Basslines & Boardrides

Have you ever listened to a song for the first time and then played it on repeat for days after? Like you need it, you crave it. That’s because your brain actually does crave it. Music can change the chemicals in your brain. It can help calm you down, help you cry, and release built up emotion. When certain songs show up in different seasons of your life it’s not an accident. Your brain may be reaching for something to help you survive that moment; whatever it may be. Maybe one day the song stops hitting the same, not because it’s not good but because it already did its job. Some songs really aren’t just songs, their medicine. In my opinion it really goes to show how vulnerable the music industry actually is, you could put out a song that could quite literally save someone’s life.

When a song mirrors your emotions your brain releases oxytocin, the same chemical that builds trust and connection. When the right lyric or melody feels like it’s hugging you that’s why. When you sing or share music the effect multiplies, you’re breathing and heartbeats literally sync up. Music doesn’t just connect us emotionally it connects us biologically. Music can lower cortisol (I’m not kidding this is not a reference to that stupid meme) the bodies main stress hormone and helps to regulate the nervous system, slowing down your heart, steading your breath, and allowing your body to calm down. Music can even trigger Endorphins, the body’s natural painkillers. Your brain naturally syncs with rhythm, in what scientists refer to as “entrainment” when your heartbeat, breathing, and brainwaves start to match the tempo of the music you’re hearing. Music is truly medicine for the mind and soul.

Sorry to go on this tangent again but how could AI ever even try to replace something like that? Music is such a vulnerable form of art, most artists are scared to release vulnerable work but more often than not it’s what people connect with the most. Music is such an important form of art, and we can’t let AI take away another form of human connection. (If you want to read more on my opinion on AI in the music industry, check out my post AI or Art?) Anyway, thanks for reading I’m sorry I’ve gone quite these past couple weeks and sorry it a rather short article (but hey I’m back!) if this does well I might do a deeper dive on music as medicine but for now that’s all from me.

As always.

Bass in my veins, salt in my hair, grip tape on my soul.

-C