Why Music Changes How You Feel & Mind

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta – Have you ever felt more energized after listening to your favorite song, or more relaxed while listening to slow-tempo music? Music is a part of everyday life, accompanying people while studying, working, commuting, exercising, or simply relaxing.

Beyond entertainment, music is closely connected to our emotions and memories. Elements such as tempo, melody, and pitch can influence how a song feels, while personal experiences can give certain songs a special emotional meaning.

1. How Music Affects Mood and the Brain

Music can influence mood because it interacts with areas of the brain involved in emotions, memories, and attention. Depending on the type of music and the listener's experience, it can contribute to feelings such as happiness, excitement, calmness, or even sadness.

Music can also evoke memories. A song associated with a particular person, place, or event may remind us of that experience when we hear it again. This connection between music, memory, and emotion is one reason why certain songs can feel especially meaningful.

2. Tempo and Melody Play a Role

The characteristics of music can also shape how it is experienced. Fast-tempo music is often associated with energy and excitement, while slower music may create a calmer atmosphere or encourage reflection.

Research by Setiadi and Yuliati (2025), published in the Jurnal Pendidikan Indonesia, examines the relationship between music and mood shifts. The study suggests that fast-tempo music and cheerful melodies can be associated with more positive moods, while slower and more melancholic music may have a calming or reflective effect.

However, music does not affect everyone in exactly the same way. The same song may make one person feel energized while making another person feel relaxed or nostalgic.

3. Why Do Songs Evoke Memories?

Have you ever heard a song and suddenly remembered a person, place, or moment from the past? This happens because music can become strongly connected to personal experiences.

For example, a song that someone frequently listened to during a memorable period of their life may later bring back feelings associated with that time. As a result, a song that sounds unexceptional to one person may hold deep emotional meaning for someone else.

4. Not Everyone Experiences Music the Same Way

Although music can influence emotions, individual responses can vary. Musical preferences, personal experiences, personality, culture, and the situation in which a song is heard can all affect how someone responds to it.

Interestingly, individuals can also recognize the emotion expressed by a piece of music without necessarily feeling that emotion themselves. A listener may recognize that a song sounds sad, for example, while still feeling calm or simply appreciating the music.

Music is therefore more than just entertainment. Through tempo, melody, memories, and personal experiences, music can shape the way the listeners experience and express their emotions, making it an essential companion to daily life.

This article was contributed by Marisa.