What Does Your Music Taste Say About You?

It’s a well known fact that different people have different personalities. Whether you're extroverted, introverted, creative, reliable, stubborn, or anything in between. These aspects play a huge role in your identity and how you're perceived by others. Music tastes also vary from person to person and are just as unique to individuals as their personalities are. But are the two related? It’s very hard to draw conclusions on somebody's core personality traits just by looking at the top artists on their Spotify Wrapped. However, studies have shown that there is a correlation between your mood, and how it influences what you listen to. 

Through the use of MRI and PET (positron emission tomography) scans, it has been revealed that there are many nerve networks in the human brain that are designated specifically for interpreting musical attributes of sounds. Sound waves travel through the ear, triggering miniscule nerve sensors that send messages to these networks, which then interact with the limbic system. The limbic system is responsible for emotions, and can be affected by listening to different kinds of music. That’s why when you listen to music that sounds sad or happy, you might feel differently depending on the song. Casseylene C, a 12th grader at Oakton, agrees. “My music taste is pretty mixed, and since I listen to everything, I feel like a lot of different songs have impacts on my mood, regardless of genre,” she said, describing her music preferences. “Like if I listen to hype songs in the morning it gives me good energy and confidence throughout the day.” 9th grader Brianna S, had a similar opinion, saying that “sad music definitely makes [her] feel sad, but [she] also listens to sad music when [she] already feels sad anyway because it's relatable and it’s that kind of vibe.” While different kinds of music can impact your mood through the limbic system, it’s also clear that this can work in reverse as well. Music can influence people in diverse ways, which is part of the reason why music tastes are so unique.

While your music taste may not translate directly to your specific personality, certain traits can be reflected in the music you like. For example, if you like relatable songs, you probably listen to a lot of the lyrics and try to make personal connections with them. This means you are  thoughtful and mindful of what others say, and are well in-tune with your emotions and the emotions of others. Enjoying songs based on the artist can also say a lot about you. If you listen to songs because you like the artist’s voice or style, you value personal talent and hard work, and are good at finding the qualities you admire in the people you hang out with. If you listen to certain songs because you like how the beat sounds, or how the overall song flows, it’s likely that you are an optimistic person, and you are pretty open to trying new things. You’re good at finding what makes you happy, and sticking to it.

What do your favorite musical artists say about you and your personality? Find out on this form!