Music and Me!

Hi, My name is Dawn, I'm 19 years old and I'm a freshman at Converse University studying computer science. I was born and raised here in Spartanburg. I’m autistic, which gives me an interesting perspective on the world. I love anything STEM related especially computers and I spend a lot of my free time repairing and cleaning phones and other tech for people I know. When I’m not tinkering I do photography, its one of my favorite hobby's right now and currently I’m taking pictures with a film camera (The Minolta X-700 for any photographers out there), taking pictures of whatever catches my eye. Aside from all that I love traveling to North Carolina to see my girlfriend Isabella and go bird watching!

Music is a big part of my life and I can’t imagine living without it. I like a lot of genres from jazz and micro-tonal music to classical piano, orchestral pieces, noise music, and even rap, hip-hop and scream metal. I’m always looking for and listening to new things and I love how music conveys emotions, memories, and inspires creativity (Even though I am not very creative myself).

Now, let’s get into what music I like and don't like right now!

1. My current go-to is "Kids with Guns" by Gorillaz
Lately, I’ve been obsessed with Kids with Guns by Gorillaz. It’s so catchy to me and fun to sing along to. The beat is fun and the lyrics have a weird and interesting vibe that I like. I’ve been listening to it alot on Spotify recently whether I’m coding, taking a walk, driving, or just chilling. I love how it blends electronic and alternative elements.

2. A song that means something to me is "Tranz" by Gorillaz
Tranz by Gorillaz is a song that is special to me because I’ve been a fan of Gorillaz for as long as I can remember, and this track takes me back to when I was younger and listening to them on repeat all the time, It’s nostalgic for me and I used to just spam listen to it. The funky, upbeat rhythm and Damon Albarn’s vocals always put me in a good mood, and it’s a song that reminds me of when I was younger since I have been listening to Gorillaz as long as I can remember since their demon days album.

3. A genre I don’t really like is country music, I love exploring different genres but country music is one that I’ve never been able to actually enjoy. I’ve tried listening to it over the years, but it just doesn’t resonate with me, I think it’s the twangy vocals and the themes that don’t quite align with my personal experiences or tastes. That said while before I may not have been able to understand how people like it now I can understand why people enjoy it, it usually tells heartfelt stories and has a strong sense of community and tradition.

4. Bonus: Micro-tonal Music
Since I mentioned micro-tonal music earlier, I guess I'll share a bit about it. My girlfriend introduced me to this genre and I have loved it ever since. Micro-tonal music uses intervals smaller than the normal Western semitone making a weird and interesting sounds. It’s cool to me because it is so different from anything I have heard before and challenges the way people think about harmony and melody. One artist I’ve been listening to is a popular micro-tonal artist called Sevish, who makes electronic micro-tonal music. His track Harmony Hacker is a good example of how micro-tonality can make a dreamy, almost surreal sound.

Final Thoughts
Music is such a big thing in my life, and I’m excited (but a little nervous) to share my favorites with all of you. I’m looking forward to learning about the music that shapes your worlds and discovering new artists and genres along the way. Let me know what you think of my picks, and feel free to share your own!