More than Background Noise

Exploring the way music shapes, connects, and affects BU students as more than just songs.

by Zahra Kazmi 

Photo by Quinn Bryant

At Boston University, music is more than mere background noise. For many students, it is the driving force of their day. 

From West to East, students move through their daily lives with headphones on. What flows through their headphones, however, transcends ambient sound. Music is often something many students rely on. It is an escape from reality, a way to step out of the real world. For others, it is a source of energy or a tool that helps them focus.

In different moments of the day, music can have different functions. Many students reported that they listen to music on the way to class. With a busy, long day ahead, students can struggle to find the motivation to step out of their dorms in the morning. Getting out of bed and beginning the trek to class can often be the hardest part of the day. However, with music, people are able to listen to songs that they like, exciting them, and allowing them to start their day off on the right foot. 

“Music sets the tone for my day. It helps me get into the right mindset, and it really gives me the energy to take on the day,” said Luka Topalovic (CAS ‘29).

Music truly is influential in that it can serve every individual's needs. It helps students connect with their feelings and thoughts and make sense of things that they can’t put into words. 

Natasha Vuong (CAS ‘29) said, “Music helps me feel understood, even when I can’t tell you really what I’m going through.” Many students share this same belief, as music can be a source of comfort and connection, which allows them to feel less alone in their experiences during overwhelming times. 

Vuong continued on by saying, “Sometimes I listen to lyrics and the artist explains exactly how I feel internally before I've even figured out a way to express it to myself,” illustrating music functioning as not only an outlet, but as a language for emotions we haven't found words for yet.

School can often be a large stressor, especially at a rigorous academic institution like BU. Music can help students focus by letting them tune out background noise and extraneous distractions. It can create a controlled environment that students use to promote productivity.

All in all, music has proved to be an extremely versatile tool that benefits students in a multitude of ways. Music is the glue that brings and keeps students together. It has its own way of putting people together and structuring their lives. Whether it may be escaping from reality or being the source of energy that helps students get through the day, Boston University students believe that music transcends background noise. Instead, it is a valuable companion that will never misunderstand or judge. Across every corner of BU's campus, music weaves itself into the lives of students, working as an invisible thread that shapes and guides their experiences in ways that bring them together and turn the campus into a community.