Music and Us

Music is a universal language that connects cultures, histories, and borders. As someone who enjoys traveling the world, I've had the opportunity to spend time in both modern and traditional musical styles. For this blog, I've collected a mix of music from four different cultures, countries, and time periods. Each of them represents something unique about the culture it is from, and I find it very interesting.

Having been to Jamaica twice, I became fascinated by the music of the island, especially reggae, which is central to its culture. Reggae first appeared in the 1960s, combining rocksteady and traditional ska with strong rhythms and lyrics that addressed social issues. Bob Marley is the icon of reggae music and I got the chance to see where he was from and the famous rock he was sitting on. My favorite song by him is "One Love". But I like a lot of his songs which include harmony, fortitude, and peace. What is important about his music is the lyrics. He was the voice for a lot of people in Jamaica during his time. My experiences in Jamaica are amazing, it´s a beautiful island, and listening to reggae is a nice vibe. 

"One Love" by Bob Marley

Moving on to a continent and to the vibrant sounds of Africa, Nigeria is a country that has produced a lot of Afrobeat music, which has become famous all over the world. Afrobeat blends some traditional African rhythms, which we explored in class, with some modern music to create one of my favorite genres. Burna Boy is a very popular artist who leads the modern Afrobeat. His song "Ye" is a perfect example of combining a dancing beat with slower-paced singing. The energy of Afrobeat, as I have talked about in my first blog post, is unbeatable in my opinion. Listening to Burna Boy and other Afrobeats songs I think is a way for people to be happy regardless of their cultures and just be connected through music.

"Ye" by Burna Boy

When I began looking into Brazilian music, I realized how little I understood about it. Samba de Roda, a classic type of samba, shocked me. It originated in Bahia, an area famed for its Afro-Brazilian roots, and combines music, dance, and storytelling. The rhythms are lively and upbeat, with instruments like the atabaque drum, pandeiro, and berimbau producing unique music. Listening to Maria Bethânia's song "Reconvexo" made me realize samba's rich cultural roots and its significance in expressing resilience and joy. Samba de Roda is a celebration of community and identity, not just music. 

"Reconvexo" by Maria Bethânia

Taiko drumming from Japan was another discovery for me. I had no prior experience with this powerful and really traditional art form, and it was very cool to learn about it. Taiko drumming mixes precise beats with theatrical performances to create a fascinating energy. Groups like Kodo perform with such discipline and passion that the drums seem to reflect the spirit of Japan's history and environment. Watching their performance of "O-daiko" was amazing. The way they coordinate their movements and generate such rumbling sounds is amazing. Taiko is both ancient and modern, perfectly combining centuries-old traditions with a modern twist. It serves as a reminder of how music, even when heard for the first time, may bring out emotion and unite people.

"O-daiko" by Kodo

After learning about these different cultures from North America, South America, Africa, and Asia there's one big thing I take away from it. Music is everywhere and can be created in so many different and unique ways. But in the end, it usually has a bigger purpose than just creating sounds, and that is to bring people together. Which I think is beautiful!

Music and Rituals

The tip-off is in three hours. It's time to get ready for the game and do my pre-game ritual. Music plays a big role in my pre-game ritual. At first, long before a game, I want something relaxing, something I can listen to that takes away all the bad thoughts and lets me breathe and focus on all the good and fun in life. Something that will let my positive thoughts flow and that will make me perform better. Because at the end of the day, it's a game and this is something I have worked for every day to play. I have and I'm still working a lot on being able to control my mind and thoughts. I think I speak for a lot of athletes, but also non-athletes when I say negative thoughts can really be hard to control and change the way you play or perform. But it can also boost your performance if you can control those thoughts and in some way, I believe music helps me with that. Some artists I listen to for this kind of relaxing music are Steve Lacy, Billie Eilish, and Lana Del Rey. Steve Lacy is an artist who makes such good music, and music that is easy to listen to. With his music, I can imagine myself in the game how I will have fun, and how the ball swishes through the net. One of my favorite songs, since he released his newest album, is "Static". Unfortunately, it has been trending as a TikTok trend and therefore has been quite overplayed, but I still listen to it a lot.

 

Static by Steve Lacy

Closer to game-time when I start warming up on the floor I need something more upbeat. Music that really gets me into focus and gets me hyped. It's definitely rap I listen to when I'm warming up. It's just the flow of the rap and the basketball bouncing that goes together well, and the lyrics are often about "making it" and that's what gets me into that zone. 

A song from my warmup playlist - Headlines by Drake

Okay, away from the court and back to Sweden where I'm from and where I spend all of my summers. One day of the summer that I always look forward to is Midsummer. Midsummer is a traditional Swedish holiday celebrated around the summer solstice, when the sun doesn't go down, typically involving family and friends gathering outdoors to enjoy food, drinks, dancing, and games. It's something all Swedes celebrate and it's almost like Thanksgiving here in the US if I would compare it to how big of a tradition it is. A central part of the celebration is dancing around a decorated "midsommarstång" while singing traditional Swedish folk songs. The dancing might look very stupid and funny, so be prepared;) The music is really what sets the tone for Midsummer and while you eat you have a little sheet with "nubbesvisor" which is basically a fun little song before you take a nubbe (shot of liquor). So with all the dancing, eating, and drinking us Swedes tend to have lots of fun and sometimes even too much fun... I actually found a lovely video describing Midsummer and hopefully, someday you'll be lucky enough to get the chance to experience a Swedish Midsummer.

Music and Family

I was interested to know how my dad, who was born in 1971 and had a strong love for basketball as I do, related to all of this when we sat down to talk about music. I always knew as a child that my dad enjoyed listening to music, but I was unaware of how much the sport he loved had influenced his musical career. A fun fact is that he played professional basketball for 8 years in Sweden. This is a glimpse of our conversation which was in Swedish but I have translated it to English.

Me: “So, Dad, what kind of music were you into growing up? I know you like artists like Jay-Z and Outkast now, but what was it like back when you were a teenager?”

Dad: “Oh, man. Back in the late '80s, when I was around 16 or 17, there was a lot of different music floating around. I was into rock at that time. You had bands like Metallica and Guns N’ Roses, those guys were huge! It was raw and loud, and it kind of matched the energy I had for basketball back then. I also remember listening to a bit of U2 and Queen. There was something about the epic sound that felt larger than life. That kind of music pumped me up before games, even though it was so different from the hip-hop I got into later.”

Sweet Child O' Mine by Guns N' Roses

Me: “That’s cool! How did you actually listen to music back then?”

Dad: “Well, no Spotify or YouTube back then! It was all about cassettes and the radio. I remember saving up to buy my favorite albums on tape. I had this portable cassette player that I’d take with me everywhere, especially on bus rides to games. Sometimes I’d even record songs straight from the radio if I was lucky enough to catch them. It was a bit of a hunt to get your hands on the music you wanted back then, but it made it feel special. It was also cool to share the music with your friends and see who had what music.”

Me: “When did you get into hip-hop? You listen to it nowadays I know and we listen to it together when I'm back from the States during the summers, but was it part of your life back then?”

Dad: “It was basketball that really introduced me to hip-hop. In the early '90s, hip-hop, and basketball were connected. I started listening to groups like A Tribe Called Quest, DMX, and of course, Outkast. The beats, the rhythm, and the stories felt tied to the basketball culture I was in. The Americans on the team usually influenced me by bringing music from their country. We’d play basketball with these tracks, and it just felt right. I still get that same feeling now when I listen to Jay-Z. It’s like the sound of determination.”

Me: “So do you think basketball influenced your music taste?”

Dad: “Absolutely. Basketball has this rhythm to it, and hip-hop has the same. The two are so connected, it’s about timing, skill, and attitude. That’s why even now, I listen to that hip-hop sound. I love the energy of Outkast’s ‘Hey Ya!’. It’s upbeat and keeps you moving forward. It’s like a reminder to shake off whatever’s holding you back, whether in basketball or life.

One of my dads most played songs - Hey Ya! by Outkast

Me: “Do you think your taste in music has changed a lot since you were younger?”

Dad: “Yeah, for sure. When I was younger, I liked that loud sound of rock, but as I got older and more involved in basketball, hip-hop took over. It became the soundtrack to my life, especially when I started playing professionally. But I'd say today that I listen to all kinds of music. Reggae, rock, hip-hop, Swedish music, and I like some songs you are playing but I don't remember the names of the songs.”

Talking with my dad about his connection to music made me realize how much our experiences shape the sounds that stick with us. For him, music wasn’t just about listening, it was about his passion for basketball, keeping him motivated, and becoming part of the culture he was in. Music moves with us through the different stages of our lives, just like it did for him. And I can really relate to what my dad was saying about listening to different genres and how life influences the music we listen too. He was one of my first influence towards music so it probably played a big role of what kind of music I like today.

Music and Gender

When I reflect on the music I've listened to, I can see how gender influences what people are expected to listen to and how they are viewed in music. I moved to the US three years ago from Sweden, where I was born, and throughout that time I have listened to a lot of different music and noticed some differences. When thinking about the ways that men and women see music differently, it's interesting to consider the genres of music that I listen to the most, rap, RnB, and afrobeat.

One thing I've noticed is that men and women tend to listen to different sorts of music. For example, many of the men I know prefer rap music, whereas most of the women I know prefer RnB or pop. It's not that individuals can't love different kinds of music, but there seems to be a stereotype that rap is more for men since it's typically loud and strong, whereas RnB and pop, which is softer and more emotional, is more for women. I love listening to both, depending on my mood. Afrobeat, on the other hand, feels the most balanced that I've experienced. Both men and women listen to it in the same way, which is one of the reasons I appreciate it so much and it suits most occasions.

Bottom by Gunna. A loud and strong rap song with harsh lyrics about money, cars, and girls.

Ocean Eyes by Billie Eilish. An emotional song about feelings.

When it comes to how men and women are approached in music, I've seen a few differences, particularly in rap and R&B. Male rappers can be viewed as powerful and dominant, whereas female artists are sometimes judged on their appearance rather than their talent. Female rappers, such as Nicki Minaj and Cardi B, have had to work very hard to get to where they are today. When I think about rappers, I can probably name a lot more male rappers than female rappers. So there's a difference between what kind of music males and women are creating. But I also think that's because different genders make different parts of music better. I prefer male rappers, and singers I prefer females.

Un-thinkable (I'm Ready) by Alicia Keys ft. Drake. This is a perfect example of how Alicia Keys uses her beautiful voice and Drake raps with his deeper voice, which creates a dynamic and incredible song.

Some positions seem to be more typical of one gender than the other when it comes to performance. My grandma sings in a choir and I've watched her perform a couple of times. As an example, I saw that the men and women in the choir are frequently divided into separate voice groups. Softer voices are often sung by women, and stronger voices and bass are typically sung by men. Apart from vocal performance, during my childhood in Sweden, I've seen that women typically work as music teachers, whereas men are more likely to be in charge of things like leading or supervising musical events. Men are more likely to handle technical responsibilities such as sound and music event management. When I've been to concerts or festivals, I've mostly seen men walking around fixing all the instruments, sounds, and things like that.

I've also noticed that certain instruments are viewed as "for men" or "for women". For example, I don't know any female drummers, and I think that's because people tend to think that drumming is only for men. This, in my opinion, is disappointing since everyone should play any instrument without being concerned about what other people may think. I'm sure there are women who play the drums equally as well, but I don't think I've seen a female drummer.

Finally, I am mindful that gender expectations in music exist, even if they are not always obvious. This involves to what individuals listen to, how they are represented in the media, and who is hired to do particular jobs in music. I believe some parts can be done equally as good. But I also believe some parts of music, women do better. For example, their softer voice suits better for genres like RnB while men, I think raps better.

Music & Me

 Hej allihopa (Hi everyone)! My name's Isac Åhnstrand. If you have never seen the letter "Å" before, then you have now learned a new Swedish letter. Coming from a small city in Sweden called Sundsvall, I've encountered many different cultures and experiences by moving to America. During my first two years in America, I lived in New York City, where I played basketball at Monroe College. Then I moved on and ended up here at Converse University.

I've been playing basketball for as long as I can remember, and that's the main reason why I moved from Sweden. Other than basketball I love to spend quality time with friends. We usually play cards, hang out by the pool, or play PlayStation. Unfortunately, right now in my life, I don't get to spend a lot of time with my family. It's a lot of FaceTime calls. But when I fly back home for the summer we spend a lot of time together. In the picture below is me and my dog Pike, it's even harder to be away from him because he hasn't figured out how FaceTime works yet. One thing I wish I could do is to play an instrument. But I also don't think I've got the time to learn it right now, maybe something for the future.

It's a big difference between the places I lived in and now I'll share some of my music experiences and music that is important to me.

In my life, music plays a big role. I love to listen to music almost any time of the day, even right now I'm listening to music. Music can make me feel in a lot of different ways. For example: happy, relaxed, and game-ready. For different occasions, I have different playlists so I can pick and choose what vibe I'm feeling.

Something that I listen to every day is Afrobeat. I got into Afrobeat music when we were hanging out by the pool after our basketball season ended. The rhythm just caught me, it’s smooth and makes you want to move without even thinking about it. The tempo is perfect for chilling, and the beat has this groove that gets you hooked. The melodies flow in a way that relaxes me but still keeps things upbeat. It’s the kind of music that instantly puts me in a good mood, and now it’s my most-played playlist whenever I want to feel happy and relaxed, which is usually all the time. So put your shades on, turn on this song, with your friends, by the pool, with something cold to drink and I promise you'll have a good time!

The song "W" by Alpha P is the song on repeat right now.

"Emiliana" by CKay is probably my most played song of this year.

One song that's been personally meaningful to me for a time now is "Empire State of Mind" by Jay-Z. It’s more than just a song in my opinion, it feels like the anthem of New York City. I remember hearing it everywhere when I moved to New York and walked around Manhattan just looking up at all the enormous buildings. Some of the lyrics hit me in a way that made me reflect on my journey and all the hard work it took to get to that moment. From a dream of playing basketball in the US, to actually being there, and in the middle of New York City, the city of dreams. It was just something else. Walking through the city and hearing that song made me feel proud of what I had accomplished. A big accomplishment in my career. I don’t play it often because I like to save it for those special times when I want to be reminded of that feeling. I don’t want to overplay it and lose that connection.

"Empire State of Mind" by Jay-Z and Alicia Keys.

I'm very open to listening to new genres and expanding my music taste but Country music is something I just don’t really connect with. I know a lot of people have it as their favorite genre, but it’s never been my thing. Living in Sweden my whole life and then moving to NYC, where you don’t hear much Country, to South Carolina was definitely a change. Suddenly, it was everywhere. I can see a little bit why people like it, but the sound and style don’t hit the same way other music does for me. It’s hard to relate to, but I understand that it's very catchy. In general, for me, country music can sometimes feel too "saucy." It’s hard to put into words exactly. But this doesn't mean that I hate listening to Country music. I will stay positive toward country music and maybe after my second year here in South Carolina, Country music will get me as well. 

The one country song I'd listen to: "A Bar Song" by Shaboozey.

As a bonus, I will share with you my favorite Swedish artist, Veronica Maggio. She sings in Swedish so it's probably difficult for y'all to understand the lyrics. But I'll link a translated video. She is called the "Swedish Pop Queen" and you won't experience a real Swedish summer without hearing some of her music in the background.

This is her most famous song "Jag Kommer".