Imagine you’re on a first date; what would be one of the first questions you would ask? For many, this question would be about music.
“On my first date with my girlfriend, my first question was, ‘What kind of music do you like?’ Let’s just say she answered correctly, and we continued going out.” August Stepper, a junior in high school, said.
Music can show personality in a way no other interest can. It takes you into a deep analysis of how one uses music, whether for entertainment or coping with a range of emotions. Because of this, asking about music can reveal more about a person in a single sentence than it could after a full hour of hanging out.
For example, music can help show how open to new experiences people are.
According to Psych Central, “The researchers showed that people with higher openness were more likely to enjoy sophisticated music (complex, dynamic genres like classical, opera, and jazz), and to dislike mellow music (slow, relaxing genres like R&B and soft rock) and contemporary music (rap, electronic, dance, Europop, and Latin).”
Music can be a form of comfort for some, but an opportunity to explore new feelings and senses for others.
What music people listen to can also show whether they are an extrovert or an introvert. Typically, when someone listens to upbeat music, such as pop or electronic music, they tend to be more willing to express themselves loudly and proudly. Whereas if someone is listening to a slower, emotional type of music, they tend to be more introverted and keep to themselves.
When forming any relationship, music can be an entryway to see how it may work. It can be a blend of two different personalities, or a mix of two similar personalities. For example, people who listen to jazz and those who listen to rock could work together, as both genres are unconventional.
Music can also open individuals to how it relates to extracurricular activities. Whether the interest is associated with music or not, it can correlate with the hobbies people have.
How people listen to music also helps show their personality. If someone has multitudes of curated playlists, they might just listen to music to purely feel the emotions they want to feel. If someone listens to a singular artist at a time, it can show how someone might be listening to the music purely for the sound of the music itself.
Music taste can introduce a person’s personality in a single question. It reveals personality traits, interests, and who would work well together. So next time you wonder what to ask someone to get to know them, just ask what music they listen to; it will show a new side to them you might have never known before.
