“When you’re in the mirror do you like what you see?” asks Charli xcx on her new song “360.” This song appears on Brat, her new album that has dominated the zeitgeist recently thanks to the viral “Brat Summer” and its accompanying “Apple dance.” The album is jam-packed with iconic one-liners and vulnerable yet catchy confessions. Here, however, Charli is inviting listeners to reflect on her influence, asking us if we “like what [we] see.” This self-aware anthem represents just a fraction of our generation’s various music tastes. Charli’s bold, pop-forward beats are only the beginning when addressing the question: What is South High listening to?

Social media is one factor shaping South High’s listening habits, with viral music trends often launching artists into fame. Take, for example, Chappell Roan. “I would have never discovered Chappell if TikTok hadn’t put me onto her,” said junior Anishka Arolkar. Arolkar, like many other students, attributes her evergrowing music taste to social media algorithms. This experience is shared among many Roan fans, where this formula has turned her from a niche artist into a viral sensation. In fact, Chappell Roan’s Spotify monthly listeners have catapulted from around 2 million to 21 million in four months.

But while social media does play a significant role in shaping South High’s listening habits, internal school communities have an equally large impact.

These internal communities, like after-school clubs, friend groups, and sports teams, cultivate close-knit communities where music recommendations rapidly spread. “I’m part of the volleyball team, and we like to share our music with each other on the bus, which is really fun. Plus, it helps us bond,” said junior Kyra Capodanno. 

Kendrick Lamar and Drake’s feud earlier this year, also popularized through social media, had a large presence in South High thanks to these communities. Walking through the halls, one could hear friends discussing which side of the feud they were on, and who they thought was winning. And as the feud grew, so did the fervor of the discussions revolving around them, leading to Chappell Roan-levels of growth.

But pop and hip-hop are not the only genres present at South High—we have communities of K-pop, indie, R&B, country, and more. Artists like Magdalena Bay, Adrianne Lenker, and Vampire Weekend, for example, have received new/renewed fame due to these communities. 

So what is South High listening to in 2024? The answer is as diverse as the students themselves. The school’s music taste is a reflection of the student body, and at South, that student body is always apt to explore and evolve. Put simply: South High is listening to everything.