My Music Identity

Music has always played an impactful role in forming my identity as an individual, student, citizen and as well as a member of my generation. From a young age, I was an avid consumer/listening of music. My parents raised me in home where self-expression was encouraged, especially through listening to music. One of my first exposures to music was my Mother’s “oldies,” specifically Motown and African American music from the 1960s. After my Mother introduced me to that genre of music, I then developed my own foundational understanding and perception of music as well as own my preference. For a majority of my childhood, I continued to primarily listen to my Mother’s music. I was enthralled to the harmonious rhythm and “Motown Sound,” which is defined as music that is crafted towards a pop appeal with prominent melodic bass-guitar lines, a distinctive chord structure and a call-and-response singing style. Although, it was more than just the addictive and melodic rhythm that would mesmerize me, instead it was that the songs always encompassed a storyline, whether it be a love story or a story about loss or pain. Over the course of my childhood, these songs eventually became a part of who I am and how I would associate or link a few of my childhood memories and even a few of my emotions. Accordingly, music played and continues to be a strong influence in my identity.