humanity
Humanity topics include pieces on the real lives of music professionals, amateurs, inspiring students, celebrities, lifestyle influencers, and general feel good human stories in the music sphere.
The Cadence of My Existence
CONTENT WARNING: DEPRESSION AND SELF-HARM NOTATED IN THIS STORY. PLEASE READ WITH CAUTION. A Playlist on Life As we go throughout life, it's easy to become stuck in the madness that sits within our day-to-day activities. As functioning members of society, no matter how loose that term may be, we have obligations to carry out throughout the day. Do the homework. Feed the cat. Go to school or work. Play with the dog. Read a bedtime story to Timmy. Put food in our bodies and make sure we have clothing clean for the next day.
By A.D. Anderson3 years ago in Beat
The Symphony Within. Content Warning.
In the heart of a bustling city, where dreams and ambitions collided, there lived a young musician named Ethan. With his guitar in hand and melodies flowing through his veins, he embarked on a relentless pursuit of his musical aspirations. The path he chose was strewn with thorns and roses, as he navigated the unpredictable highs and lows of the music industry.
By Daniel Smith O.3 years ago in Beat
How BTS Changed the Narrative for a 30-Year-Old Asian Man
Every musical note has the power to stir the soul, every lyric has the potential to resonate with the human spirit, and every performance can inspire change. As a 30-year-old Asian man, I found my solace, strength, and spirit in the world of music, specifically in the tunes of BTS, the renowned South Korean boy band.
By Nathan Chen3 years ago in Beat
Baker's Dozen Beats: Shadowsithe Ghoststrike
World of Warcraft has been a big part of my life since 2009. So too, has my main; my first-ever character, the female Forsaken, Shadowsithe Ghoststrike. She is Guild Master of <Spectre and Shadow> on Blackwater Raiders, and a major farmer, buyer, and seller. She also sometimes hosts giveaways, or just plain gifts people random mounts and pets, or she seeks out rares for others to get other mounts and hunter tames! Breaks up the endless task of farming, you know?
By Megan Baker (Left Vocal in 2023)3 years ago in Beat
My Life: A Musical Montage
Beautiful- Eminem It was more than a decade ago and I was having a hard time coming to grips with the fact that life isn’t fair. Sitting at the back of an over-heated college bus in mid-July, on my way back home from classes that I couldn’t be less interested in, I was trying to convince myself of a number of things: it was just the heat getting to me and my life was not as terrible as I was making it out to be, that most Asian parents force decisions upon their children and mine was not a misery the likes of which had gone unwitnessed before, that all of my friends getting to make their own choices in life did not fill me with envy. Little did I know that this would not just be a one-time occurrence, my naivete had led to the conviction that if I could just bring this home, I would win my parents over. Toiling to classes in mornings and evenings alike would be forgotten all too easily once I had that final approbation. Artists whose personal lives were riddled with adversities captivated me, consequently, this was my anthem in those days.
By Noor Yasar3 years ago in Beat
Sounds of My Life
If you know me, you know that most of my childhood was spent as a PK - Pastor's Kid. I grew up in a very Christian home, which means that I had a very limited scope of what music I was allowed to listen to. Gospel music was the order of the day, with Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) as the secondary choice. Occasionally we'd branch out to the oldies station if the mood struck.
By Janis Ross3 years ago in Beat
It's really all about that bass.
In my life, I have always been the strong, secure friend. I am snarky and blunt, and I might act like it's killing me, but I will take care of you better than your own family. I will know your shoe size, middle name, favorite food, and what time you need to be at work. At first, I'm told, I'm intimidating, then you work with me or see me in action, and you're intrigued. Somehow, I will manage to know what you need before you need it, and this makes me a valuable friend or coworker. It also makes me a target because people who struggle to manage their feelings, communication, and relationships look to me to stabilize them. They think I'm tough enough to take them at their worst, so that's exactly what I get. I'm like an anchor, but I'm a dysfunctional anchor with a side of toxic empathy. I need exceptionally steady people in my corner.
By Mel Danielle3 years ago in Beat
With Music by My Side
Without a doubt, music is a powerful force in most people’s lives. The emotions, images, and memories that a perfectly written set of words paired with the right rhythm can evoke is astounding. What’s even more interesting is that the internal experience of a song can be different for everyone. A song that might resonate sadness within me, might be interpreted as strong and empowering for you. Some people might pay attention to the lyrics and dissect their personal meaning as though the lyricist wrote those specific words just for them. Another person might listen to the heaviness of the bass or the tempo of the electric guitar and find their connection with the song there. In all honesty, I really hadn’t thought much about how important music really was to me in this context until I started writing this. It’s like a long overdue visit with the best friend that I took for granted because I didn’t really stop to think about all the amazing memories and good times she was there for or all the times that she helped pick me back up from my lowest points and inspired me to move on stronger.
By Heidi McCloskey3 years ago in Beat
Thanks, Phil
In 1986, when I was fourteen years old, my folks told me and my brothers that we were moving. I had just started ninth grade at Johnson Junior High School and had been looking forward to being the “upperclassman”. I was going to be in the Junior ROTC class, I was going to take up the saxophone. I even had a friend, who was a GIRL, and who seemed to kind of tolerate me, which was an unusual state of affairs up to that point. The news that we were moving over a THOUSAND miles away was devastating.
By Noel T. Cumberland3 years ago in Beat
The 808: The Drum Machine That Changed the World
Have you ever noticed how much bass dominates all the popular music we hear today? From hip-hop to pop to electronic dance music, bass is everywhere. But it wasn't always like this. Bass has come a long way, and it's with the help of cars that it has.
By Plantera Digital Media 3 years ago in Beat
