Isn't it funny the way music works? You listen to it for enjoyment but deep down the ones that stick you most are the ones that mean something to you. You listen real close to them because somehow you feel a connection. You say "Wow, this really conveys this time in my life."

Music has always been like that for me. When I moved to Arkansas after living in Kansas for my childhood, I starting my transformation into rock. Korn was at the forefront of this. Hearing songs like Freak On a Leash, It's On, Dirty, etc...all songs were just pure enjoyment. I didn't like all of them at first though, not until I started looking for the deeper meanings. I wasn't happy about moving. However, to quote a line from Reclaim My Place by Korn "All I hear is disgrace. Erase them all and reclaim my place," I had to learn to let go of my depression. I had to reclaim who I was, and who I was meant to be. Another quote from Korn, this time from Beg For Me "Who gives a fuck if my life sucks? I just know one thing, I won't give up."

Music has been my way of life for a long time now. I've expanded to different genres, and in turn different stories being told. I've been through many things in my life, good and bad. Music has been there every step of the way. Nowadays I hear storied of overcoming death and despair to complete your destiny. Other stories include realizing that some people can't be trusted. Bands I hold dear are Adema, Korn, Alice in Chains, Soul Asylum, Creed, Aerosmith, Staind, and many others for helping me deal with certain parts of my past. If not for them, I couldn't enjoy what I have now. Bands like The Used, Coheed and Cambria, 30 Seconds to Mars, Chiodos, and others now take up a lot of my musical space. And thankfully a lot of their songs are there for my enjoyment, as now I can take in their lyrics in stride, instead of relying on them for my release.

Who knows what music holds in store for me in the future? I always seek out new sounds. Celldweller has been one on my list. They are like NIN and Fear Factory into one.

Well, enough about all that. Time to go.

Cody