It’s wild to think about how I’ll listen to just about any kind of music, depending on my mood. Rock? Press play! Electronic? Hit it! Pop? Turn it up! Over the years, I’ve realized that as we grow, we naturally become more open to different musical genres and styles. For a music fanatic like me, it’s impossible to stick to just one genre—no way. And honestly, if someone is limiting themselves like that, well… they’re kinda missing out.
So, let’s take a dive into my personal journey and how my influences have shaped the way I listen to music today. Wow, I’m already sounding like a musician who just won a truckload of Grammys and is about to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Neat!
At an early age, I had a one-track mind when it came to music—rock. I was obsessed. Back in elementary school, I listened to nothing but AC/DC. Yeah, picture a fourth or fifth grader hearing Back in Black for the first time and going, “What is this? This is amazing! Those guitar riffs, that energy—why don’t we have more music like this?” I was fascinated watching Angus Young run around the stage like a madman, shredding through one iconic riff after another. Meanwhile, my classmates were busy blasting Apple Bottom Jeans or doing the Soulja Boy dance. Yeah… I was on a different wavelength.
Then came junior high, when a friend cracked my musical world wide open, introducing me to ‘60s and ‘70s rock—specifically Genesis, Pink Floyd, and of course, The Beatles. We’d swap CDs, hang out after school, and just sit there listening, talking about the music. Those three bands planted a seed in my head—one of creativity, of experimentation in music. But at the time, I was still locked into just that world. Telling people I was into those bands made me feel like the odd one out, but hey—I didn’t care.
Then came high school, when I took a deep dive into the psychedelic era. Enter The Doors. I became obsessed with their 1971 album L.A. Woman—an absolute masterpiece. But here’s where things started shifting. I began branching out, little by little. My friend Chris introduced me to Daft Punk, while others got me into jazz. But not just any jazz—I was drawn to jazz fusion, jazz rock. Suddenly, I was listening to Weather Report, Pat Metheny, Jaco Pastorius, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Miles Davis, and more. At that age, while most people in my school were into rap, I was vibing with experimental jazz-rock. It was weird, but it felt right. And remember that seed I mentioned earlier? It had started sprouting—I was building my own unique musical palette.
Then came college and university—what I call the era of full expansion. At this point, I was listening to almost everything. If it sounded good, I was in. Pop, electronic, new wave, ‘70s punk, post-punk—I was all over the place. I started digging into Iggy Pop, The Stooges, New Order, Joy Division, The Cure, The Clash, Blondie, Television, The Buzzcocks—you name it. This was also the time I took a deep dive into The Rolling Stones’ catalog. I’d already done my Beatles phase in junior high, but now it was time to experience the other side—the grittier, raunchier, blues-driven world of the Stones. Their music hit different—it was all about heartbreak, love, sex, rock and roll. It felt raw, real.
During this era, I was going to concerts in small clubs and bars. Some were smooth, some were absolute mayhem—ear-ringing, sweat-drenched, did-I-just-get-punched? type of mayhem. Yeah, I was playing with fire, but hey, I eventually learned that if you want to be in the music industry, protecting your ears is priority number one.
I also got incredibly lucky when I landed a job at a vinyl record shop—The Death of Vinyl. I’d been frequenting the shop since high school, and when they offered me a part-time gig, I felt like the luckiest person alive. The owners had one rule: Shut up and just listen. You’ll thank me later. That was it. Pretty simple, right? But man, did that change everything. That shop played a huge role in shaping my taste.
Fast forward to now, where social media plays a major role in influencing our musical tastes. Lately, I’ve been diving even deeper into electronic music, techno, synth-driven sounds, modern pop, hidden gems from different genres, funk, R&B, hip-hop, and beyond. No, I’m not about to start hitting up raves, but I’ve developed a deeper appreciation for the creativity behind the music. I’m also exploring Daft Punk’s full catalog—back in high school, all I cared about was Random Access Memories (2013). Now? I want to know everything. And it doesn’t stop there—I’ve met some incredible people along the way, including one of my best friends, Luke. He’s completely changed the way I experience music, opening my perspective to the deeper layers behind an album’s production. Through him, I’ve gained a better understanding of why musicians make certain creative choices, how the smallest details in a song can make a huge difference, and even how to hear music from a whole new perspective. So, thanks, Luke—you ROCK!
The rise of DJ culture, curated playlists, and constantly discovering new artists keeps me hooked. You never know what’s going to resonate, what’s going to hit you right in the soul. Music has been embedded in me since day one—I eat, sleep, think, and breathe it. It’s part of my DNA. And as always, I’m going to keep my ears open to new sounds, new styles, new experiences. Because you never know when you’ll stumble across your next favorite song.