Music has undergone many changes in the last few decades: from CDs to Spotify, Britney Spears to SZA, and even the evolution of Taylor Swift. Songs have changed in many different ways and depending on the view, for better or worse.
Music genres have been influenced by trends like the early 2000’s grunge scene, or the more synth and pop sounds of the 80’s.“I think music genres have grown a lot but have the same basic roots like rock and country and stuff like that,” says music enthusiast Siena McClellan (‘29).
As technology such as electronic sounds or autotune has evolved, so has how it’s produced. “I honestly think that the best music is now, and is this time,” says orchestra student Kate Collins (‘29). “There are a lot of different ways to make music now, with technology and a lot of different sounds are being produced.”
Technology has also influenced how music is consumed. While it may be more common to listen to music with Apple Music or Spotify now, it used to be CD’s, and before that cassettes and vinyl records. “One thing that’s really changed since I was young was access to music,” says Choir teacher Lindsay Ciechanski. “Now it’s very easy to just listen to… absolutely everything…we have access to all of the music.”
Music reflects listeners’ views and beliefs as well as the artist’s. This could be opinions on social structures, or even different types of relationships. As artists shift to expressing themselves differently, people with various backgrounds become more deeply affected. “I think that a lot of artists are pulling more inspiration from different cultures and from different countries and following different trends,” says Kate Collins (‘29). “I think that by doing that and by giving voices to some of the more minority groups, it really helps to strengthen them and strengthen people’s connection to music.”
As artists express themselves through music differently, listeners become directly affected and as does music. “I think that there’s a lot of possibilities in in music,” says Choir teacher Lindsay Ciechanski. “[There were] a lot of really innovative musicians who, their whole point of their composition, was to just be as innovative and different as possible, and that really started opening things up to people… Beyonce has had a pretty evolutionary career… and her music continues to be innovative and kind of revolutionary, one what she’s been able to do.”
