My Musical Interviews Project

This project is a collection of interviews of the people around me. I tried to interview people with a variety of music tastes. I did this to learn about how different people's music tastes can be. I was also curious about how people with diffent personalities have music tastes that fit with their personalities. I mostly went around my high school and interviewed people because that is where I spend most of my time.

Interview 1: My Older Sister - 19 years old

She has always struggled to find music that she likes, and she cannot listen to music while studying.

Question 1: What is your favorite type of music or artist?

She said one genre she likes is Visual Kei, and her favorite visual Kei artists are Buck-Tick and Lareine.
Another genre she likes is Russian post-punk and Russian Orthodox Choir Music. I once caught her watching anime with the sound off while listening to Russian Orthodox Choir Music and doing homework at the same time.

AnimeNk.net · Buck Tick - Dress

Question 2: Life without music would be ...?

“Peaceful” (lol)

Question 3: What is your Favorite song?

Her favorite song right now is ‘белая ночь’ (White Night) by приключения электроников(Electronic adventures).

Question 4: What is your favorite song that I have played for you?

She likes ‘Falling Asleep on a Stranger’ by Pierce the Veil.

Pierce The Veil Music · Falling Asleep on a Stranger

Interview 2: My Mother - 43 years old

Next, I interviewed my mom who grew up in Russia during the time of the Soviet Union.

Question 1: What is your favorite artist or genre?
She likes acoustic singer-songwriter music. And her favorite artist is Vladimir Vysotsky.

Vladimir Vysotsky · Баллада о борьбе

Question 2: What are some of your special memories involving music?
When she was 12 years old, she visited her dad in Khabarovsk. Her dad had an apartment on the 5th floor looking out to a beautiful courtyard wrapped in more apartments.
My mom put a boombox on the windowsill facing the courtyard and put in a tape of the beatles album "‘A Hard Day’s Night’ and turned the volume up so loud that she wouldnt even be able to hear someone calling her to tell her to turn it down.
The Beatles Revisited · A Hard Days Night
Question 3: What is your favorite song? Her favorite song is ‘Yesterday’ by The Beatles. She has asked me to learn this song on guitar many times.
Question 4: Life without music would be ...?
“Life without sunshine”

Interview 3: My Friend Charlie - 18 years old

Then, I interviewed my friend Charlie.


Question 1: What is your favorite Artist or genre?
He replied that yes, he does enjoy live music. When he was in middle school, he won tickets to see Jason Derulo in concert. He went with his mom and he was in the front row. When he first won the tickets, he wasn't really a fan of Jason Derulo, so he listened to a ton of Jason Derulo songs in the weeks leading up to the concert so that he wouldn't be called a 'fake fan'.

JasonDerulo · Whatcha Say (Main Version)

Question 2: What is one significant memory you have that involves music?
He said that his most significant memory involving music is when his car got T-Boned and totaled in an intersection.
The song that was playing when the accident happened was Banana Peel by The Garden. This song kept playing even after he had gotten out of the shredded car.
The Garden · Banana Peel
Question 3: What is your favorite song?
Ironically, with a straight face, Charlie said Banana Peel is his favorite song.
The Garden · Banana Peel
Question 4: Life without music would be ...?
Charlie replied 'boring' and laughed when I told him that my sister said that life without music would be 'peaceful'

Interview 4: My Friend Grey - 16 years old

Next, I interviewed my friend Grey because I expect her to have a unique music taste because she is very authentic to herself.

Question 1: What are some of your favorite songs right now?
She was hesitant to answer this question, but her answers fit her vibe like a puzzle piece. Her top two songs right now are
Do Me a Favour by Arctic Monkeys.

And Burning by Ludovico Einaudi.

Question 2: What is one significant memory you have that involves music?
Grey said that she doesn't really have any significant memories related to music but if she had to pick one it would be when she was listening to Blame by Bastille while walking alone at night in the empty streets while it was raining.

Question 3: What song best represents you or your attitude towards life?
She said that the song that best represents her attitude towards life is Broken Crown by Mumford & Sons. She said this song represents her attitude towards life because of the way it's energy makes her feel.

Mumford & Sons · Broken Crown

Question 4: What is your favorite artist and why?
Grey said her favorite artist is Arctic Monkeys because they sound good and provoke emotions.

Interview 5: My Precalculus Teacher - 40+ years old???

Next, I interviewed my PreCalculus teacher who simultaneously is my favorite teacher and the teacher that made me cry the most. I also decided to switch up the questions because the previous ones were boring.

Question 1: Do you enjoy live music?
Mrs. Sterken eagerly replied that yes, she does enjoy live music. Her favorite band that she has seen live is Metallica. She recounted the event, She went to the concert with her stepdad and her husband. Ironically, a comedian opened the show which was a large contrast to the heavy vibes of Metallica, this made the concert unforgettable.

Metallica · Nothing Else Matters (Live - May 30, 2014 - Stockholm, Sweden)

Question 2: Does music have the power to change your mood? How does music affect you?
Mrs. Sterken replied that yes, music does have the power to change her mood. Music helps her relax and fills her with happiness especially when she is driving home from work after a long day of dealing with apathetic high schoolers.
HARDY · TRUCK BED

Question 3: What song best represents you or your attitude towards life?
Mrs. Sterken reflected that the song that best represents her attitude towards life is We Should Be Friends by Miranda Lambert. This song represents her because she has had so much experience in life that she has become very carefree and accepting.

Question 4: What makes you like a song?
She values the beat more than the lyrics because of how the beat can make her feel.

Interview 6: My Friend Kelly - 17 years old

Next, I interviewed my friend Kelly because she has a different taste than I do, She likes '70s music.

Question 1 Do you enjoy live music?
Kelly said that yes, generally she likes live music. She went to a Beach Boys concert and her experience was less than ideal. People around her were spilling beer, smoking and she could barely hear over people screaming around her. She also said that generally, noone sounds as good live as they do in the recording studio.

Question 2: Does music have the power to change your mood? How does music affect you?
Kelly replied that yes music does have the power to change her mood. It can either piss her off, make her sad or make her happy.

Question 3: What song best represents you or your attitude towards life?
The song that best represents Kelly's attitude towards life is "Forever in Blue Jeans" by Neil Diamond. She said that her reason for this is that the lyrics of the song are about not needing material things and instead only needing a loving relationship.


Question 4: What is one significant memory you have that involves music?
When she was 8 years old, in 2015, she used to go christmas shopping with her ex-step-dad. She was happy because she didn't have to worry about money and could just spread joy.

Interview 7: Lucas - 17 years old

Next, I interviewed my super chill classmate Lucas

Question 1 Do you enjoy live music?
Yes, he does enjoy live music. He recounted a music festival he went to with his friend who was sitting beside him. The band Rising Appalachia were playing. Lucas said he really enjoys the community feeling of concerts.

Question 2: Does music have the power to change your mood? How does music affect you?
Lucas replied that yes, music does have the power to change his mood, it can make him happier. The main part about a song that improves his mood is the drums and the message.

Question 3: What song best represents you or your attitude towards life?
Lucas says that the song that best represents his attitude towards life is "Sheep" by Pink Floyd because its really upbeat and happy. I can see why this song represents him, he is always in a good mood.


Question 4: What makes you like a song? Who is your favorite artist?
He said that meaningful lyrics are what make him like a song.

Interview 8: Mrs Moon - 30+ years old

Next, I interviewed my homeroom teacher Mrs. Moon. She has the most comforing classroom in the school in my opinion. Her classroom always gets me to relax.

Question 1 Do you enjoy live music?
Mrs. Moon recounted the time when she went to a Rolling Stones concert in Atlanta. Her husband entered a lottery for tickets and they didn't know which seats they would get so they really took a risk. They ended up having amazing seats and having a great time.

Question 2: What song best represents you or your attitude towards life?
She said that the song that best represents her attitude towards life is "Good Life" by One Republic. Her reason is that life really is good.


Question 3: What is one significant memory you have that involves music?
When her son was a baby, she used to play happy songs to help him sleep when he woke up in the middle of the night. Her son is 10 years old now and they still listen to the same song together.


Question 4: Does music have the power to change your mood? How does music affect you?
Music can make her day better. Her go-to genre for feel-good music is loud 90s rap music.

Interview 9: Mrs. Cotton 50+ years old

Next, I interviewed My AP Environmental Science teacher who is always in a good mood.

Question 1 Are there any musical artists that you think are underrated?
Mrs. Cotton thinks that Howard Jones doesnt get the recognition he deserves.

Question 2: What is one song that brings back a significant memory for you?
A song that brings back memories for her is "Take On Me" by A-ha. This song takes her back to when she was a teenager in the 80s.

Question 3: Does music have the power to change your mood?
Mrs. Cotton said that yes, music does have the power to change her mood and her go-to happy song is "Walkin' On Sunshine by Katrins & The Waves.


Question 4: What role does music play in your personal self-expression?
She said that she has a syndrome wher songs are always playing in her head. I think It's called "Stuck Song Syndrome" or "Earworms". Sometimes songs that she's never heard before materialize in her mind. One song that is frequently playing in her head is "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" by Cyndi Lauper.

Interview 10: My Friend Mimi - 19 years old

Next, I interviewed my friend Mimi

Question 1 Are there any musical artists that you think are underrated?
One artist they think is underrated is femtanyl. This artist is mainly popular on youtube which is what they use to listen to music. They said that they discovered this artist because of a animated short that I shared with them.

Question 2: What is a song that brings back strong memories to you?
One song that brings back memories to them is "Sunny Side Up" from the Bob's Burger's soundtrack. This song reminds her of 2 summers ago when Charlie and them went to go see the Bob's Burgers movie and had a fun time at Mayfaire.
Question 3: How has your taste evolved over the years?
Mimi went from listening to video game OSTs to listening to movie OSTs.

Question 4:What is your favorite song? Why? How long have you been listening to it?
His favorite song is Charlie's Inferno because the beat goes hard. They have been listening to it since 2021.

Question 5: Does music have the power to change your mood?
Mimi said that yes, songs absolutely have the power to change their mood. Mimi likes to listen to music to get them motivated to draw. Happy and energetic songs like "Love Together" by Parrapa the Rapper.

Question 6: What role does music play in your personal self-expression?
Music lets them feel free from societies expectations. They also take classes at Cape Fear and in one of their classes, the teacher put together a playlist of everyone's music. Most people in the class want the teacher to play Lana Del Rey but Mimi asked the teacher to play Lemon Demon. Mimi can express their political and moral views and urge to abberate from the norm by being public about their music preferences.


Reflection
I learned a lot about my peers. I learned that not everyone listens to the same music that spotify keeps recomending me because of it's insane algorithm. I used to feel like if I had never heard of an artist or a song didn't have enough plays, it must not be good. This interview project made me more open to listening to underground music and more confident in being my own judge. This project helped me grow closer to my friends and get some inside jokes with them. This project also helped me practice conversational skills. I learned that people don't think it's weird when you ask things about them.