How music serves as a force for change

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) — Music is an art form that means different things for different people. Depending on one’s background, the way lyrics or beats are interpreted can vary depending on the audience. Even though artists may have a certain motive when creating a song, according to drummer Justin Parker, artists have no control over how other people perceive one’s music.

“To play out in front of people is to have a level of vulnerability and to open yourself up to potentially conflicting dialogues. You don’t have any control of who your audience is. You might think that you do and you might think you are offering one thing but the minute that the music leaves you and hits somebody else’s ear, it’s their interpretation and you don’t have any control over that,” Parker said.

While this can make music-making a little bit more challenging, artists work diligently to create songs that have deeper messages that fit more universal themes. Over the last ten years, Our Common Roots, a Utica alternative folk-infused rock band, does this through the songs they perform throughout the state by basing their music off of personal experiences.

“Most musicians, it starts with having something to say. Trying to externalize the internal is the way that I put it,” the band’s drummer said.

Parker also touched on how music allows artists to address social issues and present topics in a way that is less divisive and allows more people to be willing to listen.

“Music is an easier conversation to have versus actually trying to have those conversations because how many minds have we changed just presenting facts to people?” Parker said.

While he acknowledges that sometimes fans expect too much from artists and that you cannot always rely on them to use their music as a way to address social issues, as an artist himself, he personally believes in— as he put it— standing on business.

“Anyone who has a platform has a duty to speak on things that are important to them,” Parker said.