Growing up with an older sister who grew up alongside the genre of pop punk/alternative rock, it was only natural that she made sure to have me follow in her footsteps as well. Singing me Fall Out Boy songs as lullabies when I was a baby, she was the one who first introduced me to this type of music. As I became older and started getting into music as well, I started to realize why these songs resonated with her so much. Blasting Pierce The Veil and My Chemical Romance at 7am on my way to middle school became a part of my daily routine and in a way, it did become almost a religion to me. Making a Tumblr dedicated to all the bands I liked, wearing their merch from Hot Topic, and always keeping up with their latest album releases (and also making edits of the members I found attractive through my 14 year old eyes). I guess it’s the neurodivergency in me, but whenever I get into an interest, I hyperfixate on it until it basically becomes to important to me that I dedicate every waking second of my life to engaging with it. Back in middle school, bands were not as popular as they are now, so I would often get bullied by the popular girls for wearing raccoon eyeliner with my side fringe covering nearly half of my face, but when I saw someone that looked like me or had the same interests, it was an immediate connection. The automatic friendship that can be formed just by liking the same type of interest is something that I think everyone should experience. Because even though I was an outsider to the majority of my school, when I was with my friends (online or in real life), nothing else mattered. It didn’t matter if kids yelled “Wrist check!” at me in the lunch rooms as me and my friends huddled over our iPods sharing headphones while listening to “The Anthem” by Good Charlotte. I felt like I belonged, and I am sure they did too. Fandoms can become family, and that is why I feel like Spit and Passion resonated with me so much.
Hi Sophia,
I really enjoyed reading your response! I remember back in middle school I totally had a different music taste to what I listen to now. I feel like being surrounded by non Latinx people also influenced my music taste. Though I cannot relate to your experiences, I can totally understand where you are coming from. I love Indie/Alternative Rock, I also love Pierce the Veil! My friend introduced me to them two years ago. Whenever I see someone who either shares a similar style as me or you catch a glimpse of their accessories, I feel you can tell a lot about someone. That’s actually how me and my best friend met. The reason we even started talking was because I had an anime pin from “Jujutsu Kaisen” that caught her attention. I feel like by just looking at someone you can assume what they may listen too. Probably a gut feeling.
I really liked how you mentioned that when you see someone who has similar interests as you, it really feels like you just automatically connect with that person. Not only that but if you were to start a conversation with them, since you have a shared interest, that can be the first conversation starter which helps to put the nerves away. This is something that everybody should experience. I have even made great friendships from elementary school that I still have to this day.
I also relate to you a lot in terms of the artists that you listen to, personally, I listen to a lot of Bring Me to the Horizon and I get looked at sideways for listening to them but it doesn’t matter, I still go about my day just like Christy.