Throughout history, music has been a prominent outlet for self-expression. Students at Calabasas High School have all found unique and diverse ways of integrating it into their lives. For many, music reflects emotions, identity, and growth.
Sophomore Emily Schmidt described her music taste as mostly indie and pop, though she admits she prefers to follow trending music.
“I listen to a lot of music that’s popular. So a lot of the time I won’t start listening to [a band] until there’s a song that gets really popular, but then I’ll listen to the whole album and the song,” said Schmidt.
Many students find themselves relating to this, as they are most often exposed to mainstream songs through social media and radio.
Students at CHS also connect to their culture through music.
“I like a lot of Spanish music. My top number one was Bad Bunny. I feel like it helps me connect to my identity as someone who’s mixed. He talks about his heritage [and] how his family worked so hard and were immigrants, so I can connect to that through my mom,” said Schmidt.
Alivia Groover, a junior at Calabasas High, says her music taste has changed as she’s grown.
“It used to be more Taylor Swift, Olivia Rodrigo, very popular music. But I got more chill, and I think my music taste reflects how I’ve mellowed out,” said Groover.
She also believes music reflects interests and maturity.
“I think it shows what circles of pop culture I’m interested in,” Groover said.
Music is also a huge form of connection and self-expression.
“Freshman year, I was in a guitar class, and I really got into the Smiths [and] The Cure. I made a lot of new friends through that class [and] I learned more about music culture [in] general. Rock music helped me understand music as a medium and that helped me connect to my music teachers [and get] more into musical theater,” said Groover.
Freshman Kaylee Medvitz acknowledges that people’s opinions on music can vary widely based on personal taste.
“A lot of people hate some of the artists I love. Some people don’t like Taylor Swift, for example,” said Medvitz.
Students also find their moods affected by what they choose to listen to.
“I like always having something on, if I’m feeling bad, I listen to peppy stuff to lift me up, and if I want to feel emotions, I go for indie,” Schmidt notes.
“I used to be very interested in upbeat music, so it was very energizing, and now I kind of listen to relaxing music, so it gets me more down to earth,” said Groover.
Whether it’s through hit songs, underground music, or connecting with culture, music continues to shape how CHS students understand themselves and the world around them.
