Music. It is my therapy. It has been for so long. When not my therapy, it is my escape or my background noise. I used to sleep with the radio on when I lived at home as a teen. I need a noise at night or the slightest things wake me up. I obviously had to go without when my kids were little because I needed to be able to hear them.  Even now, I have a fan. If I do not want it blowing on me, I just point it in another direction. I had a noise machine for a while, but the cord quit working on it, and in the summer, you need a fan here anyway. My preferred sounds are thunderstorms and bayou sounds.

I grew up with my grandma listening to Julio Iglesias, Roy Orbinson and Abba. She had such an odd assortment of music tastes. Maybe that’s where I got it from? We listened to the oldies station a lot as well. When the radio used to have one. I have an oldies playlist on Spotify.The Everly Brothers, Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash, Jackson 5, The Supremes. It was safe music to play around kids. I think that’s why it was played often. I heard a lot of these classics at my aunts houses too. 

My dad and mom listened to Rock, my uncle Larry too. My mom loved Bon Jovi. This is my core music. It was for years. Soundgarden, Nirvana, Stone Temple Pilots, Bush, Limp Bizkit, KoRn, Pearl Jam, Metallica. As I got older, I added Seether, Audioslave, Velvet Revolver, Three Days Grace. Theory of a Dead Man. Of course, I can’t name them all. The appeal probably was the emotion. I had a hard time with emotions. The sadness and angst were a release for me. A processing. It was a comfort that others felt my pain as well. I could get lost in it.

As a teen, music was everything. I watched MTV almost non-stop. I got introduced and interested via VH1 on the mornings of elementary school while we were getting ready and grandma was doing our hair. I used to know so many music facts. 

My childhood best friend and her family listened to country music. I’ve heard it often, but around 10, I saw my mom during one of her visits into my life, and she was listening to country, so I liked that too. I still admired and looked up to her then. I longed for her. That’s when I got into 90s country. Reba, Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Martina McBride, Clay Walker, Alan Jackson, Trace Adkins, Garth Brooks, Shania Twain, Mindy McCready, The Dixie Chicks. 

Even if I’m not inclined to like something, I usually do with enough exposure. I’m pretty open minded. And I’m not afraid to get picked on for it. Not anymore atleast. My cousins Audi and Amanda made fun of me plenty for listening to the N*SYNC Christmas album and also Hanson (Christmas and regular) among other things. And of course, my junior high peers made fun of me for it, too. My husband even made fun of me for The Cry Baby soundtrack. I know it’s out there, but I like what I like. 

Currently, I have 2 favs I’m listening to. The first being a UK independent artist from Whales. His name is Ren (Gill) if you want to check him out please start with Hi Ren on youtube. Then do Money game 1-3. I also love troubles. The acoustic version is sadder. It hits different but explains his background better. Suicide, not the live version, the other, makes me cry too. Ren, has had a rough life and it just breaks my heart. His songs hit something in me and make me cry so much. I’ve watched Hi Ren a million times because I’ve watched so many reaction videos. I have a few favorites there as well if interested. I will always support him. Power has a good catchy beat, a little different pace from his normal stuff. I think his tik tok page is ren makes music. He started out busking. He had a Sony record deal, but his health went downhill. He’s independent now. He does some covers. His retake of bitter sweet symphony is good as well. His health relapsed again, and he’s currently in Canada again for treatment.

Also, and this is an odd one for me, is a kpop group. Let me start with it even took me some time to admit to myself how much I liked them. I’m not an Asian culture obsessed person. I don’t listen to any other non English music. And 1/2 ish of each song has English in it. However, I love Stray Kids. Their music goes hard. It has a lot to it. It’s rock, rap, dance, electronica. I prefer watching their videos. Their videos are like mini movies, and their dance moves go hard. I will watch a video and then a live preference. They have 8 members, and the more I watch, the more I want to watch. Their music is perfect for house cleaning or working out too. I would start with God’s Menu. Other favs are S Class, Venom, Megaverse, Lalalala, Maniac. I love Felix’s ethereal look. He has masculine and feminine styles. He has a super deep voice and is a brand ambassador for Louis Vuitton. However, Hyunjins dancing is top-notch. He goes hard and does quirky facial expressions. He’s also a really good artist(painter). Bang Chan is the oldest and leader. He is like the parent figure to all of them. Chan Bing and Hans rapping is amazing as well. Bang Chan and Felix are actually Australian. So hearing their accents in interviews is cool. Their last 5 albums have debuted in the US at number 1. They are breaking all kinds of records. Their new album hits today.

I hope you guys can check them out. You won’t be disappointed.