Can Music Save Your Mortal Soul?

"Music saves lives."

Fans are constantly offering their sentiments to bands and artists about how a song, album, or ideology of the musicians is the reason that they are still on this earth today. But is that the way it is, or, in turn, the way it actually should be?

It is nearly impossible to argue against the fact that music plays one of the most important roles in our lives; it is in our brains and our blood. Music is one of the few things that is universal, in that it shares experiences, emotions, ideas in all forms possible. It is our sadness, our anger, our joy, our loneliness, our adoration, and our inspiration. We feel it pounding, moving along with our own courses. But can it be considered our life support?

Pierce the Veil show//2012

"Now I want to see you raise your hand
if music has ever saved your life"

There's been a constant discussion among musicians, maybe to the dismay of fans, about whether their music has the capability to save lives. Can a few chord progressions and words strung together really keep someone on this planet? Can listening to a song stop someone on the brink of suicide?

Kennedy, 18, thinks this possible, thanking a twenty one pilots' song for triggering something in her mind and telling her that change will come if we search for it. "I was lying on the bathroom floor ready to die, but that song came on, and I stopped everything. The world stopped as well. I knew in that moment that killing myself was and never had been the right decision. That song saved my life."

But others, on another hand, have decided, through similar first-hand experiences that a song or a band cannot save your life, and that sentiment carries too heavy a burden. Bryn, 19, agrees that "music is a great reason to want to live, and to feel alive," yet "to put all that power, your whole life, in the hands of someone who most likely doesn't know you is really just offensive."

When an artist releases material out into the world, the art is no longer theirs. Yes, it is still their sacred creation, but now that they have shared it, it becomes the audience's. Now, whatever the music does to and for the listener must be one hundred percent due to the artist, right? Probably not. Art, in its rawest form, is built upon interpretation.

Frank Iero (ex-My Chemical Romance, Frank Iero + The Cellabration) discussed the different meanings a song can take for each fan, furthermore, each member of the band.

Iero goes on to say, "I can never express the gravity of the statement" [on the topic of his band saving lives]. "I feel like [the fans] are not giving themselves enough credit. Maybe we've been there as a soundtrack, but the fans are the ones who've actually saved their own lives." He argues that music instills the strength in the individual to save their own life. As Bryn puts it, music is the "catalyst".

Perhaps, it all depends on who you are, where you have been, and what you have gone through when discussing whether or not music has saved your life. Bryn goes on to add, "I can never know how other people feel about [this idea]. If they really believe music saved their life, then maybe it did."

This feeling cannot be taught; it must be purely a belief. This arguments raises music as a religion, some live with it, but it will never be the reason they're alive. So if a fifteen year old girl in an Of Mice and Men shirt says that the band saved her life, maybe we should all just believe her.

//Angelia//

(Frank Iero interview: The Grammy Museum//1.26.11)

My Dad, Jimi Hendrix

Honoring James Marshall Hendrix, one of the greatest guitarists in all of history

November 27, 1942 - September 18, 1970

photos courtesy rolling stone, Jim Marshall, and the red list

It feels like almost every time I introduce myself, someone brings up the fact that my last name is Hendrix, usually something along the lines of, "Oh my god, your last name is Hendrix? Like Jimi Hendrix?" And my response is always, "Yeah, he's my dad."

I'm not lying when I say it either. My dad was born James Hendrix, just like the legend, only my dad was born 16 years after Jimi. My grandparents really didn't realize at the time the weight of the decision they'd just made (their intentions were on naming their newborn baby after the brother of Jesus.) Regardless, the name stuck, Jimi rose to fame, and the name game has been passed down to me and my brothers. 

I've always felt a sense of loyalty to Jimi, considering that he's essentially family. I've had countless Jimi Hendrix tee shirts over the years and I treasure my Experience vinyl. It's a great conversation starter, too ("Oh, you like Purple Haze? Yeah, that's my dad.")

Listening to anything by artists who have since died is always a wonderful and weird experience- simultaneously nostalgic and eerie. It's strange to think what could've been. Especially in the case of Jimi, how much more music could he have made? How many more artists could he have inspired? How many more years could he have had? It's all speculation, of course, but it leaves a hole in my heart to think of it. 

Here's to Jimi Hendrix, one of the most influential and talented musicians of all time. Happy 72nd Birthday. Rest easy.

// Castles Made of Sand //

xx. Sheridan

The Age of the New Romantics//

In the wake of Taylor Swift's newest - and first documented pop - release, 1989, I wanted to take the time, simply to say: THIS ALBUM IS A MASTERPIECE.

Now, I'd also like to take the time to say that this will not be objective or an official review; I was just suddenly compelled after about my twelfth listen to the album to share my personal thoughts on it, as well as the girl behind it.

Although I've had complete faith in Taylor Swift for about seven years now, I was completely terrified when she announced a "pop" record. I thought that she had finally succumbed to the industry's pressure to dilute her material to make it more salient to the Top 40 savvy general public. But she didn't, and what came out of all the doubt was pure shock.

Every song is different sonically, yet the album is so coherent. It's eclectic and nostalgic and fearless (in true T-Swift fashion). The 80's influences are evident, fitting for an album titled 1989. Phil Collins and Peter Gabriel are most likely celebrating the return of their glory days' sound. Swift could have easily ripped off the greats of the decade, trying to replicate a sound under all the autotune, but she doesn't. She realizes that she is Taylor Swift and has the talent and capacity to create something new and refreshing, Again, she does just that.

My favorite track off the album is "Out of the Woods", and there is no doubt about this one. Perhaps it's that it was co-written by Jack Antonoff (of fun. and Bleachers) - and it is pleasantly noticeable. Swift's voice is most passionate and urgent in this one. It's airy and dark, and, composition-wise, out of the park. A close second is the fun and angular track, "Blank Space". I'm hung up on the line, "but I've got a blank space, baby, and I'll write your name." On paper, it's nothing that will take your breath away, but the melody aces it.

And once I got past the blinding sounds, I opened the album booklet. Her foreword is another masterpiece in itself. She argues that we should celebrate each day. She's advocating change here, people. C H A N G E. But the good type of change, the one in which we grow to be luminescent and legendary. Perhaps the most poignant among these words are, "I've told you my stories for years now. Some have been about coming of age. Some have been about coming undone. This is a story about coming into your own. And as a result... coming alive." In those five sentences, Taylor Swift has captured life, particularly the things we often hide behind dusty curtains and forget about. Yet, she makes sure to bring them back into the light, as they are so important.

The vintage Polaroid, scribbled black handwriting, pale aesthetic of this "new" Taylor is commendable, especially in the age of bright-colored pop stars with tight ponytails. It still shines, but she shies away from the sun, and instead embraces the moonlight and all the songs that come with the night.

So, Taylor Swift has done it again. She's brushed off and hushed the critics. She's made a soundtrack to be played in the background of neon teens' lives. She says it herself, "These songs were once about my life. They are now about yours." So, if you find this album to your liking, make it your soundtrack and dance, cry, lead, and love to it. Because it's no longer hers, it's ours.


//Angelia//

welcome new friends

Sheridan here- co-founder of The Native Soundwaves. Columbus, Ohio born and raised and currently studying at The Ohio State University. I’ve been known to drive eight hours for a good concert and the promise of adventure. I’m passionate about being creative (photography and writing are my first loves), people, languages, God, traveling, soup, Jeopardy trivia, and, of course, music. My secret dream is to be in a 90's girl band, but realistically I’d like to become a photojournalist and use my talents to improve the lives of others. Being a band photographer would be pretty cool, too.

I like to live by the phrase “don’t put me in a box.” It can be applied to pretty much every area of my life, but especially in my music tastes. In other words, I’m not picky. I don’t like to choose favorites, but I do have some artists I find myself going to back to over and over again: The Beatles, Mumford and Sons, One Direction, The 1975, Lorde, Passenger, Ed Sheeran, 5 Seconds of Summer, Ingrid Michaelson, Pentatonix, Wolf Gang, and the Avett Brothers. I grew up listening to my parent’s classic rock (U2, Pink Floyd, The Rolling Stones,) the Jackson 5 and Green Day, but discovered the worlds of indie, alternative, folk, and singer-songwriter and fell in love. Give me a mix CD and I’m yours.

Last thing you need to know, I am always and unapologetically being myself. I don’t see any use in being anyone but that. I hope that comes across well. Anyways, I’m excited to get to share the beauty that is music with you in this little corner of the internet and I hope you enjoy the adventure.

Here's a little something I've been listening to by Kodaline:


xx. Sheridan

//Is anybody O U T there?//

I thought I'd take a little bit of time to introduce myself, since I am the co-founder of The Native Soundwaves.

First of all - and arguably least important - my name is Angelia. I'm originally from Cleveland, but now I am kicking it at OSU for the next four years. I like music (obviously), black & white photos, pizza, concerts (again, obviously), posters, complaining, storms, creating, and staying up until 4 AM. Starting a band has always been plan A for me, but if that doesn't work out, I'm planning on studying journalism and writing about music for a living.

When it comes to music, I will give everything a try because I am so annoyed with the marginalization that is alive in today's society of genres. And by that I mean, yes, I do like One Direction. Real talk (is that appropriate to say? Of course it is): although my iTunes library is way too large, I do have a few favorite artists that I will defend until the end: twenty one pilots (since we both can call Ohio home, they get precedence), My Chemical Romance, The 1975, Fall Out Boy, Arctic Monkeys, All Time Low, 5 Seconds of Summer, Phillip Phillips, R5, Lorde, Nirvana, Pink Floyd, and the genres of pop punk and classic rock in general. But again, as I mentioned before, I'm just so deeply in love with music that it all excites me.

I cannot guarantee that I will not cut the lights and sounds and start talking philosophically from time to time. I like doing that. That type of chaos keeps me right on the border of sanity and insanity in the end. I hope you all enjoy listening to our little adventures with music from here on out.



Here's a new jam from the lovely Gerard Way to dance to at the inauguration of this blog right now. (The Bureau//Hesitant Alien)

 For always (hopefully), //Angelia//