The Benefits of Classical Music

Gabriella Sandoval, Events Manager and Liaison 

Music takes art in many various forms and genres, with one of these genres often thought of to be jazz music’s sibling, which is classical music. Classical music is a genre that offers many benefits not only to the ears, but throughout the rest of the body as well. 

Among the many ways that are used to improve mental health, listening to and performing classical music is used to help alleviate stress, enhance moods, lower blood pressure, provide cognitive enhancement, and improve sleep. The soothing melodic rhythms activate the parasympathetic nervous system, which controls our body’s ability to relax. The vagus nerve, which is the main nerve of the parasympathetic nervous system, is located near the eardrum, and responds to musical vibrations by triggering the body into a state of relaxation. 

Additionally, classical music has proven to significantly reduce cortisol levels, the hormone that is associated with stress and blood pressure. Classical music acts as a calming agent on the mind and body due to the gentle and rhythmic nature of the genre. This encourages relaxation, and acts as a natural antidote promoting a sense of calm and serenity. The body has the ability to respond to these sounds by dilating blood vessels and improving blood flow. This can in turn, support heart health. Who knew music can do more than provide pleasure to our ears?!

In 1993, researchers coined a term called the "Mozart Effect" which refers to the cognitive and emotional benefits connected to listening to Mozart's compositions. At first, it was widely believed that listening to Mozart could temporarily boost general intelligence or IQ. This was later found to be an exaggeration. However, studies have shown that listening to Mozart can show improvement in spatial-reasoning abilities. This is  because the intricate structures and patterns in Mozart's music stimulate brain activity, promoting neural connections and enhancing cognitive performance. 

Music is often a tool that many people turn to in order to find comfort. Listening to upbeat symphonies can help to elevate mood and evoke feelings of happiness. On the other hand, melancholic pieces can help us process our own emotions, providing an outlet for emotional release. Classical music is one of many genres that can distract the mind from negative thoughts and rumination, which helps to soothe anxiety and feelings of distress. 

From iconic music used in the infamous Swan Lake ballet, to Beethoven's magnificent pieces, classical music is a genre full of excitement and beauty. Originating in Europe during the medieval and renaissance periods, classical music is a genre that has continuously developed over many centuries. Classical music still holds its unique value through modern classical music performances, as well as ballets and broadway shows.

Whether you listen to classical music for fun, or you’re wanting to take advantage of the many benefits it offers the body, classical music is truly a genre full of enjoyment internally and externally.

The Benefits of House Music

Gabby Sandoval, Events Manager and Liaison 

Music is a universal language that undoubtedly unites us all, under the various rhythms, beats, tempos, and instrumentals that are found to be appealing to our ears. One genre in particular under the title of “house music” has found its way into many college dorms, parties, gatherings, and cars. While house music is popular for its diversity in artists and song choices, it also provides benefits to the human body. 

The beats per minute (bpm) in music is linked to a human heart rate. So, the higher the bpm in music, the higher your heart rate is. The more your heart rate increases, the more excited you and your body get. Beats per minute (bpm) plays a fundamental role in how humans process music; and house music has an average speed of 120 to 130 BPM. Studies show that music that lies between 90 to 150 BPM produces greater feelings of happiness and joy as well as diminishing emotions associated with sadness. This relates to the pleasure it is to listen to house music.

Research by The Glasgow Insight Into Science and Technology (TheGIST) showed that when it comes to house music specifically, the build-ups and drops are intensely “rewarding” for the body. This is because when we hear a build-up in music, our body anticipates a crazy drop coming up and therefore prepares for it, leaving you feeling excited and tense. Your body responds to that drop by releasing a dopamine hit which satisfies your brain in a positive way.

TheGIST has also mentioned that the social aspect of listening and dancing to house music in a crowd is good for you. The reasons why are easy to guess, given that dancing releases endorphins and house music releases dopamine. With these elements combined, dancing to house music serves as an all around excellent experience. Humans are also social creatures, so when in a room full of others enjoying themselves and dancing, a collective positive mood can be produced. This is caused by our  brains subconsciously mimicking the emotions of those around you.

A study conducted by the International Music and Talent Agency (MN2S) also researched how the brain reacts to house music and found that "The repetitive patterns and ambient soundscapes are unobtrusive and stimulating, aiding concentration without distracting,". This means that you can listen to house music while studying and gain some benefit from doing so. 

While it feels physically rewarding to listen to house music, it is always refreshing to have science back up positive effects of listening to this kind of music. Whether you consider yourself a fan or not, house music is one of the best genres to throw on in the background at a small gathering, listen to while you're studying, or blast it through the speakers with your windows down when you just need to move.

Imagine Dragons Newest Album Shows Different Meanings in Music

Schuyler Kropp, Staff Writer

Music is everywhere. We listen to it for many reasons, including focusing or calming our minds. By listening to music, you allow rhythms to flow into your ears while jamming out. Songs and albums are meant to have hidden meanings and messages. Anyone can listen to the lyrics of a song and process them in many ways. Songwriters try to have a hidden message in their songs or albums by saying what they truly mean in a more creative way. It is common that these messages get jumbled up causing misinterpretation. Trying to coax out information or meanings is hard to do, but it allows your brain to understand other ways to look at things. This also helps you find what songs are your jam. 

The band Imagine Dragons is a good example of putting meanings into their music. Imagine Dragons is an American rock band formed in 2008, based in Las Vegas, Nevada. It is headed by lead singer, Dan Reynolds. The band has mostly upbeat and some mild to slow songs, often changing their pace in many different ways. They write songs that grab people’s attention. If the song is short and mournful, then people might feel sad singing along to the song. But, if the song is long and cheerful, people might feel happy and exuberated. 

Imagine Dragons often disguise messages in the songs that they write and play. Their songs sound like they are happy, but in reality they are often not. Dan Reynolds often hides his cry out for help in his songs or lyrics. He sings about things that are a part of his life story and communicates that sometimes, people who are supposed to be happy with their life, really aren’t that happy. Anyone in the world can feel hidden emotions in their life, just like how the meaning of songs can be hidden. His newest album Loom is a perfect example of this.

Dan Reynolds often talks in his lyrics about being lonely, despite his fame. In his song “Fire In These Hills,” Dan Reynolds sings about feeling trapped, alone, tired, and scared while he does not want to open up to anyone. Despite the song being upbeat, he sings that “the more we try and the more we fail,”. This tells his audience that people can have high standards, and when you meet them they can lose interest or pull away. This is how people can become lonely. 

In another line, he sings, “I’m so tired, can I please come home?”. This line communicates that high expectations can cause you to become tired and want to disconnect from the outside world. Many people expect Dan Reynolds and Imagine Dragons to be the best, putting pressure on him to constantly perform well. In his song “Gods Don’t Pray”, he says that “fortune is unfortunately volatile” and talks about how fame or fortune can be taken away from you, because of how high the expectations are. Reynolds is widely popular, but still feels like he has to constantly outdo himself to meet up to these high expectations. This can cause him to second think himself, and live in fear of being judged. 

In these songs, Reynolds often talks about heartbreak and abandonment. In the song “Nice to Meet You”, Reynolds talks about wanting to talk to someone, but there is a divide between them. With this song, he tries to say that you need approval from yourself before others. Having approval from yourself means that you know that you are moving forward and taking your own advice to things. This is important in life because it allows you to be more independent. 

In the song “Wake Up”, Reynolds talks about struggling on the inside and not showing it. In this song, he feels like he is “spinnin’-in-in’” and in the chaos of life, you struggle and feel like you can break apart from people or relationships. The song “In Your Corner” Reynolds talks about loyalty despite abandonment. An example of that is in the lyric “Gonna burn this down, every sober day,”. Reynolds shows that he  is turning to substance abuse to cope with feeling abandoned by the people in his past and present life. 

In the song “Take Me to the Beach”, Reynolds talks about independence, blocking out the world, relaxing, and doing his own things. He says that on this “people-pleasing' planet…you can have the mountains. I’ll take the beach,”. Reynolds wants to be independent and do his own relaxing, away from the expectations of the world. 

In the song “Eyes Closed” Reynolds talks about independence and following what you believe by ignoring the expectations of everyone else. He sings, “I will spend these days as an island. Alone and far away,”. He wants to turn away and be alone in his life. In order to achieve this solidarity, he cuts himself off from his friends and family. This is his solution to getting away from the pressure of others. He also talks about wanting to change his mindset. 

In the song “Kid”, Dan is talking about keeping your motivation up, despite facing struggles, and tells people to “take your losses as a win”. In that lyric he is stating that even if you lose at first, you can still find a way back to win later. The bottom line is that you have to keep fostering your motivation, despite the inevitable challenges you will face in life. 

This album by Imagine Dragons is an example of how important it is to interpret more than one meaning in music. Everyone can interpret it in many ways, but I feel like the album is about how everyone struggles in life and it is okay to not meet high expectations. This is something that everyone can relate to, including myself. As he is singing it, people are dancing and rocking out, often completely ignoring the overall message. I can relate to this, because I feel cheated by people misinterpreting me in more than one way. I know I am not alone in this feeling, So, remember that it is okay to talk about it by singing about your own grief and pain. This is the overall message that Dan Reynolds is conveying in his album Loom.

A Tree Falls: A New Album

Austin Price, Editor in Chief 

David. W Jacobsen is a singer / songwriter that continues to add onto his extensive musical collection with his recent album release, A Tree Falls. This album debuted on December 3rd, 2024, a year after his previous album, Music for the Masses, was released to listeners.  

Click here to read my review of Jacobsen’s previous album, Music for the Masses 

When given the opportunity to listen and review another one of his albums, I immediately jumped at the chance. I adore music and coming from a family of professional pianists and singers, I have a deep appreciation for music used as an artistic forum for expression, investigation, and reflection. The process of creating music, from writing the lyrics to making edits in post-production is an immense task, and one that each artist approaches differently. When I first listened to Jacobsen’s work last year, I instantly felt unique aspects of his music shown through unfiltered lyrics and explicit notes. This same feeling overcame me when listening to A Tree Falls.  

Personally, I believe music is often censored way too much. Honest reflections on mental health, global conflict, political issues, and religious connotations are minimized by the music industry to keep up with the sensitivity of audiences and to increase their approval rates. I enjoy honest artists. I enjoy the bombastic attitude of Jacobsen’s music and the unapologetic outlook he has on life. Because of his unfiltered presentation, A Tree Falls continues the legacy of art without restrictions, evident in his previous work.  

A Tree Falls is an album made up of 7 songs, with a full running time of 32 minutes and 59 seconds. The album is primarily made up of piano centric ballads, complete with humorous dialogue and elements of pathos. A Tree Falls is an album about being ignored. According to Jacobsen, the primary question that the album asks is "If a tree falls in a forest … does anyone give a @$#!?". Throughout the different tracks, a unanimous answer is given. The answer is no. If a tree falls in a forest no one gives a @$#!? And no one cares.  

With the album proposing a bleak answer to a popular question that all of us face in our lives, it instills listeners with both hope and with reluctant resolve on the challenges of life. The album introduces a menagerie of situations in which we ask ourselves, “Does anyone really care about me?”  

The opening track, “No Expectations” reveals the relentless self-doubt and questioning we face when being abandoned or ghosted in a relationship. Jacobsen sings with tones of expected disappointment, demonstrating the exhausted cycle of one-sided relationships. It shows the toll of neglected and unrequited feelings of love that we find in romantic situations. When reflecting on this track, Jacobsen demonstrates the awful truth that connections fray over time. This could be caused by distance, time, or various levels of dedication to the relationship. But, no matter what the cause, it hurts all the same when we lose those connections that once fueled and inspired us.  

The next song I’d like to dissect is track 5, “Don’t You Call Us”. This is my personal favorite track of the album, mainly because of its relevance to today’s job market, but also because it pokes fun at the ridiculous process of job interviews and rejections. In addition, this track is a reenactment of situations I have faced in my personal life and was something I needed to hear. 

“Don’t You Call Us” is about the outdated procedure and generic rejection shown to hopeful applicants for jobs in today’s market. Nearly halfway through the song, Jacobsen reads a paragraph out loud to listeners while the initial instrumentals remain consistent.  The process for creating this song involved the examination of various, real job rejection letters that Jacobsen has received throughout his life. This level of vulnerability enhances the relatability of the song with listeners. Jacobsen says “I took multiple rejection letters and combined them. Every sentence was taken almost verbatim from an actual rejection email.” Spoken with false sincerity and artificial cheerfulness, Jacobsen reads the rejection letters, mimicking the attitude of hiring managers and business heads.  

My favorite part of the song comes right after Jacobsen’s reading of the letters, and that is the sympathetic words of support, spoken by others to try and comfort you when you don’t get a job. Rather than read these programmed responses himself, Jacobsen gave the phrases to his wife to recite, giving her a special appearance on the album. This was a personal touch that showed the support Jacobsen’s wife has for his musical career, and parodies conversations many of us have had.  

The final track of the album, aptly titled “A Tree Falls”, is over 13 minutes long, and is a raw representation of the struggles many artists face. Jacobsen says, “This is a song for anyone whose artistic aspirations are unrecognized, unfulfilled, and likely to remain so.” Jacobsen conducted this track using a variety of inspirations, but a major one was Harry Chapin's 13-minute epic, "There was Only One Choice." Both Chapin’s song and Jacobsen’s track show the crippling challenges artists face. While they are fueled by creativity, they are sustained by recognition. Sadly, most artists are not properly recognized, making an artist’s dream a discouraging nightmare.  

Something I love about this final track is that it’s realistic. It’s angry, frustrated, desperate, and melancholy. It shows the grim reality many artists face, without censorship or placation for the audience. This is what makes Jacobsen’s work so insightful. It approaches both the highs and lows of life with the same amount of energy and attention.  

A Tree Falls shows the shadows of society. The shadows of rejection. Something we can’t escape, and something we hate to confront. Jacobsen’s album allows listeners to meditate on their own experiences, and the nuances of their lives. While our situations differ, we often experience the same feelings of rejection, loneliness, jealousy, and sadness. However, Jacobsen presents these feelings with neutrality showing the validity to the mixed emotions of humanity. A Tree Falls is an anthology of poetic pieces and life lessons and can be appreciated by anyone who’s ever lived a normal life that offers both ups and downs. It gives validity to dark feelings we have, showing authenticity and humility.  

To listen to A Tree Falls, visit the following links:  

Youtube

Spotify 

Pandora

Apple

Deezer

Click here to view more of Jacobsen’s work

Click here to view the lyrics 

The Rush of A Concert

Juliet Buckley, Staff Writer and Social Media Contributor

As an eighteen-year-old girl when I look back and reflect on my life, I find music in every single area and memory. I believe that  I have adored music since I came out of the womb. There have been so many times where I cannot recall a memory until I hear a song that I liked around the time of the memory. Because of this, I have made it my mission to attend as many concerts as possible. 

There are different aspects of my concert connoisseuring. I typically think about things like who is the artist, when did I start listening to them, and who am I going to see them with. However, I have never thought too hard about it from the perspective of where I am going to sit. Maybe when I first started going to concerts I did, but very quickly I found that my favorite thing about attending is the actual music. The blaring, chest rattling, loudness of it all. I hit my peak at a concert when I can literally feel my chest vibrate from the giant speakers. It is such a rush that I can only get from a concert. It doesn’t matter how much I actually like the artist; I can feel the emotion in the bass, and it is almost enough to bring me to tears. For me, a concert is a reminder that I am alive, and that life will always go on.

Everyone I see in concert I tend to really like and have a very strong connection to their music. Earlier when I said I think about factors like “when did I start listening to them”, I mean how much does their music matter to me. As I have described, concerts are a very emotional thing for me, and I have found attending them is a healing experience. 

When I was a little girl, I adored Taylor Swift. I used to pretend I was her and recreate her music videos. However, as I got older, I didn’t necessarily listen to her as much, I was no longer intrigued by her. I had still listened to her new albums here and there but when she announced her expansive high demand tour, I knew I needed to go see her. I grew up listening to her, so many of her songs I was able to place on a moment in my life. Her music was a reminder of all the good memories I had from being little. So, I fought my way through the army of other individuals who also shared a similar connection and I bought my tickets. That concert was truly magical. It healed a piece of my inner child and was an experience that I will never forget.

Now, one of my favorite things about going to a concert are the moments leading up to the actual performance. The excitement and adrenaline run rampant throughout my body as the stage is set and it is exhilarating when the artist does finally come out. This moment of absolute perfection is giddy, even though it may later lead to “post-concert depression”, the experience after the concert high has worn off.

On September 26th, 2024, I saw Malcom Todd, Ravyn Lenae, Kevin Abstract, and Omar Apollo. These artists performed at Red Rocks Amphitheater and though I have been to a lot of different venues, it was my first time at this one. I was so  excited because I absolutely adore Omar Apollo, and have grown such a love for the opener's music as well. This concert had been in the making for quite some time. I had gone to school that day, proceeded with my routine as usual, and rushed home to get ready. I listened to Epps' music as I did my hair. 

It was finally time to head to Red Rocks. My boyfriend and I piled into the car with anticipation and expressed our excitement. The drive up to Red Rocks is breathtaking.  I adore the way the mountains look picture perfect. It is like looking at a painting and it is soul soothing. I could not have felt more grateful to be alive than I did at that moment. It is crazy to me the way I sometimes feel so defeated and exhausted with life and everything going on. But then I have moments where I feel so exhilarated and at peace. I typically find myself in these moments when I am attending a concert. 

Being in row five at Red Rocks for this concert was so surreal. Omar Epps' performance was amazing. His choreography was performed well, and you could clearly hear how strong his voice was. The visuals were ethereal and the way the concert just transformed so beautifully over two hours was so exciting to see. The scenery and the weather were absolutely perfect that night. It was warm, but not too hot. The breeze was blowing, but it wasn’t cold. It could not have been more perfect for the music and the visuals of the concert. I felt like I was on a different planet.

Hearing Omar perform songs that I have listened to the last couple of years as I have transitioned into different areas of my life is so fulfilling. I can look back at that time of my life and whether it was a good time or a bad time, I can see the music. I can feel the music. I can reminisce on how much I have grown and sit with who I am now. I know it might sound crazy how close I hold music to me and my life. But in the darkest times music speaks for me. It is a healthy way for me to decompress and track my progress in life. Going to concerts gives me a sense of hope and a reality check. It shows that life might really not be that bad. For how could it be, when such beauty is right in front of us? 

This feeling isn’t even about the artist, it is about feeling the music. It is seeing a crowd that is entirely diverse and different from one another, come together to hear music and dance and express themselves. It is about the scenery; Red Rocks could not have been more beautiful. It is about the vibration that rattles your chest. All of this is a reminder that you are alive.

Music for the Masses: A New Album

By Austin Price, Editor in Chief

Singer / songwriter David W. Jacobsen is an accomplished artist with a menagerie of work to prove it. His latest album, Music for the Masses, was recently released in 2023. With 7 songs, and a listening time of 32 minutes and 54 seconds, Music for the Masses is a mixed genre album that combines humor with contemplation. Jacobsen sings of contradictions, opinions, and reflections through the lens of both a human, and an artist. The album has an unapologetic response to society’s confines and contains explicit topics. However, this raw and somewhat vulgar approach to his music gives Jacobsen an air of authenticity and a tone of realism. According to Jacobsen, “this album is about the contradictions of trying to create music that other people will like that you still like yourself,”. 

David W. Jacobsen was introduced to music at a young age through his friends and family. He began playing guitar in high school. Jacobsen has a unique approach to his music that is based around his understanding of the human digestion of music and tolerance for understanding of art. He explains that he tries to give people something to remember about what they listened to. He says, “Whether it is a lyric, a melody, or a vibe, I try to leave the listener with at least some kind of a hook.  It could be a laugh, a groan, a specific line, or an earworm melody, but I want them to be able to differentiate what they heard,”.  

Music for the Masses starts with a track of the same name. An appropriate opener to the album, the song “Music for the Masses” gives listeners an unfiltered narrative that I’m certain Jacobsen experienced in his own personal reflection. “Music for the Masses” scoffs at the mere idea of creating and recording a track covering the events of the French Revolution, a track that takes slot 5 of the song listing on the album. This song gives a rare view into the creative process of a singer / songwriter and reveals the inner doubts that artists frequently experience. Jacobsen says, “The open track, while clearly satire, is still trying to say something, in the vein of ‘Dance 10, Looks 3’ from the Chorus Line.  I’m going for a bit of humor but also a bit of a middle finger to the world by opening the album with a song that says no one wants to hear a song about the French Revolution and then I include 12-minute prog-rock song about French Revolution or more specifically, the revolutionaries attempt to change how we measure time,”. 

The standout track of the album is Calendrier Révolutionnaire Française. With over 12 minutes of running time and an extensive instrumental opening, Calendrier Revolutionnaire Française is a historical reflection and moral examination of the French Revolution. Jacobsen tells listeners a story in this track and takes us through the intense violence and emotions of a monumental historical event. As someone who’s not particularly interested in the French Revolution, I will say that I certainly learned some things from this 12-minute track. Calendrier Revolutionnaire Française proves to be both entertaining and informative with consistent instrumental backing and easy-to-follow vocals. 

As a self-described indie artist, Jacobsen recognizes that his unusual music may not be for everyone. However, he uses his unique sound to his advantage as an artist and as a storyteller. He highlights contrast and variance in this album, while still maintaining a sense of cohesion between the songs through his sound. Jacobsen’s inspiration for this album comes from an examination of history as he believes that it is hard for artists to always write about themselves and their own experiences. By telling tales of historic roots, Jacobsen is given a never-ending amount of content to pull from. Personally, I hope he covers more historical events in his work as I thoroughly enjoyed Calendrier Revolutionnaire Française and its examination of the French Revolution and the actions of people involved.  

As any artist knows, the job is never done. Because of this, Jacobsen reveals potential projects he’s playing with. He says, “At the moment, I’m working on a collection called “A Tree Falls” which follows from “For Anyone Who Cares to Listen.”  It has less of a cohesive feel and is largely a collection of piano centric ballads.  I also have a collection of songs inspired by works of art that I may do for 2025 depending on whether I’m inspired to do something else,”.  

All in all, I really enjoyed Jacobsen’s newest album, Music for the Masses. As an indie music fan, my interest was immediately peaked by the genre of his music. However, my interest continued to grow as I continued to listen. With his extensive utilization of the piano, humorous and informative storytelling, and personal exposition and artistic reflection, David W. Jacobsen takes listeners on a journey of honesty and enthusiasm in his artistry.  

To listen to Music for the Masses, visit the following links: 

YouTube

Spotify

Pandora 

Apple

Deezer

Click here to explore more of Jacobsen’s work 

Click here to view the lyrics