April 01, 2006

Musical interlude

I'll be honest and say that when I was a kid, I was really late getting into music. I wouldn't listen to music in general, unable to follow the music conversations of those around me in the classroom, or be able to answer their questions of if I'd heard the latest song by so and so.

My current collection is by no means extensive; eclectic yes, but vast no. However it is my collection, carefully chosen by me, maybe based on hearing a cd in a friends car, or on recommendations. I never used to use music; it was just something I put on and listened to, either in the house or in the car. In recent years though, music has become incredibly important in my life.

I hate silence. Invariably there's always something being played in my room, but it has to mimic my mood; supplementing how I'm feeling or what I'm doing at the time. When I'm studying or reading a book I can't listen to music that has lyrics, it has to be mainly instrumental, which is where Craig Armstrong usually steps in. I have music that I know I can put on if I'm feeling a bit down, or music that works well in my room, but not in the car and vise versa. What I do lack though, is music to accompany the very rare occasion when I'm filled with total frustration, my mind screaming at full volume in an "arghhh" kind of way (picture the scene from Braveheart where Wallace and the Scots storm the field at Stirling and you're just about there).

Uni work frustrations built up yesterday, but when I got in my car to drive home I only had music that was way too chilled. I knew music was playing, but it wasn't reaching the spot or on the same wavelength as my mind. I chatted to Mart when I got in and asked for some recommendations as I knew he had the kind of music I was after. Now I'll have something to listen to if I ever find myself needing something, err, louder in future.