BY MRUNAL DEORE '24
Music is a window into one’s soul. Whether it be through a calm sonata or lively jazz number, music evokes feelings that cannot be spoken and provide endless opportunities for experimentation. Music isn’t just something to cure boredom—it’s a widespread form of media that connects people across borders, regardless of differences in identity.
Oftentimes, songs’ emotion or lyrics convey messages that are difficult to put into words, and they open the door to a wealth of hidden emotions. Everyone interprets music differently, but because of music’s capacity to express deeper emotions, there is still a community aspect intertwined within this individual experience. For instance, on a person-to-person scale, music serves as common ground when people are getting to know each other. Even if opinions differ, new relationships can be formed by comparing music tastes and giving each other recommendations.
On a broader level, music builds intra-cultural and intercultural unity. In Indian classical music, the most common instruments used are the traditional bansuri (Indian flute), the tabla (Indian drum), the sitar (Indian lute), and even more. Listeners of this classical music are immediately introduced to instruments with cultural significance, and many subgenres also relay historical events, promoting cultural education among foreigners. Similarly, South Korean culture has exploded in the West through K-pop, or Korean pop music. For many, K-pop serves as the stepping stone for a deeper understanding of South Korean culture and can inspire listeners to learn the Korean language, customs, and step outside the bubble of Western culture. Cultural music provides a gateway to broadening your knowledge about the world, as varying the music you listen to can help you begin to understand distinct cultures and perhaps realize something about yourself. Staying in touch with your own culture and expanding your musical tastes can revolutionize your worldview.
It’s truly a beautiful thing, the transformative power of music: where language barriers may hinder communication, music transcends those boundaries. Listening to new genres of music unlocks newfound appreciation for different cultures, and it’s amazing that our brains are capable of translating the emotion that songs elicit. As humans, we often dwell on our differences, but the desire to perform and create music is a constant in all cultures. By listening to each other’s music—and what it has to say—perhaps we can establish a more harmonious world.