As November ends and trees start to dormant for winter, many students await their music overview from their streaming platforms. They reflect on the music that has gotten them through this year’s trials and tribulations. It is no surprise that looking back on music evokes nostalgia and highlights unforgettable memories. From exciting albums that dropped or anticipated artistic collaborations, the Dubs are excited to share their eclectic music taste and relish in the projects that artists have delivered this year.
Music makes senior Nolan Davis feel as if he were in a different reality, allowing him to be alone, even if he is not. Davis listens to rap and jazz music the most. The contrasting of the two genres does not go unnoticed. He emphasizes that he uses music as a way to focus and hear himself think. He predicts his top five artists this year are Tyler, the Creator, Lucki, Ken Carson, Lil Yachty, and Playboi Carti. Furthermore, he sheds light on 1oneam, an artist he discovered this year. He doesn’t forget Pink Pantheress, discovering her in quarantine before her rise to fame. “Music connects me to my friends whether that’s debating albums with each other or me sending artists or songs I recently discovered,” he said.
Junior Sophia Campbell believes that there is music for any mood or situation. Much like Davis, Campbell enjoys finding people who like the same music as her. She uses music as a distraction in stressful situations. Campbell’s favorite genre is rap. So far this year, the album that has been on repeat falling under this category is Hardstone Psycho by Don Toliver. Regularly listening and creating setlists for the concerts she would soon attend leaves Campbell to believe that her top five artists on Apple Music wrapped are Drake, Bryson Tiller, Don Toliver, Future, and Jhene Aiko. “This year I didn’t discover any new artists, but I appreciated those I already knew,” she said. “I will always recommend Drake, he’s so versatile”.
For junior Joshua Daniels, music is an outlet. Daniels listens to R&B/Soul music the most, providing him with melodies that are calming, which can distract him from any situation. Since summer break, he has been frequently playing GEMINI! By Lucki. This year, he’s also discovered Vince Staples, a new artist to him. Never getting enough of their music he predicts Frank Ocean, Daniel Caesar, Drake, Lucki, and Brent Faiyaz to be in his top five list. “I’ll always recommend Frank Ocean because the deeper meanings behind his songs have impacted me on another level,” he said.
Music allows people to feel unified, fostering a deep connection with our peers. It helps with the expression of emotions when words are difficult to form, or simply are not enough. Getting through challenging times can depend on music. NAHS students exemplify this and will never shy away when the talk of music fills the 11 stories.
Nolan Davis:
A Song that has been on repeat: Highjack – A$AP Rocky
A song I recommended: Spread – OutKast
Sophia Campbell:
A Song that has been on repeat: Attention – Bryson Tiller
A song I recommended: Over My Dead Body – Drake
Joshua Daniels:
A Song that has been on repeat: Hold Me Down – Daniel Caesar
A song I recommend: Nothing Even Matters – Ms. Lauryn Hill
