3 minute read
It's Classified
Written by Julia McGinty Most of us hear music from infancy. Whether it be lullabies or the radio, music surrounds us throughout the most critical points of our development. As we get older and more independent, we share our inventory of songs.
Passing the aux is so much more than sharing control of a social function’s music. The aux cord with time, has less to do with the physical cord and focuses more on the act of collaboration.
More than just “picking the music,” getting the aux is being trusted with creating an environment. Some people play music for the occasion, other people play music for the mood — all are valid.
deciding what to play
Deciding what music is playing is a highly delicate task. There is an implicit responsibility placed on the person choosing the music. Connecting to music is personal, so it can be difficult to gauge what people would like to hear. How does one balance dynamics? Why play different music for one group of friends rather than another?
Jack Freiser, Director of Events for Penn State’s Movin’ On, grapples with these questions on a larger scale.
Movin’ On is an annual student-run music festival that is one of the largest in the country. The festival has headlined acts such as Jack Harlow, Fitz and the Tantrums, Big Sean, Fall Out Boy and more.
Movin’ On celebrates the end of the semester and students’ “movin’ on” to the next phase of their lives. The environment is bittersweet for students at the end of their time at Penn State, but the community comes together for a night of celebration.
heavy is the head that wears the crown
The most embarrassing response to getting the aux is immediate requests to change the song. What can follow is resigning from the aux with shame like Richard Nixon after the Watergate scandal.
Why does such a seemingly small action feel so complicated? Music taste is deeply personal and shaped by multiple factors — family, friends, exposure and hobbies.
It’s scary to feel like personal taste isn’t respected or thought of as cool. Considering that music taste is a way to express identity, having it welcomed is validating. What people listen to as a kid becomes their “comfort music.” What people listen to as teens heightens individuality. New music also equals new connections.
Given that most teenagers today have internet access, they have the power to interact with Twitter, create and like Spotify playlists and comment on social media profiles. This is a big shift from how music used to be experienced. Getting music on demand means it can be easily added to playlists. Or, it can be quickly rejected.
Music is also a steady part of routine. Whether it’s Glass Animals when walking to class or Taylor Swift before bed, music is tied to our memories. Music is associated with moments. Switch it up, collaborate. If you’re on aux ask people to give you a song. If you’re driving, whoever is in the passenger seat can help you play the music.
Sharing music is sharing a part of yourself. While it can be scary to open up this way, it can also bring a lot of joy. Music speaks for us.
