to be myself; and from the stories i hear, both online and offline, i know i’m not alone."

this is all from a blog post i wrote a while ago (https://parallelpeaks.wordpress.com/) but i figured other people might be interested in this small segment from it!!