GCSU is home to a diverse array of students with unique backgrounds, personalities, and styles. This individuality shines through beautifully in the student population’s wide array of music tastes.
From the Billboard Top 100 to underground hidden gems, GCSU students explore all genres and facets of music.
Sid Hughs, a freshman political science major, said that his current favorite artist is an alternative singer named Ivri, who exists in the “dream-pop” genre. With less than 500,000 monthly listeners on Spotify, Ivri is an underground favorite with a small but dedicated fanbase.
Hughs loves Ivri for the “otherworldly” sound of her music that is unlike anything he has ever heard before. With complex instrumentals and rhythms, Ivri transports her listeners to new realms.
Max White, a sophomore English major, also has a propensity for the alternative. He said that his current obsession is the Norwegian electronic pop singer known as AURORA. As an English major, White enjoys complex lyrics that he can delve deeply into and analyze.
“Her songs are super existential,” White said. “I love being able to use them to explore the existential philosophies I also find in my favorite literature.”
Claiming an all time favorite artist was a tall order for music-obsessed Sarah Peek, a freshman art major, who gave a variety of answers.
“My all-time favorite band would have to be either Big Thief or Led Zeppelin, but recently I’ve been listening to a lot of Lucy Dacus because she just released her new album,” Peek said.
Big Thief and Dacus both fall into the Indie category, while Led Zeppelin is often considered the epitome of classic rock.
In a stark contrast to Hughs and White’s underground cult-favorites, Anna Lavoy, a sophomore nursing major, shared that the infamous Billy Joel currently dominates her listening habits. Anna explained that she has always preferred older music, as it feels like it is made with love, containing higher quality lyrics and sound.
Nour Nazim, a freshman chemistry major, gave the same answer: Billy Joel. Nour is drawn to this 1970s classic musician not only for his music but also because of his personality.
“Not many people know that Billy Joel was originally a boxer and started music way later in his life,” Nour said.
He added that Joel’s music appeals to him because it suits every mood. Some songs are exciting and upbeat, which can give him energy before races as a cross-country athlete, while other songs are slow and soothing, allowing him to relax after difficult days.
One of the more popular modern-day artists who seemed to be a favorite was SZA. Lloyd Addington, a freshman art major, claimed SZA as his all-time favorite.
SZA is a grammy award winning R&B artist who recently performed as a feature at Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl halftime show. SZA hosts a staggering 86.7 million monthly listeners on her spotify, cementing her place as one of the most famous artists amongst GCSU’s student’s demographic.
“Her songs have real meaning and purpose,” Addington said. “Her songs are so easy to connect to.”
SZA’s music focuses on the broad emotional spectrum of love, heartbreak and finding oneself through hardships, which are messages that resonate deeply with many young adults.
Continuing the love of the R&B genre, Ashtyn Ekendahl’s, a freshman psychology major, current comfort artist is Daniel Caesar. Caesar is not quite as popular as SZA, but he does have 32.8 million monthly listeners on Spotify, making him far from underground.
Ekendahl loves Caesar for his music’s “angelic sound” and his wide musical range. She also added that his songs have featured great artists, including other superpowers of the genre like H.E.R. and Kali Uchis.
There are few better ways to get to know someone than through their favorite music. In learning what GCSU students are listening to, it becomes evident that the student body is a melting pot of diverse individuals with personal tastes, making it a wonderful place to explore and call home.