As a kid I never showed a passion for playing an instrument. It’s not that I didn’t like it, but there was no way I was going to choose to spend time inside practicing music over going out and playing basketball or soccer. It just wasn’t my thing.
However, I have always loved listening to music. I like to think there are two kinds of music listeners; active ones and passive ones. Active music listeners are constantly looking for new music, listening to albums the second they debut, and exploring new genres. Passive listeners are perfectly content with the music that falls in their lap; top 100 songs, classic oldies, and tunes that their active listener friends share with them. Neither is the right way or the wrong way, just what I’ve seen in my experience.
I’ve always leaned more towards being an active music listener. I was raised on the classics; Queen, The Beatles, Johnny Cash, U2. As I entered middle school and began to develop a social life my interests shifted to more contemporary artists. Being a basketball player I was immediately drawn to Hip Hop. Tha Carter III, Graduation, Man on the Moon II, So Far Gone, and Rolling Papers were albums that shaped my early-adolescent years. In high school I became obsessed with the new wave of electronic dance music (EDM). I went to my first concert when I was 16 and saw Tiesto, one of the most iconic DJ’s of all time. It blew my mind. Guys like Avicii and Deadmau5 massively influenced my teenage years. Today I still mainly listen to Hip Hop and EDM, although I’ve grown to love Indie bands like The Lumineers and Mt. Joy. The beauty behind my favorite artist of all time, Odesza, is their ability to perfectly blend EDM and Indie genres.
Even though I never pursued an instrument I’ve always been fascinated by the guitar. Two of my Dad’s brothers are incredible players and soft acoustic has been in the background of our family reunions for as long as I can remember. It’s such a social instrument and I always admired its ability to bring a group of people together. One year in high school I asked for a guitar for Christmas, committed to learning and finally adding an instrument to my list of strengths. I vastly underestimated the time and effort it would take and I gave up. I told myself I’d wait and pursue guitar after my basketball career was over. I was dedicating several hours a day to hoops, and by then I realized guitar would take a similar commitment. With so much else on my plate there was no way I had time for both. My guitar has stood in the corner of my room in Berwyn for 5 years now with basketball career has lasting much longer than I first thought.
Moving abroad after so many years close to home has been emotionally challenging. Around November and December I was starting to feel stuck. I missed my friends. My first Thanksgiving away from home hit harder than I ever imagined. I wasn’t getting the same release and enjoyment from basketball as I did during my time at Swarthmore. Sligo didn’t feel like home. I’ve spent more time alone in Ireland than ever before, quite difficult for someone who loves people and social interaction. There is a narrative in our society to have sympathy for the introverted kid who is clearly uncomfortable in social situations. The opposite scenario, a people person who is forced into solidarity, is less common and therefore overlooked. I can tell you from experience that it is equally difficult. My time in Ireland has really forced me to turn inward and search for the peace in solidarity. After months of looking I’m starting to find it.
*Continued*
