Column by J1 Reporter Ella Hatz

Music expresses emotion through lyrics and beats that often cannot be put into words. Music shapes my daily life and it is so much more than simply a background noise. Music helps me recognize myself more clearly, but it also opens the door for me to connect with others in ways ordinary conversation can’t.

Music changes my life by giving me a language for emotions I don’t always know how to articulate. Whether I am just driving home after a long day, or cleaning my room, music is something to regulate my mood and makes me feel at home. A loud and confident song can amplify energy that fills my entire day. A sad mellow song can help me feel calm when I am down. From artists such as The Weeknd, Tate McRae, Lizzy Mcalpine, Drake, SZA, and many more, music allows me to step into moods and create new ones based on how I am feeling. 

It can bring structure because songs are tied to specific moments or memories in life. Road trips, nights out, friendships, breakups, wins and losses can all be tied to experiences in people’s lives. For example, Nights Like This by The Kid Laroi takes me back to the summer of 2023. Hearing these songs again is like opening a door to a past version of myself. It can be a reminder of the victories and struggles in life, or it can push me to keep going. 

Most of all music pushes my emotions. From a simple lyric that explains a situation I am living, to a beat that speaks to me in a way words cannot, music creates a larger emotional space to explore. Music is something that does not simply accompany my life, but rather transforms it through feeling, lyrics, and beat.