What music means to me:

When thinking about what to talk about in this post, I had no idea where to begin. I can't quite pinpoint the moment when music was more than just noise. 

 I believe the best place to start, other than the footage of me singing at Disneyland Paris, is in the car, year 2008, when Love Story by Taylor Swift came on. It was probably the first song I knew all the words to, and was featured on the first album I ever received. 

 From then, Taylor Swift was one of my favourite artists - though never a big country fan, I happily grooved out to the pop charts for a few more years until I reached secondary school.

Amidst the teenage angst and "I'm not like other girls" vibe, I branched out to alternative music genres. Here, I came across You Me At Six, Sleeping With Sirens and Paramore.

 Hayley Williams, with her powerful voice and strong lyrics, influenced the kind of person, woman, I am today. I remember listening to "Never Let This Go" on repeat - daydreaming about performing this song and nailing it.

 It was during secondary school that I started playing musical instruments. Before, I'd only ever sang with my friends for fun, but gained so much joy from it that I wanted to push it further. In year 7 and 8, I learned the basics on piano, and in year 9, I started playing guitar.

 It was in year 9 that I started GCSE music, and when I performed for the first time in front of more than handful of people. In front of a daunting class, I sang "Royals", by Lorde, and although the performance went quite well, I ran to my seat and cried afterwards - completely overwhelmed. 

 I haven't cried after a performance since, but the tingling sensation and euphoria of performing has always stayed with me. I'd much rather sing to myself than a crowd, but even I can't deny the pleasure sharing music brings to me. 

 The past couple of years have brought the opportunity of open mic nights and community events to me. Of all of these, singing to a crowd of elderly will always remain in my heart. I sang "Can't Help Falling In Love", by Elvis Presley, and it was the first time my crowd sang back to me. Having teared up, halfway through the last chorus left around 20 to 30 old people singing to me, and it was the most beautiful thing I have ever experienced. 

 Currently, my music taste still sits in the alternative bracket, often fluctuating between indie and rock music. I'm lucky enough to be attending Community Festival this year, and a couple of my favourite bands are playing, including Catfish and the Bottlemen and The Hunna. 

 I feel like I can't finish this without mentioning some of the concerts I've been to - the first ever artist I was honoured enough to see live, was in fact a band. Though One Direction have parted ways, and are hardly part of the alternative genre, they reside in a special place in my heart, and I shall always be a Directioner. In addition to this, the first alternative band I saw live was All Time Low, and the first band I was ever squashed by crowd surfers because I have absolutely no upper body strength whatsoever, was Beartooth. 

It was when we saw Sleeping With Sirens that my best pal Jamie managed to break her nose. 

So in direct answer to the question, music to me means a lot of things. Some people recognise me for my music - in a way, it defines me. It takes me to another dimension all together - both a gateway and a promise, that the world will still be standing even if I take time for myself, rather than run with everybody else. Music is friendship, community, a whole bunch of laughter and sweat-stained memories. Music to me, means love.