St. James: People should listen to music like a cowboy

The cowboy: a symbol of free spirit, independence, curiosity, resistance and risk taking, especially to the mainstream. I bet you’re picturing a man sitting on a horse with his classic cowboy boots and hat; the wind blowing sand into his face, with a pistol on his hip and an attitude for no nonsense.

Instead, I’m referring to how, in a time when many people are afraid to step out of their comfort zone musically, more people should apply the traditional traits and characteristics of the cowboy when listening to or seeking out new music and art.

You might find your life more interesting if you stepped outside of the box that is holding back an introduction to a new world of vibrancy. Not only does this vibrancy come from finding new music to listen to, but also from connecting to music tangibly through physical concerts and shows.

Some people view exploring new and different types of music as opening up a Pandora’s box, but I think this train of thought should be avoided when seeking out new music. A big risk that many neglect to take is to just try it. Listen to a song that a local artist made, and if you like it, go to their show and check it out. You can meet other local people who are likely into that same genre of music as well.

If you didn’t enjoy the music, it’s not like you wasted a bunch of money, the bands probably appreciated your presence and you can drive back home at the end of the night. Being curious about music and taking risks seem to have died down among the general public and online. The normalization of sticking to one genre or “aesthetic” narrows one’s horizons and stunts the musical growth of the listener.

Further, popularity metrics and algorithms have tried to strip your independence as a listener and artist, and according to The Guardian, “Even Spotify’s own employees could see that Discovery Mode was a deceptive practice as they debated the general lack of transparency, and the blurred boundaries between pay-for-play and marketplace.”

Always sticking to what is comfortable or trendy seems to be a rebellion within itself, and there is a stubbornness to accept art for what it is when it’s not popular or promoted in the way that massive acts typically are.

There are “over 100,000 songs added to music streaming platforms daily,” according to an article by Exploding Topics, and thousands of different genres of music; surely one of those will strike something in you outside of your comfort zone.

You may ask, what is the payoff in all of this?

To me, the payoff is the feeling you get when finding an awesome song you can’t help but listen to over and over again, which often turns into a love for the entire album and becomes a connection with music that you will carry with you for the rest of your life.

It’s even better to find a new genre that you thought you hated, but then realize you actually enjoy.

Another exciting benefit of listening to artists who don’t have billions of fans or money is that the opportunity to meet them is incredibly high. Many smaller musicians, poets, comics, actors and other types of artists actually appreciate these moments, which is something that won’t necessarily cost an arm and a leg.

So saddle up and put on your cowboy hat and boots, find a new artist or genre of music, and try to listen to something you have never heard before. I hope you find something different that makes you feel inspired and alive.