Dopamine
A while back, my Mom sent me an interesting article about how music affects people. In particular, the article discussed the chemical reactions that take place in people’s brains, that cause them to experience a ‘high’ or a rush during particular moments in a song. I affectionately call this The Dopamine Effect, because that’s exactly what it is.
Call it what you want: Goosebumps, giddiness, electricity, hairs on the back of your neck standing up (I sometimes say it feels like my heart is smiling), whatever. It’s been compared to many things, including drugs and sex, and maybe this is why I recently heard the term ‘skin orgasm’ (say what?! This is my shocked face). The coolest thing about this high is how you can count on it to come back every time you listen to that part of that song. Oh yes, it’s true. You can rely on the rush.
Trust me, I know this for a fact: There are countless songs that give me that feeling, and that’s exactly why I’m obsessed with them. When I was younger, I assumed everyone experienced this awesomeness. It turns out roughly half of the population gets this rush from music. I can’t help but feel incredibly sorry for the other half. Sure, they don’t know what they’re missing, but I do! And man, that’s a bummer.
Like so many mysterious and awe-inspiring biological/physiological reactions, there’s little evidence to explain why some people enjoy music to this extent and others don’t. I have my theories, but they’re not based on anything I know to be factually true.
All I know is how grateful I am that I get to feel it, day after day, whenever I listen to a song that I love. Does it make sense, how absolutely obsessed with music I am? That I’m so addicted because I know I can count on a pick-me-up whenever I need it?
Being a creator of music, I’m like a mad scientist, constantly trying to achieve that magical high in my songs. On a personal level, I succeed, quite often. Part of the creating process, for me, is listening to my almost-done tracks over and over again, slightly tweaking here and there, but mostly just enjoying what I’ve done (I’m a big fan of air drumming). I can only hope other people who don’t have the deep ties I do to my own material can also feel the power in what I write. I love music theory, and I’m always brainstorming and playing with new ideas and patterns and sounds that (I hope), once played together, will result in something simply astonishing.
I suppose this is another driving factor, and why I love writing and sharing so much: I’m trying super-hard to give some positive vibes and a rush of adrenaline/excitement to everyone. I’m doing my best to give away some dopamine. Take my drug, please! Maybe I should add a footnote to my songs: “Enjoy on a sunshiny day, driving on the coast (or on your routine run); guaranteed rush at the 2:00 minute mark. Sunglasses optional.”
Call it what you want: Goosebumps, giddiness, electricity, hairs on the back of your neck standing up (I sometimes say it feels like my heart is smiling), whatever. It’s been compared to many things, including drugs and sex, and maybe this is why I recently heard the term ‘skin orgasm’ (say what?! This is my shocked face). The coolest thing about this high is how you can count on it to come back every time you listen to that part of that song. Oh yes, it’s true. You can rely on the rush.
Trust me, I know this for a fact: There are countless songs that give me that feeling, and that’s exactly why I’m obsessed with them. When I was younger, I assumed everyone experienced this awesomeness. It turns out roughly half of the population gets this rush from music. I can’t help but feel incredibly sorry for the other half. Sure, they don’t know what they’re missing, but I do! And man, that’s a bummer.
Like so many mysterious and awe-inspiring biological/physiological reactions, there’s little evidence to explain why some people enjoy music to this extent and others don’t. I have my theories, but they’re not based on anything I know to be factually true.
All I know is how grateful I am that I get to feel it, day after day, whenever I listen to a song that I love. Does it make sense, how absolutely obsessed with music I am? That I’m so addicted because I know I can count on a pick-me-up whenever I need it?
Being a creator of music, I’m like a mad scientist, constantly trying to achieve that magical high in my songs. On a personal level, I succeed, quite often. Part of the creating process, for me, is listening to my almost-done tracks over and over again, slightly tweaking here and there, but mostly just enjoying what I’ve done (I’m a big fan of air drumming). I can only hope other people who don’t have the deep ties I do to my own material can also feel the power in what I write. I love music theory, and I’m always brainstorming and playing with new ideas and patterns and sounds that (I hope), once played together, will result in something simply astonishing.
I suppose this is another driving factor, and why I love writing and sharing so much: I’m trying super-hard to give some positive vibes and a rush of adrenaline/excitement to everyone. I’m doing my best to give away some dopamine. Take my drug, please! Maybe I should add a footnote to my songs: “Enjoy on a sunshiny day, driving on the coast (or on your routine run); guaranteed rush at the 2:00 minute mark. Sunglasses optional.”
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