This Is What It Sounds Like is a journey into the science and soul of
music that reveals the secrets of why your favorite songs move you. But
it's also a story of a musical trailblazer who began as a humble audio
tech in Los Angeles, rose to become Prince's chief engineer for Purple
Rain, and then created other No. 1 hits, including Barenaked Ladies'
"One Week," as one of the most successful female record producers of all
time.
Now an award-winning professor of cognitive neuroscience, Susan Rogers
leads readers to musical self-awareness. She explains that we each
possess a unique "listener profile" based on our brain's natural
response to seven key dimensions of any song. Are you someone who
prefers lyrics or melody? Do you like music "above the neck"
(intellectually stimulating), or "below the neck" (instinctual and
rhythmic)? Whether your taste is esoteric or mainstream, Rogers guides
readers to recognize their musical personality, and offers language to
describe one's own unique taste. Like most of us, Rogers is not a
musician, but she shows that all of us can be musical--simply by being
an active, passionate listener.
While exploring the science of music and the brain, Rogers also takes us
behind the scenes of record-making, using her insider's ear to
illuminate the music of Prince, Frank Sinatra, Kanye West, Lana Del Rey,
and many others. She shares records that changed her life, contrasts
them with those that appeal to her coauthor and students, and encourages
you to think about the records that define your own identity.
Told in a lively and inclusive style, This Is What It Sounds Like will
refresh your playlists, deepen your connection to your favorite artists,
and change the way you listen to music.
