Musical Chills: Artists Who Inspire Me

When your favorite song comes on, your mood instantly changes. You smile, dance, and sing your heart out. You are in your own little world.

When looking at musicians I love to listen to, I found myself with many genres of music. I slowly started to realize that the genre of music wasn’t why these artists had become my favorites, but it was the way their music makes me feel. I get these emotions when listening to these artists that aren't the same with other music. The only word I can describe this as is a frisson. I define a frisson as the moment of intense excitement when certain songs start playing. It can also be known as musical chills.

I created a list of fifteen artists who give me that exact feeling along with a few of their songs to listen to. This list contains some of my favorite artists of all time, but it also includes artists I just got introduced to. I encourage you to make your own list and to listen to new artists. When making your list, find what makes your music choices so inspiring to you.

Maggie Rogers Favorite Songs: Light On, Fallingwater, Alaska

Blood Orange Favorite Songs: Charcoal Baby, Best to You, Saint

Hozier Favorite Songs: Cherry Wine, Almost (Sweet Music), Someone New

Labrinth Favorite Songs: Jealous, Something's Got to Give, Imagination

Dean Lewis Favorite Songs: Adore, A Place We Knew, Half a Man

Rex Orange County Favorite Songs: Corduroy Daydreams, Pluto Projector, Face to Face, Untitled, Never Had the Balls

Alex & Sierra Favorite Songs: I Love You, Little Do You Know

The Head and the Heart Favorite Songs: Lost in My Mind, River and Roads

Mac Miller Favorite Songs: Ladders, Stay, Self Care

H.E.R. Favorite Songs: Best Part (feat. Daniel Caesar), Wrong Places (from Songland)

Paul Simon Favorite Songs: You Can Call Me Al, Me and Juli Down by the Schoolyard, Kodachrome

Kacey Musgraves Favorite Songs: Rainbow, Merry Go 'Round, Butterflies

Morgan Wallen Favorite Songs: This Bar, Whiskey Glasses, Cover Me Up, More Than My Hometown

Zac Brown Band Favorite Songs: Colder Weather, Highway 20 Ride, Sweet Annie, Homegrown

Hunter Hayes Favorite Songs: Dear God, Everybody’s Got Somebody But Me (feat. Jason Mraz), Storm Warning, One Shot

Overall, think about your favorite artists and why they are so influential to you. Make a list, and experience your emotions through the powerful music.