When my 60s rock playlist comes on, I picture myself as a kid swimming in the pool.  I swam like it was my job back then, by the way.  Constantly throwing things in the water to dive after them, jump off the diving board these insurance companies love so much, and playing volleyball.  Yes, my mom used to set up a full volleyball net across the pool so we could get big games going.  It was something that stuck because once I got to high school,  it become the place to hang out and play water volleyball.

If I hear Cher, Roy Orbison, or Laurie Morgan I think of the Sunday mornings my dad, Craig Snyder, used to wake us up this way.  It would be so loud there was no chance of staying in bed.  So now when I hear these artists, I can’t help but smile; however, at the time I was jolted out of bed, I sure wasn’t thinking about the nostalgia I would have later in life.

When I hear pretty much anything with the “twangy” country feel, I picture one of my favorite places in the whole world.  Up-state New York.  We frequent there several times a year and it’s something I hold very near and dear to my heart.  The place we stay has a very large porch, and our family has spent so much time there during the summer.  We call it “camp” but it’s basically an old farmhouse.  It looks out onto a huge field, making you realize just exactly how little we are as humans on this planet.  I could spend hours on that porch.  A calm comes over me the second we crest the hill and see camp.  I’ve been going there since before I was born and plan to continue the tradition for the rest of my life.  The music that has been played on that porch or the music I normally blast just before we get there…. will always be memorable to me, too.  I generally pick some Tyler Childers, Chris Stapleton (specifically the Steel Drivers), or Eric Church; gets me in the mood for relaxing, thinking about life & enjoying my time there.

I also have such great memories of bringing my son to his first year of pee-wee tackle football this past year.  Seems he’s inherited my love of music because he asked me if I could make him his own playlist for our drive to practice and games.  I made sure to include the White Stripes, Metallica, Spice Girls (don’t ask), and the winner of the season, Thunderstruck by AC/DC.  We used to play it over and over and over again.  He actually became a “professional” at knowing when the first “thunder” starts and made sure to scream it from the back seat at the perfect time.  I still struggle to get it right and he doesn’t miss an opportunity to remind me that he knows it better than mommy.  But that’s ok because now it’s a core memory of mine and hopefully his too!

These are just a few things that I reminisce about when it comes to music.  It is endless.  I’m constantly looking for new artists to listen to, and constantly have something playing in the background at work, at home, and in the car.  I don’t play my own music and at times truly believe I’m incapable of breaking up the instruments within the music.  I’ve tried; it doesn’t go well.  My brain just doesn’t work that way.  Maybe that’s why I have such an appreciation for the talented individuals who can and do!  I’m grateful to listen and feel what the artists have intended for each song and then, of course go back in time and relive the memories I’ve created with music at the center of it.

Anyone else feel the same way?  What music resonates with you?  What memories come up with certain songs?  If anyone has some less “well-known” artists that speak to you, send me some names.  I love talking music and learning new talents, so let me know!

by: Katie Snyder Bruch