Music is often an expression of identity, it offers a sense of both self and the collective. Historically, music is a crucial part in distinguishing between and defining social groups; however, I feel there is more of a blurring between music preference and genres these days. Instead of subcultures deriving from distinctions in music preference such as Punk, Mods and Skinheads, youth subcultures are now often developed through social media with the recent Eboys/girls and VSCO girls/boys. Therefore, I asked 4 people what their preferred style/genre of music was and why to gain a sense of what peoples intentions are when listening to music and if there are any.
Q) What style/genre of music do you prefer and why?
Nicola Baird: “I listen to a lot of music via youtube, so I prefer dance music, anything that gets me of the computer and up and around.”
Nicola Baird, Journalist, Finsbury Park London, (C) Kimi Gill for Islington Faces
Sofi Natt: “I don’t think that I really have a favourite genre anymore, I like more or less anything, I have a playlist with absolutely everything on for when I can’t chose what I want to listen to, but I do have some playlists with certain genres for when I’m feeling a certain type of way. Even though I’m open to anything, I feel like I do typically go for pop punk or metal when I’m alone because not many of my friends are into it so I can jam without being judged.”
Sofi Natt, Student, Northampton
Charlotte Blunden: “I quite like soft psychedelic stuff because its easy listening and I like the fashion that goes along with it.”
Charlotte Blunden, Film Student, Essex
Neelam Tabassum: “I don’t really have a specific music taste, I listen to everything an anything! It all depends on my mood. If I’m feeling quite chill and just want some background music I’ll listen to something alternative or even R&B but if I’m full of energy then hip-hop or rap is definitely the way to go. I can just never chose.”
Neelam Tabassum, Student, Stratford London
It seems that more people are listening to different music depending on mood and accessibility as opposed to intentionally identifying with a particular style in order to fit in and belong to a certain social group.
Culture n that 