How to Ignite Your Soul With Music

In the summer of 2023, I went to my very first concert and it changed my life. Recently brokenhearted and in need of a major pick-me-up, I decided—impulsively—to spend $400 on last minute Beyoncé tickets for her Renaissance tour. After spending most of that summer listening to her album Lemonade on repeat, her music became a source of inspiration and healing for me. The day her concert came, I experienced what it felt to be alive for the first time in my life. The artistry, visuals, choreography, and vocals ignited a fire inside my soul I thought had been put out years ago. I left the concert that night with a newfound appreciation for life, and it was all thanks to the music and artist that I held so close to my heart.

After that night of galvanizing momentum, it cemented the belief that music is one of the best tools in life that can spark a fire in your soul and help you keep going in life. Music has soothed me in the hardest of times and lifted me even higher on my best days. It has been one of the greatest outlets of my life. I genuinely don’t know where I would be without my music library. I have a song for every occasion, and a playlist for each of the four seasons and for different facets of life. There are days I listen to a song like “The Chain” by Fleetwood Mac and am utterly amazed at the production and artistry. That in itself lights a fire within me, a fire that inspires me to an insurmountable degree. 

Let’s dive into how we can use music to heal, pursue our passions, and energize our spirit. 

Music to Heal

A couple of months after the Beyoncé concert, I faced another obstacle. After riding on a high of appreciating life to its fullest, my childhood dog, Rocky, died. I was crushed. It felt as if I couldn’t win in life, even if I changed my perspective. I spent my days sulking, looking at photos of my dog, and listening to my usual playlist consisting of sappy alternative music. I figured my dog would want to see me happy, and I needed to be. So I decided to stray away from the somber arms of Mitski and Fiona Apple and instead listen to my R&B playlist to uplift myself. That was when I came across the song “Together Again” by Janet Jackson. I cried despite having heard the song a million times. It found me at the perfect time. I played the song on repeat until I was finally able to start dancing again, and used it as a tribute for Rocky.

There are many ways you can use music to heal yourself. Strive to find music outside of your ordinary rotation, and you may find something that surprises you. There are dozens of albums waiting to be listened to, so make it a mission to listen to one new song weekly. You can play one song and let the radio take hold and introduce you to a plethora of new music. Take the time to listen deeply, understand the foundation of the lyrics, and pay attention to the production. Think of the reasons why the artist chose certain instruments and what emotion they try to convey in the song. This allows you to fully immerse yourself in the song, learn to understand the emotions of the artist, and relate on another level. This type of deep listening can help with regulating emotions, providing comfort and solace during stressful times. It ultimately gives us an emotional outlet without needing to use our own words. 

Listening to uplifting songs and singing along also has the capacity to boost our moods by increasing the serotonin levels in our brains. So, shift your mindset when it comes to your listening patterns. Skip your usual routine of slow and somber music if that’s what you're feeling and save it for the days you actually feel good; that way, you can listen to Radiohead while you’re happy and still appreciate the sentiment of the music. If you’re going through a particularly rough period in your life, find songs that can help boost your mood, especially ones with motivating lyrics that emit extraordinary energy. 

Use the music on your daily rotation as affirmations for your life. Use the lyrics as mottos for your life. You’ll be surprised how much better you’ll feel day to day if you start your day with songs such as “I Like That” by Janelle Monae and “Just Fine” by Mary J. Blige. You’ll soon start to believe that you are everything you enjoy about life, and that is a beautiful sentiment to carry.

Adding Fuel to Your Fire

When we think of passion ignited by music, it is hard not to think of artists who were born for the craft. Did you know that Michael Jackson was only 21 years old when he released his first solo album Off The Wall in 1979? Despite being a child star growing up, this album was the first where he had full control over his music. Off the Wall was extremely successful, selling over 20 million copies worldwide in an era without social media. Michael had genuine dedication and love for his craft, and his music can serve as a reminder of the power of having your own purpose, as well as how music can be a powerful tool to keep moving forward. 

This is not to say your passion in life should lead to sold-out stadium tours or becoming a music legend. However, music absolutely has the power to fuel that spark within you to thrive in your everyday life. We can always look up to the example of our favorite musicians: that, despite our hardest challenges in life, we always have our passions to drive us. Striving to always work towards pursuing what your heart desires is a great way to lighten up your life.

Playlists are a great way to surge inspiration in your daily life. You can create a playlist on any platform you use to listen to music. Take some time to create a playlist with a specific theme for the simple purpose of daily inspiration. This can be a playlist for running, working, or even something as simple as chores! You just need a collection of songs that you love and relate to in order to spark dopamine hits to your brain. That playlist can serve as a reminder of why you’re here and what you’re working towards. 

Engage With Music 

When you turn on your playlist during your drive home, how do you listen? Is it background noise for your route while you mumble the lyrics? Or, do you actively engage with the song by either singing along loudly, tapping to the beat, or dancing with your hands?

Listening to music should be more than just a passive activity. It is an experience. According to a Harvard Medicine article, music lights up nearly all parts of your brain, including the hippocampus and amygdala, which activate our emotional responses.

When you actively engage with the music you listen to, you are grounding yourself and allowing yourself to feel part of this world instead of getting lost in mundane routines. You can do the following to make your life a little more lighthearted: 

• Put on some System of a Down and loudly sing the many vocables in their songs 

• Dance like crazy without shame to your favorite songs

• Learn a new choreography or create your own 

• Listen to Beethoven and imagine yourself in a period piece where you’re in deep trouble and Sonata No. 14, “Moonlight” is the soundtrack 

Engaging with music in these ways can help to build your confidence, enhance your mood, and reduce stress. Any aspect of music that brings you even a speck of joy should be held to a greater standard in your daily life. 

With everything we have explored, we can see how music is one of the most influential and important art forms in the 21st century. We use music as a source for connection. We turn on music and dance at functions. On road trips, we sing along to the oldies. When a good song comes on the radio, you can’t help but sing and notice that others are singing along too. The reason we go to concerts is to feel the connection between ourselves, the artists, and like-minded individuals in the crowd. 

We need music. It is a critical part of our lives. Hearing a production of sound mixed with vocals with a resonating message helps us empathize with the artist, and the vast variety of music available is a clear indication that we’re not alone. There are people out there who understand us. 

Take what resonates. Life is hard, and music is a gift that helps make it a little easier. Find ways to use the craft to improve your life and ignite that fire you have within you. 

About the Author

I’m a Journalism and Media Studies major at UNLV, expecting to graduate in the Fall. My role as an intern is Blog and Newsletter writer here at LYF, I hope to learn more about writing and gain skills during my time here. I’m passionate about all things creative and believe that art should take center stage in our life to preserve humanity. I love to read, write and watch sitcoms in my free time! Most importantly, I live and breathe music.