How music shaped my identity

Music has been one of the most constant and emotional part of my life. I love music deeply because it’s my way of expressing feelings I sometimes can’t put into words. Whether I’m happy, sad, or somewhere in between, music helps me connect with those emotions and makes me understand more about myself. 

In Italy, music is everywhere: from lively festivals to family gatherings, from the streets to local celebrations. Music moves people, brings communities together, and tells stories of joy, struggle, and belonging. For me, music is deeply connected to dance and moving helps me connect with my emotions and my culture.

I love all types of music because each style offers something different: a new way to feel, think, or remember. Music is a language beyond words, and through it I express who I am.

I lived in the U.S.,  I didn’t realize how much the lullabies, radio songs, and background music in stores were shaping my ears and soul. Years later, when I returned to the U.S. for a semester exchange, hearing some of those old sounds again was like unlocking memories I didn’t even know I had.

At the same time, I brought my own musical identity with me: Italian songs, Mediterranean rhythms, and local street music. I shared them with my friends in the U.S., and they shared their music with me. Our playlists became a way to change worlds. Even when we didn’t share the same language, we shared the same sounds.

Anthropologists often say that music is more than just entertainment, it’s a cultural expression. What we sing, dance to, or play tells the story of our communities and identities. My playlist is like a personal map, full of the sounds that have shaped me and the rhythms that keep me connected to my roots.

That’s why my playlist isn’t just a mix of genres, but it’s a record of the places I’ve been, the people I’ve met, and the feelings I’ve felt. It has lots of accents.

Sofia Agostinelli