Prolific Danish author Hans Christian Andersen said, "Where words fail, music speaks," ... but is it true? Undeniably! Music can deliver a message almost impossible to offer in a conversation. We can tell our stories, share our humanity, lose ourselves, and enjoy the moment. As different as how we connect with music is, so are our reasons for falling in love with a song.

One way of connecting is how we listen to music. A music lover might be able to appreciate the lyrics of Trap or Hipco while another might be in for only the beats. Or someone from Nigeria or Ghana would enjoy Soukous from DRC and not necessarily understand the lyrics. Sometimes, the lyrics of the music might be a common lingua, but when you ask two people who listened to it to share what they heard. One might casually respond, "It was a gbedu. Nice party vibes." Meanwhile, the other listener would recite the song's lyrics and even sing the chorus. Why is it so?

When listening to music, there seem to be two types of listeners - the conscious or vibe listener - with each listening behavior not exclusive to a particular class of people. These behaviors are self-explanatory. They are largely influenced by age, self-esteem, personality, and other factors and can be displayed at various music centers such as concerts, music shows, or even among our friend groups.

To a conscious music listener, the release is more than just a soundtrack. It's an art that demands full attention! This listener craves lyrics that resonate and often seeks a deeper understanding of it and the whole composition, creating an emotional entanglement with the music listened to.

If you often find yourself paying close attention to lyrics and discovering new meanings in a song each time you listen to it or tend to form deep connections with certain artists or albums as if they are speaking directly to you, you might fall into this category.

On the other side of the divide is the vibe listener. This is all about feeling the music and the general vibe it brings. The listener is drawn by the infectious rhythms, rocking basslines, and melodies that make them move. For the vibe listener, it's all about feeling the beat, losing themselves in the rhythm, and enjoying the moment.

For these two kinds of listeners, the live performance experience might feel different. For a conscious listener, it's more about witnessing raw talent and artistry on display and connecting with the lyrics during delivery. In contrast, live shows for a vibe listener are all about the collective experience, the shared joy of singing and dancing in a crowd.

Recently, we have seen the listening habits of the recent generation change. This development has affected the number of conscious music listeners in the African music industry. There has been an increase in the number of vibe listeners, and several reasons come to mind for this trend.

First is the dominance of Afrobeats. Known for its infectious rhythms and dance-oriented production, Afrobeats has exploded in popularity globally.  Because of the positive atmosphere it creates, it has attracted a large audience that values good vibes.

Another reason is the emergence of new genres like Alté and amapiano, characterized by soulful vocals and deep basslines, with the overall focus being on the danceable mood.

The party and jolly culture have attracted many listeners to songs that keep them in a party mood. These new genres fuel the party culture of African youth, drawing in enthusiasts who love energetic and celebratory music experiences.

For you, what type of listener are you? A conscious music listener or vibe listener?

There seem to be two types of listeners - the conscious or vibe listener

Decoding Your Music Style: Are You a Conscious Listener or a Vibe Listener?

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