Why We Love Music: What Music Means to the 2BOOM Community
Everybody has a song that stops them in their tracks. The one from the summer you were seventeen. The one your parents danced to in the kitchen. The one that got you through a bad year. At 2BOOM, we think about this a lot, because the whole idea behind 2BOOM is that music is better when we share it.
So why do we love music so much?
Music hits the brain's reward system
Researchers have found that listening to music we love can trigger the release of dopamine, the same chemical tied to food, laughter and other things that make life feel good. The effect is strongest right before and during the moments we anticipate: the drop, the key change, the chorus we've been waiting for.
That's why a great song can give you chills. Scientists call it frisson, and many people feel it most during surprising musical moments, like a sudden shift in volume or a voice cutting through.
Music is memory
Music is one of the strongest memory triggers we have. A few notes can bring back a place, a person, a smell, a whole year of your life. Many people find that songs from their teens and early twenties stay with them the longest.
Ask yourself: what song instantly takes you back? Chances are you can name it in seconds.
Music is how we feel things together
Every culture on earth makes music. We sing at weddings and funerals, chant at games, dance at parties, play lullabies to babies. Music lets a room full of strangers feel the same thing at the same time.
When people play music together, they tend to fall into sync: breathing, moving, even heart rate patterns can line up. Anyone who's been in a band, a choir or a drum circle knows the feeling of locking in with other people. It's one of the best feelings there is.
Music is identity
The music you love says something about who you are, and who you're becoming. Genres come with scenes, styles, slang and friendships. Finding your sound often means finding your people.
Why music is better together
Here's what we believe at 2BOOM: the best part of music is the people.
- The friend who sends you a song at 2 a.m. because "you have to hear this."
- The jam that turned into a song.
- The producer across the world who heard your loop and added the missing piece.
- The crowd singing the chorus back louder than the band.
Making music can feel lonely when you're working alone with headphones on. We're building 2BOOM so musicians, producers and music lovers can jam live, mix each other's tracks and share what they make, together.
What do you love about music?
We want to hear from you. What's the song that changed everything for you? The first album you wore out? The concert you'll never forget? The moment you knew you wanted to make music yourself?
Email us at hello@2boom.com. We'll share some of our favorite stories (with permission) as we build the 2BOOM community.
Ways to love music even more
- Listen on something good. A decent speaker or home stereo reveals details you've never noticed. Start with our home stereo guide or best Bluetooth speakers.
- Listen to whole albums. Artists sequence albums on purpose. Hear them the way they were meant to be heard.
- Go to live shows. Local venues need you, and small shows are often the best.
- Make something. Hum a melody, tap a beat, pick up an instrument. You don't have to be good to enjoy it.
- Play with other people. It's the fastest way to get better and the most fun. Here's how to jam with musicians online.
Frequently asked questions
Why do people love music?
Music activates the brain's reward system, triggers strong memories and emotions, and connects people socially. It's part of every human culture.
Why does music give me chills?
Musical chills, or frisson, often happen during surprising or emotionally intense moments in a song and are linked to the brain's reward response.
What is 2BOOM?
2BOOM is a music community at 2boom.com for making music together: jamming live, collaborating on tracks and sharing music.