An Ode to Headphones: I Can't Write About Music Without Them

Trusted Headphones. Photo Credit to me.

Ever since I graduated college and moved into my own apartment, I've been feeling like it's been harder for me to write about music. There are a lot of reasons as to why that is; no one said post graduation life was easy and it most certainly isn’t. However, one less obvious reason for my writer’s block just stuck out to me: I don't listen to music in headphones anymore. Just hear me out on this one, okay?

Lately, I've been at my computer playing music through my speakers. Having no roommates means I don't have to worry about turning it down, so I can go ahead and croon along to some SZA in my pajamas at 12am. College was different. I was surrounded by people all the time - in dorms, on the street, in the library. Headphones were a necessity if I wanted to have any semblance of privacy.

Embarrassing photo of me and my beloved headphones circa 2011. Photo credit to Kathy Vo. 

Before college, there was high school where my headphones were more of a life line than a necessity. They were my ticket out of my town. I used them in class to block out the presence of kids who didn't know or care about me. I used them to ignore the sounds of the emotional disconnect in my family that was quietly cracking up the foundation of our home - a home which ironically had just rebuilt. Outside of my headphones was a world I wanted to drop out of. Inside those sounds filling in my ears, however, I was safe, understood, and loved.

Now, I’ve listened to music in all forms through all kinds of sources in my life. Many of my early memories involve dancing in front of my dad’s stereo, banging on my mom’s dashboard to the car radio, and carting out a boombox with my brother. All of those musical experiences played their part in my life today, but the most intimate experiences I’ve had with music have always been me and a pair of headphones against the world. That is the way I started writing about music. 

For other writers, maybe it is different. I am certainly not trying to say headphones are the only way to really connect with music. Maybe some writers need to listen to a song on a pair of good speakers to truly appreciate it or maybe even on a car stereo. I'm sure everyone has their preference based on tons of different factors and, honestly, I would love to hear about their reasons for why they choose to listen through their chosen source. 

I never really put much thought into how listening preferences and experiences can shape writing habits and ability, but I think it’s time I did. You might not think that something as simple as speakers would make a difference, but it does for me. As I sat down last night to try and write about a song, all I could think was, "It just sounds so far away from me.”

So, I'm breaking out my trusty headphones again. A time and place exists for my speakers, but I think I'm learning that writing time is not one of them. Perhaps I'll throw my speakers a party instead.