Music & Albums

Music can be a big help. When I find myself with some time (which is very rare at the moment with my dissertation), I do like to relax with my acoustic guitar. That said, I've found listening to music has been more practical and much more beneficial. For me personally, there are two albums that really stick out as coping mechanisms. This is particularly the case when I'm having a bad day, but they also provide positivity upon reflection:

1. Linkin' Park's 2017 release: One More Light

2. Mike Shinoda's 2019 release: Post Traumatic

I'm not joking when I say that a day doesn't go past where I don't end up listening to either of these albums in some way. They truly have become my bread and butter. I guess they have significance for a number of reasons. The very first song I listened to (thanks to Spotify shuffle of all things!) on the way home after my diagnosis in 2017 was "Talking To Myself" by Linkin' Park. Coincidentally, it was also the last music video that the band released before the magnificent Chester Bennington lost his battle with depression and took his own life. I think the association has given me a bit of connection to the song as I grew up listening to LP. I found at the time (2017) I felt alone and isolated, with nobody really to talk to. Once I opened up to the first person (a very close friend of mine who also had similar troubles and albeit over a drink when it was essentially similar to a volcanic eruption) I found that it became a bit easier to talk about those feelings and issues. I also realised how many people are also in the same boat. Taking the album more broadly, the album (One More Light) discusses events that members of the band were going through at the time of recording. When I reflect on this, the lyrics further remind me of the very real situations which both I myself and others who are close to me have been through. I think the very raw nature of the emotion and the reality of those situations is something I can relate to and provides a form of catharsis/emotional release.

The second album I referred to, released by Mike Shinoda as a solo artist, was, in part, a response to Chester Bennington's passing. More broadly, again, the combination of the lyrics and the issues which Mike finds himself tussling with are very real. There's something about the raw emotion of the rap sections and the power in the hooks in each of these songs which provide some form of uplift. They consider things such as: fear, loss, isolation, self-conflict, doubt and frustration. For me, however, whilst there seems to be a focus on these very real and genuine feelings, the songs do a fantastic job in making me feel better. The best way I can explain this is perhaps comparing it to having a weight taken off of one's own chest.

I would strongly encourage anyone to find music that they can listen to and relate to. It doesn't have to be these albums in particular. Perhaps if you find one or two albums that you can listen to and reflect on things, it may help when you're having a particularly tough time. The songs can act as both a means of relaxation if you were to clear your mind and/or a distraction to take your mind off of things (yes, this does include singing at the top of your lungs and having a dance in the kitchen when nobody is around!). The beautiful thing with music is that it is open to interpretation; every lyrical line, every musical note of a song can have such a wide range of meaning to individuals.

Remember: you are a beautiful human being. You are loved. You matter. You have so much good that you can offer this world.

Until next time,

J x