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Music is a huge part of my life, and it always has been. I can’t imagine life without it and I listen to it constantly. Sometimes, if I’ve gone a day or so without listening to any music, I’ll feel like there is something missing and soon realise I need to listen to that particular thought or feeling provoking song.

When I was young and growing up, my father who was a music teacher at the time introduced me to instruments such as the Violin and Piano. At this stage of my life it was something I just had to do, rather than a preferred choice, but I’m grateful for the knowledge and experience now. I was soon performing in small school concerts playing the Violin, in small black outfits and little bow ties. Traditionally trained in the Suzuki method, which was popular at the time. I eventually gave up the Violin a few years later when I was 6 or 7 years old. I’m not completely sure why, but I assume I just didn’t have any interest in it. A number of years later I began having Piano lessons, from a very classically trained woman. I was drawn to the piano, and loved listening to music my father had in his collection, of the likes of Beethoven, Mozart, and Bach. I really loved the fun side of playing songs on the piano and tunes that I recognised, but I was still young and didn’t have the patience or concentration to play scales and small exercises over and over again through which my teacher required. At this stage, a notable tune that I learnt has stayed with me constantly and I can still play it with ease, ‘Ode to Joy’ by Beethoven, one of the first pieces of music I ever learnt on the Piano. Contrastingly, my mother was what some would call a hippy, and I often joined her on the beach for what was called ‘drumming sessions’ against the light cast by a fire or the setting sun. I later had lessons for a number of instruments, including the Flute, Recorder, Harmonica and Guitar. I still play the guitar today.

Later on in my life I began listening to generic popular music, when I was around 10yrs old I started falling into the downward spiral that is mainstream music and its dribble they call lyrics. I basically listened to anything and everything, not thinking about the music or what it meant, but just listening to it for the sake of listening to it. In college I continued to have guitar lessons, but becoming a member of a band was something that never interested me much. My music knowledge was becoming broader and I was now buying CD’s on a regular basis. The Internet became a wonderful resource, allowing me to preview and listen to nearly any kind of music I was interested in. Up until before I began working in a record store at the age of 20, I’d say my taste was pretty poor. Now after being around many like minded people and having access to a huge dynamic range of music at my finger tips, I’ve began toning and narrowing down what I like and dislike. I never actually thought it would happen, but I’m becoming more stubborn with music as I get older, and some of my friends call me a ‘music snob’. But I’m surprisingly ok with that title.

I think music is a huge part of society, especially in New Zealand culture. Although it is evident many New Zealand musicians struggle with success and generally can’t make a living through it. Now NZ music is broadcast all over the radio, T.V and is even part of huge motion picture movies. Music influences people’s lives in many ways, including conveying feelings, generating a mood or giving off a particular energy. This can become a lot more evident at live gigs and concerts. Advances in technology and trends in popular culture mean music is found pretty much everywhere, from Video Games and Anime, and is readily available to your ears from devices such as mobile phones and iPods. Music encourages and exhilarates me. There is nothing quite like the tingle and shiver you get from a piece of music you love and enjoy listening to.

On a final note; music influences my Graphic Design so much — that I wouldn’t know what to do without it.