Honestly, if you’re able to go around campus without listening to any type of music (or at least some ambient) then I have some mad respect for you. I actually know a few people who get by without listening to music at all, like ever, and for those folks: how do you do it? Is the emptiness of silence that much of an earworm? I guess sound is subjective, but that could never be me. To me, music is what gets me through basically everything. I treat music as a lifestyle (yes, I collect albums, go to many different concerts and music festivals, countdown when my favorite artists are about to drop new releases) because to me, music is the best way to express yourself! It also sets the scene, the mood, and the environment of your surroundings. So that’s why, depending on what i’m doing at Berkeley, I enter a different Musicphere. Let’s explore what kind of music I listen to and for what occasions, so you can get some inspiration for yourself on how you can utilize different music to enhance every aspect of your experience at Cal!
Bass House / Hard Techno
Let’s start off HEAVY with my most played music genre as of the past few months. Electronic Dance Music (known as EDM) is insanely versatile: there’s melodic bass, hardstyle, bass house, progressive house, techno, etc. (there’s over 100 EDM genres, it’s wild). I apply EDM to many situations i’m in at Cal, depending on the mood. If I need to be energized for an 8am class? I’ll listen to bass house or hard techno first thing in the morning and while rushing to class! It’s extremely fast in tempo (which help when I’m all the way in Anchor House at 8:07 and I have a class at Dwinelle at 8:10), and has a “racer-like” feel to it which kicks off the day strong. My favorite artists in this subgenre of EDM include ISOKNOCK, Knock2, and NOTION. Songs I’d recommend are: 1. “The Days (NOTION Remix)” - Chrystal, NOTION | 2. “gettin’ hott” - Knock2. | 3. “Eternal Return” - Ayegy.
Progressive House / Melodic Bass
These variants of EDM are especially fun when ending the day! If I have a club meeting that ends late at night, i’ll walk back home listening to some of my favorite progessive house / melodic bass artists such as Dabin, Zedd, Sevon Lions, John Summit, and Porter Robinson. This subgenre relies heavy on nostalgic, euphoric beats, so especially at night when I start getting “in the feels,” I love reminiscing on life blasting this vibe of EDM on my headphones. Songs I’d recommend are: 1. “High On Life” - Martin Garrix, Bonn | 2. “Everything Goes On” - Porter Robinson | 3. “First Time” - Seven Lions, SLANDER, Dabin, Dylan Matthews.
Cloud Rap
I've been working on gym consistency lately, and what gets me through the workouts is listening to cloud / experimental rap! The music production usually has a light, digital aesthetic to it with an intense rap flow layered on top to give it some flair. The sound gives off an urban y2k mixed with hyper nightcore. Whether I’m doing the 13-3-30 on the treadmill at RSF or lifting some weights at Anchor House, i’m usually listening to artists such as Drain Gang Archive, Bladee, Ecco2k, Nettspend, and meat computer. Songs i’d recommend are: 1. “Chosen” - Star Boy Archive, Nyan | 2. “BBY” - Bladee | 3. “nowhere fast” - meat computer.
RnB / Hip-Hop
Fun fact, i’m a hip-hop dancer and choreographer! I have my own team at Cal (shoutout DWX Varsity) and have even performed at Zellerbach Hall + Eshleman Hall multiple times. It’s my sport (D1 CalAthletics star who??). To get in the groove of things, I tend to warm up by freestyling to some SZA, Kendrick Lamar, Ne-Yo, Ella Mai, FLO, and Tyler, the Creator. Songs i’d recommend if you want to get into that dancey groove or play any sports at Cal include: 1. “Leave You Alone” - Ella Mai | 2. “4EVA” - Aminé, KAYTRANADA, Pharrell Williams | 3. “Purple Hearts” - Kendrick Lamar, Summer Walker.
Indie Pop / Asian Pop
When my friends and I are bored, sometimes we may rent out a Zip Car and drive to Bay Street, Emeryville or the Oakland Raising Canes. I’m also involved in numerous campus organizations, where we’ll put on something chill yet vibrant and melodic for that scenic drive on a retreat. Whether you’re cruising or just making bittersweet memories with friends, we usually listen to some nice Indie Pop or Rock for those youthful moments! A good amount of my peers are also into K-Pop, so we’ll blast that if we are into a more energizing or cutesie mood. Some of my favorite artists within these genres are beabadoobee, adore, PinkPantheress, grentperez, and P1Harmony. Some nice, melodic songs i’d recommend for those Instagram worthy moments are: 1. “STeAKFACe**” - 1999 WRITE THE FUTURE, Phum Viphurit, Masiwei | 2. “High School in Jakarta” - NIKI | 3. “Fall In Love Again” - P1Harmony.
Film / Game Soundtracks
Finally, a typical Berkeley’s students favorite (and usually the most time consuming) part of the day… studying! Interestingly enough, whenever I need to lock in for a midterm, grind out an essay, or just review some lecture materials, then I’ll want to be in that “main character” headspace. It makes studying feel as if you’re training for some Boss Battle at the end. So, I listen to soundtracks or instrumental scores from films, along with gaming music (or artists who make music that sound like they can be in games…). Some films that I believe have some great music / scores to them are from Call Me By Your Name, the Black Panther soundtrack, the Barbie soundtrack, the Spiderverse soundtrack, and Studio Ghibli scores! And some artists who I believe provide some fun instrumentals for sharper focus include Flawed Mangoes, Zachz Winner, and tomcbumpz. Songs I recommend to boost those grades are: 1. “Find You (from Divergent)” - Zedd, Matthew Koma, Miriam Bryant | 2. “Angel (from the Barbie Movie)” - PinkPantheress | 3. “Swimming” - Flawed Mangoes.
That was a lot of different genres, artists, and songs to explore from! I love how music can be so diverse and applicable to so many aspects of life, and I engage with a lot of different types of music to expand my musical horizons and to make Cal more memorable when I look back at these moments in 5 years and start associating certain songs to specific memories I had during my time as a student here. Hopefully, I put you on some new tunes, since exploring the Musicphere can be a daunting, yet exciting, emotional journey!