The music soundtrack we choose to listen to can help us manage our emotions and stress levels. Rock and Roll legend, Billy Joel expressed his thoughts about music as, “I think music in itself is healing. It’s something we are all touched by. No matter what culture we’re from, everyone loves music.” Whether we’re studying, driving, working out, doing chores, or just relaxing, we choose music to fit that particular activity and our state of mind.

Studies show that music can help us focus, de-stress, energize, grieve, and heal.  EVCC students shared their favorite music choices that help them get through daily ups and downs.  Perhaps their responses will inspire you to add to your life’s playlist.
“When I heard a song that I related to, it would let me know that I wasn’t alone with what I’m feeling and that someone out there took those emotions and created art with it,” says Cole Baker, 20. Cole’s favorite musical act is Radical Face. He also enjoys local artists Blue Scholar and one of Cole’s favorite songs is Joywave’s “Traveling at the Speed of Light.”

For 18-year-old student Nick Stribling, music expresses that different songs help him work through different emotions. Nick says that music affects his various emotional states and he appreciates a variety of genres from Michael Jackson’s “Billy Jean” to Beethoven. Fun fact, Nick does some spot-on moonwalking.

Jordan Forys, 18, said that the song “Supermarket Flowers” by Ed Sheeran put exactly what she was feeling into words when her grandma passed away. “He gets exactly how I’m feeling,” she says about the artist. She said that the way the song impacted her and her family was “so healing and so amazing.

Music is also a big part of Lakeithia Sakin, 22. She says that “Music is the friend that you would go to when the world has been a little rude to you when you feel misunderstood, or if you just need to be alone, music is the person that you would go sit on the grass with at night and look at the stars…” Lakeithia said Pharrell Williams is one of her favorite producers, and some artists she mentioned are Diana Ross and Jay-Z.