What are the soundtracks flowing through UTSC?

Across the campus, many students move through their days with headphones in their ears, each carrying a world only they can experience.

Students working with their headphones in at the Bladen Wing Lounge. (Photo By: Rosa Maina // The Underground)

Reaching for their headphones is almost muscle memory for many University of Toronto Scarborough (UTSC) students as they move through classes and in and out of buildings. On any given afternoon on campus, earpieces rest softly on students' ears as they drift across campus. From the smoothness of rhythm and blues (R&B), to the pulse of afrobeats, and the nostalgia of 2000s pop, music has become a way of life among students.

What plays in students’ headphones is more than just background noise. It is a medium for something special — motivation, company, and comfort quickly becoming a tool for survival, focus or even self-expression.

Being a student at UTSC means navigating different aspects of life, academics, personal life, and social life. Music then becomes a source of momentum, something that carries students through mentally and physically challenging moments.

Emma Ingala Brewster, a journalism specialist student, turns to rap, trap and Brazilian phonk to tap into her confidence. “It makes me feel empowered,” said Brewster.  “Not just the lyrics but the beats that the music has. It makes me feel like I can honestly do anything and brings up my confidence.”

 Brewster says Brazilian phonk in particular has become her go to while working out at the Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre (TPASC) gym. Since this genre of music typically carries loud beats with heavy bass, it makes her excited. “Since there are barely any lyrics, the music itself can help me focus, so it is perfect to complete hard workout sessions” she said.

Brewster at the gym, following her regular routine. (Photo credits: Emma Brewster // UTSC journalism student)

That same inspiration toward motivation and energy also shows up in different parts of campus. 

Chandni Chandrathasan, majoring in biochemistry said Drake and Nicki Minaj’s Make Me Proud, is her go-to choice when in search of motivation and needs to feel focused while walking in between classes or during her study breaks. 

Joyce Teoh, majoring in management also inclines towards Drake and PARTYNEXTDOOR, describing her music taste as “vibey” and energetic, as she needs to be in such a state while heading to the gym at TPASC.

Beyond motivation and focus, music becomes a vessel of memory, shaping identities. Some songs carry the past seasons of life. 

Minahil Asad, majoring in management, said that she has been listening to Radiance by Dave and Tems on repeat. “It reminds me of heartbreak and it helps me get through it,” said Asad.. She says that she listens to music most while commuting and this often brings a sense of nostalgia to her travels. 

That quest for familiarity also resonates with Jem, a life science student who is currently finding home by revisiting her old playlists. “There is something so comforting about familiarity,” said Jem. “Due to the ever changing nature of our lives, I am currently seeking stability in the familiar.”  

Her playlist includes One Direction, Lauv, Khalid, and Conan Gray. She goes back to these artists now to look for the stability she once found while listening to their music years back. 

For Trisha Fernandes, a management student, her connection to music is tied to her high school experience. She says Bryson Tiller has remained constant in her playlist since she first discovered his music years ago.

“I have been listening to Bryson Tiller for all of high school until now,” said Fernandes. She said for her, music might not hold specific memories, but they hold the feeling of various periods in her life.

With the pressure of performance and a constant desire for improvement among students, music becomes an anchor for some. 

A curated list for University of Toronto students on Spotify, a soft indulgence to get through the studying sessions. (Photo credits: Spotify)

Shahwaiz Zafar, a management finance student, finds that music holds a special part in his busy routine, allowing him to stay grounded and find peace. “I have been listening to Tame Impala, Let it Happen, New Person Same Old Mistakes,and also just relaxing music in general,” said Zafar, "I also like listening to these kinds of music as it keeps me happy!” 

For some students at UTSC, their relationship with music stretches way beyond playlists, jam sessions and routine. It is something entwined with their upbringing, their creative endeavours and their sense of purpose. 

Andie Tordesillas, a management student, says her listening habits are dependent on her mood, the time of day and who she is with. In the mornings she leans towards calmer music, Daniel Ceaser, Miguel, Summer Walker and SZA, while preferring upbeat music later in the day. 

She adjusts what she is listening to depending on who she is around, be it her friends to accommodate everyone or her parents where she opts to play artists like ABBA. 

“I have also always loved music ever since I was a kid, I grew up with MTV always playing and my parents having music playing all the time.” said Tordesillas. 

She talks about how different music sounds to her, having specialized in vocal performance. Because of this, she is able to understand why music evokes emotions and feel more connected to some of her favourite songs.

That childhood connection also mirrors Eden Lavallee’s experience. A student in management and international business with economic and French minors, Lavallee says she has been exploring different genres of gospel music. 

She looks for company in music as she enjoys using it as “background noise” which sets the mood for her to get work done. Lavellee finds that the music she listens to makes her feel connected to her purpose, while also allowing her to tap into her creative side. Gospel music gives her inspiration to be passionate about the things she does throughout her day. 

Across the campus, many students move through their days with headphones in their ears, each carrying a world only they can experience. Within these moments — waiting for the bus, walking through hallways — there exist untold stories, retrieved focus, healed heartbreaks, confidence built, and memories explored.