There’s a lot of music in the world today, whether it be from car radios, headphones, iPods, or late-night party playlists, but there are also many reasons why people are attracted to different music genres. People’s attraction to music can be related to their past, who they are, or their memories.
For an artist, connection to music usually starts at a young age. A good example of an artist who has this connection is DJ/producer ARKADE from London.
He has memories of being inspired by music during the height of the EDM revolution around the years 2014 and 2015, which is when EDM was the most popular type of music worldwide.
“EDM was what got me into becoming a DJ,” said ARKADE. “I can remember the EDM festival in 2015 where I saw Avicii, Martin Garrix, and Swedish House Mafia all perform on that same night. So being able to be up on that stage one day became my dream.”
ARKADE: (Photo Credit: EvanFrederiksen/XFMNews)
At the time, music wasn’t just sound, it was a full experience. The crowds and the visuals created unforgettable moments that stayed with listeners for a lifetime. ARKADE says music often becomes meaningful when it is tied to specific experiences.
“You catch something new when you’re in the right moment,” ARKADE said. “Sometimes traveling or just experiencing a new culture can change what music speaks to you. That first impression matters a lot.”
Early exposure can easily make or break a person’s connection to a certain genre. ARKADE explains that negative first experiences can push listeners away or emotionally create lasting bonds.
Over time, ARKADE has also observed that genre labels matter less than the emotional truth behind the music. Songs that go viral rarely stick with people, compared to tracks produced from the heart continue to resonate across all contexts and ages.
“You can tell when a song is made just to go viral,” ARKADE said. “But the songs people really connect with are the ones made from the heart.”
That philosophy guides his current work. While he once dreamed of playing on major festival stages, ARKADE today, tries to focus on underground house and tech house. This shift reflects a desire for more personal enjoyment, and his deeper engagement with music.
Research also confirms that this emotional and psychological connection is key to how people relate to music. Bruce Ferwerda, an assistant professor at Jönköping University in Sweden, studies how music impacts emotion, identity, and social connection.
Bruce Ferwerda: (Photo Credit: Jönköping University)
“Music isn’t just about sound,” said Ferwerda. “It helps people express identity, regulate emotions, and feel connected to others.”
Ferwerda explains that music’s role in a person’s life is something that evolves over a lifetime. Teenagers often use genres as signals of identity and belonging, while adults tend to focus on personal enjoyment, comfort, or nostalgia. Songs that people listen to from earlier life stages often feel very different over time, tied to memory and emotion.
“People don’t just listen to music for fun,” Ferwerda said. “They use it to regulate how they feel, to fit different situations, or to relive meaningful moments in their life. That’s why the same song can feel completely different depending on who you are and when you hear it.”
Even those who claim to “listen to everything” are usually responding to context, choosing music to fit specific moods, activities, or even emotional needs.
Ultimately, both ARKADE’s experience as a DJ and Ferwerda’s research reveal that music taste is more humanly deep than people may think. It develops over time, shapes life experiences and emotion. Music becomes a way to navigate life, to remember, to feel, and to connect, and that is why it has its lasting meaning to everyone.
