By Neel Agarwal

Hey everyone, I’m back after a little while. This time, I thought I’d try something different. Rather than talking about my usual mix of “self-help” and “growth,” I want to talk about something that’s become a major component of my life in the last couple months or so: Music. More specifically, exploring new music.

“But Neel, literally everyone listens to music, there isn’t anything special about you listening to it a lot.” 

Well, that’s completely fair. But I’d like to argue that there is much more to music than actually meets the eye. I love discussing and sharing new songs I’ve discovered with other people. Enjoying music isn’t necessarily a solo pursuit. I can’t tell you the number of times that it’s saved me in conversations. I guess what I’m saying is you often find unity in music.

From a more “analytical” perspective, to me, music is fundamentally about so-called “self-expression.”Good artists can express their own unique and individual views on a certain topic. Producing popular hits that are great to dance to isn’t really what I look for. What earns them a good reputation in my book is expressing their own views, not anyone else’s, on a certain topic, and doing it in such a way that makes me feel what they feel.

Maybe an example could help me illustrate. I listened to Radiohead’s 1997 “OK Computer” album about a month ago. Fundamentally, the album is just about the everyday struggles of a regular member of society: getting saved by an airbag in a car crash (“Airbag”), karma (“Karma Police”), politicians doing illegal things (“Electioneering”). That’s it. It sounds like a tremendously boring concept, but I simply cannot recommend this album enough. They went about expressing these messages in a truly beautiful way. Throughout the album, we have lines like “Open up your skull, I’ll be there” and “Bring down the government” from the lead singer. What exactly do these lyrics intend to mean? I’ve got absolutely no clue. But the guitar riffs, the drums, the solemn, drawn out vocals, all come together so I just – get it. I understand the core sentiment of the album. In fact, I’d go so far as to say that there’s never been an album that I’ve so closely identified with.

And this is where the primary connection to the “Unity in Immunity” theme comes in. When I’m able to relate to OK Computer’s sad, reflective, depressed mindset at times, it’s almost as if the artist and I together, or in unity should I say, are getting through these feelings I have, i.e. being immune to letting them ruin my day.

But in the case that doesn’t make sense, I offer one final example: Death Grips. These guys are fringe artists that produce music so chaotic and extreme that it’s classified as “experimental hip-hop.” Ever wanted to just scream? Just to be angry? This is that music. The vocals, being screamed at you at the top of MC Ride’s lungs, are put on top of beats that aren’t beats – it’s more appropriate to ambiguously classify them as “noise distortion.” But there’s something about this combination to me. The overly aggressive vocals, the drums, the electronic elements all come together to create something that enables me to get all the “stuff” out my system, but ultimately still enjoy the weird melody that’s created.

I could go on about every single artist and song that I’ve heard, and what they mean to me, but I think I’ll probably end it here. In summary, I think music is something  that makes me feel whatever I’m feeling slightly better: essentially externalize my feelings. I hope you explore some new music, and if you ever want to geek out about music with someone, I’m always there. Until next time I guess? (P.S. Next up on my artists to listen to are Taylor Swift. And if you want some of my recommendations in addition to the two I’ve given here, give me a text – nothing makes me more happy than someone enjoying the same music I enjoy.)