My Soundtrack: How Music Defines My Life and Creativity

The Hook: A Dance Floor Called Life

I’ve always believed life is best lived like a good salsa song—bold, unpredictable, and just a little bit sweaty. Growing up in Miami, where music practically seeped out of the sidewalk cracks, my life has always had a backbeat. Whether it was my mom belting out Celia Cruz while flipping maduros in the kitchen, or my abuelo sneaking in a hum of Benny Moré while fixing something around the house, there was always a rhythm guiding us.

But something I’ve discovered as I’ve grown older—music doesn’t just set the mood; it builds the soundtracks of our lives. It reflects who we are, where we’ve been, and, often, where we’re headed. My life? It’s been a mixtape with genres as messy and unexpected as dating itself. And today, I’m sharing those songs with you.

Chapter One: The Warm-Up (Childhood)

If my childhood had a title, it’d be “Cuban Classics and Miami Mashups.” In my house, mornings started with strong café con leche and Los Van Van’s “Me Mantengo” on the stereo. My grandparents treated those beats with a kind of reverence I couldn’t understand as a kid, but looking back, I see it now: music was their time capsule. Every song took them back to Havana in its heyday.

“Listen, Martín,” my abuelo told me once as he tapped his old loafer in perfect rhythm. “If you can dance to this, you can charm anyone.” Now, I was ten and mostly worried about mastering my math homework—but guess who memorized those steps anyway? Spoiler: That advice came in very handy later on first dates when I realized being able to twirl someone on the dance floor was the ultimate icebreaker. (Tip: Confidence in dancing = confidence in flirting.)

For me, growing up bilingual also came with a bilingual sound system. With my Walkman in tow, I discovered Run-DMC and Will Smith’s “Summertime,” which felt like sunshine and sneakers in sonic form. These songs weren’t just bops—they were windows to a world I was learning to navigate as a first-gen Cuban kid balancing two cultures.

Chapter Two: Slow Jams & Teenage Turmoil

Every teenager has a dramatic phase. Mine? Scrolling through LimeWire at 3 a.m., downloading emotional mixtapes like my romantic future depended on it. (Pre-Spotify days were a lawless era, weren’t they?) This was when music started feeling personal—like it really understood me. Relationships became soundtracks too.

First high-school heartbreak? Dashboard Confessional’s “Hands Down” played on a loop while I stared out my window, pretending Miami’s palm trees were some sad wintry scene. Sure, it’s melodramatic, but isn’t that what being a teenager is for? Music gave me permission to feel it all, whether it was tragic or triumphant.

I also fell back on homegrown classics: Gloria Estefan's “Con Los Años Que Me Quedan” was proof that heartbreak wasn’t just for Johnny-with-the-guitar—it was intergenerational. And I learned fast that for Latinx families, we cry about love together.

Looking back, I realize those songs taught me something about relationships before I had the words to articulate it: Feelings demand to be felt. Whether they’re messy, beautiful, or both.

Chapter Three: Love… or Something Like It (Young Adulthood)

Fast forward to my early twenties. By this point, I’d fully leaned into Chicago winters and creative writing fellowships, but Miami’s warmth never left my bones—or my playlists. Nights out back then were a mix of hip-hop and reggaeton at dive bars nobody remembers the names of, where Aventura’s “Obsesión” almost always guaranteed someone would shoot their shot, no matter how bad their Spanglish.

What struck me about music at this stage was how seamlessly it blended with love itself. I’ve lost count of how many “our songs” I’ve had in relationships, but shoutout to The Killers’ “When You Were Young” for teaching me that not all relationships last—and that’s okay. This era of my soundtrack was all about trial, error, and coming back to myself after stumbling in pursuit of connection.

One thing I learned: A playlist can say a lot about someone. I once dated a guy whose entire Spotify was soundtrack scores from horror films. (Yes, really.) When I asked him why—the way someone might ask about a peculiar childhood trauma—he just shrugged and said, “I like the drama.” And, surprise, the “drama” became the theme of our six-week romance. Lesson learned: Watch out for red flags… and red playlists.

Chapter Four: Putting It All Together (Now)

In the present day, my soundtrack feels more intentional. My playlists are less about feeling lost and more about finding perspective. Sure, I still have my “Clean the Apartment” bangers (hello, Bad Bunny), but I also keep a secret playlist called “Soothe the Soul” for late nights when I need grounding. Read: Buena Vista Social Club’s “Chan Chan.”

One song stands out as a personal anthem: Silvio Rodríguez’s “Ojalá.” My parents used to play it on stormy nights, when thunder clattered outside and the world felt a little off-kilter. The lyrics, poetic and bittersweet, remind me that imperfection is part of the beauty of life and relationships. You can hold joy and longing at once, just like you can love someone deeply even when they’re miles away.

What I’ve learned over these years—and soundtracks—is that music, like love, is never static. Whether it’s pulsating and chaotic or sweet and quiet, it always reflects where you are. Today, my life is a mix of all those styles. Miami raised me to appreciate the heat of passion, Chicago taught me introspection and grit, and music harmonizes those pieces.

Your Turn: Building Your Soundtrack

So, what songs play in the background of your life? Whether you’re finding love or letting go of it, your soundtrack matters. Crafting it is like crafting your relationships—it evolves as you evolve. Start with songs that speak to who you are right now. Add tunes that remind you of where you want to go.

And if you’re feeling stuck? Here are a few tips:
- For Healing: Pick something cathartic—tear-jerking ballads feel like therapy on demand.
- For Confidence: Go for the songs that make you strut down the street like you’re in your own music video.
- For Love: Choose music that reminds you to keep it light but leaves room for depth.

At the end of the day, relationships may not always last, but the songs? They stay with you forever. So go ahead. Press play.

Final Note: Life Is Better with Music

Your soundtrack is a reflection of your identity, your history, and the hopes you carry for the future. Let it evolve with you. And, hey, when in doubt? Throw on a salsa beat, grab someone you care about, and let the music—quite literally—carry you.

Until next time, keep dancing.