Anyone who has seen my iPod will be able to guess that I don't watch MTV or listen to Variety 97.7. I'm not enamored with Lady Gaga's glamorous club hits or The Black Eyed Peas' feel-good anthems. However, I think that my music library has something for everyone in it.
As a pianist of 12 years, I mostly play classical music, when I'm not playing more diverse genres of music with the Uptown Music Collective. However, while I enjoy playing classical music, I listen to very little of it. I think that there are many modern artists who are worth listening to, from Lisa Hannigan to Kate Nash; however, that doesn't mean that some classics should be overlooked, whether they're from the time of Mozart or Electric Light Orchestra.
One of my musical obsessions is Regina Spektor. I'm the kind of person who might have 30 artists who have one song each on my iPod, but my library of Regina Spektor extends to 96 songs so far. This musician was born 30 years ago in the former USSR and fell in love with the piano, learning on a Petrof upright.
She and her family then emigrated when she was 9 years old - not speaking a word of English - and eventually settled in the Bronx. Around the age of 15, the people around her realized her ability to make up unique, captivating songs and at 21, she released her first album, producing it herself.
Each of her albums, and really each of her songs, has its own genre, defying traditional labeling of her music as a whole (which is usually categorized as "anti-folk"). "11:11" is full of jazz vocal stylings, while "Songs" is a collection of quirky "little ditties" with thought-provoking lyrics. Her most recent album, "Far," reached No. 1 during its release last year.
Her voice is unlike any other - abrasive and polished at the same time - and her recordings make it seem like she's in the room singing to you. If you've never heard this artist, she's definitely worth looking up.
I am also attracted to French-language music. I especially like the smokey, Norah Jones-type voice of Carla Bruni, who also is the First Lady of France, and the pop-style music of 17-year-old Camelia Jordana.
One of the more popular artists I enjoy listening to is Feist. This Canadian musician was recently popularized by her single "1234," but her sound is not mainstream. Instead, she blends many musical genres into her songs, using a large variety of instruments and sounds to make colorful compositions.
She also has something for every mood - from the smooth, sadness-tinged sounds of "The Park" and "The Limit To Your Love," to the eclectic and happy "Mushaboom," to the mellow, easy-listening-inspired "Gatekeeper."
I think that one of the most important things is to listen to songs that match your mood. It's hard to listen to a happy song when you're angry, or a mellow song when you're excited. The right music at the right time can accentuate or alleviate your emotions. Music is much more than just notes and rhythms; it's an expression of the soul.
