Music & Nostalgia

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How do we feel nostalgic? Where does it come from, and why do we all experience it at some point in our lives? I’ve often asked myself similar questions about why, as humans, we experience this feeling.

Nostalgia, by definition, is a wistful or excessively sentimental yearning for the ability to return to some form of past experience. It's a common emotion that doesn’t have a specific age or stage in life when it begins to occur. However, nostalgia is often triggered by certain situations or circumstances. These triggers vary from person to person, as our memories are unique and carry different emotions. Nonetheless, there are a few key links that frequently activate nostalgic feelings — most notably, sensory triggers.

Smells are a powerful example. Certain scents can evoke specific memories and emotions, as the olfactory bulb (responsible for smell) has a direct connection to the hippocampus and amygdala — the parts of our brain linked to memory and emotion. For instance, if you catch the scent of a dish you enjoyed on a past holiday in Italy, you may suddenly feel nostalgic for the memories and experiences from that trip.

However, the most common sensory link to nostalgia is sound, particularly music. Music is a significant trigger, especially songs from specific periods in one’s life that can transport individuals back to those times. This makes sense, as I often find myself associating songs with particular memories or phases in my life.

In today’s world, this connection is even stronger due to the prominence of music on social media. Even if a video isn’t directly about music, there’s often some form of background track playing — reinforcing the emotional connection between sound and memory. Considering these factors, it’s easy to see why music and nostalgia are so closely linked, especially for younger generations.

As a whole, music and nostalgia share numerous intertwining elements — not only scientifically but also socially. Nostalgia is a universal feeling that we can all relate to. I think nostalgia has a bittersweet way of making us reminisce about those pivotal moments that shaped us, always making sure we remember the things that mean the most to us, whether it be big or small. So when you next hear that familiar song on the radio or happen to smell your favourite food from your childhood, take the time to embrace those significant memories -after all they’re responsible for shaping you into the person you are today.