Walking into my room after a long day, I am greeted by my headphones, vinyls and CDs from a variety of artists, a speaker, a record player and posters adorning music artists taped onto my wall.

Music is truly everywhere in my life. It’s there when I walk into school not-so-bright and very early to wake me up, to motivate me when I’m exercising, to cheer me up when I’m sad and to play in the background to relax with a friend.

I can’t live without music and its mystical benefits. No one can.

Music artists and their craft as a whole impacts us far greater than we truly know. 

Not only is it just enjoyable to listen to, but according to the JED Foundation, a suicide prevention and mental health organization, music can have some deeper and more beneficial mental effects. It can aid in relieving anxiety and depression, as studies show that people’s stress levels lower in uncomfortable situations we encounter every day when they listen to music.

Not only are cortisol levels lowered when music is processed through the amygdala, the emotional center of the brain, but serotonin, endorphin and dopamine levels increase as well. 

I have seen this with my own eyes, too. I’ve watched friends transform into happier people upon listening to a new album or a comfort song on repeat. 

It may seem bizarre that some instrumentals and vocals could do this much, but once one sees music’s impact, there is no going back.

Another positive influence from music comes from the artists themselves. They create a fanbase that centers around them and their songs, creating a community where others can find each other and truly connect. These welcoming spaces are very important to members of the community.

For example, I attended a Wallows concert in June 2022, and the atmosphere was truly incredible. I couldn’t have been happier. Scream-singing your favorite songs that are all too relatable and looking around to see that you are not alone in your feelings and self is unreal. 

Afterwards, I got the amazing opportunity to meet the band backstage. I cannot describe how much it meant to me. They were artists who truly had created masterpieces, and I was honored to be in their presence. 

Even for people who don’t get those experiences, they still feel the warmth and comfort of other fans and their favorite artists and we don’t know what we would do without them or each other.

It may not be noticeable, but blood flows easier when music is playing. It also reduces heart rate and lowers blood pressure, making people feel better and be better, according to North Shore.

Even if one can’t perceive or feel all of the wonderful ways music benefits us, we can still find happiness in it. Music is so many emotions at once but then none at all at the same time. It’s truly something magical that brings us together, leaving us forever changed. 

So, when I put on my headphones, the beautiful beat and lyrics so amazingly written becomes all I can think about. But there truly is a lot to think about when it comes to the music we know and love.