Interview Transcript
Topic: Music Experiences and Preferences
Candidate Number: 829989
QUALITATIVE METHODS ASSIGNMENT
MICHAELMAS TERM 2009
Interview Transcript
Topic: Music Experiences and Preferences
Date: 23/11/09
Time: 13:00-14:00
Place: Starbucks, 6/7 Cornmarket Street, Oxford, OX1
3EX
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Interview Transcript
Topic: Music Experiences and Preferences
Candidate Number: 829989
NOTES
1. The name John is used instead of the real name of the respondent
2. (…) denotes short pause
3. () are used for non-verbal responses
4. [] are used for personal comments
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Interview Transcript
Topic: Music Experiences and Preferences
Candidate Number: 829989
INTERVIEWER: Hello John. As I told you I am a Sociology student and I need to
conduct an interview for my course. The research I am doing is about music, so I am
going to ask you some questions about your music experiences and your music
preferences. The interview will last approximately an hour and I have to tell you that
there are some demographic questions that they are kind of weird, but I have to ask
you (interviewer and respondent laugh). Also, this is going to be totally anonymous,
your name is not going to be mentioned anywhere, and if you don’t want to answer
any question you don’t have to, you just tell me “I do not want to answer” and we will
proceed to the next one and also you can withdraw at any point of the interview if you
feel uncomfortable. So, first of all, I would like to thank you for accepting to
participate in this interview and I would like to ask you if it is ok with you to use the
tape recorder?
RESPONDENT: Sure, it is fine.
INTERVIEWER: Ok. What did you think about the last night event?
RESPONDENT: I really enjoyed it. I thought the same event that was held last year
was better, simply because it was newer, but I really enjoyed the music, I really
enjoyed the energy. I thought it was a lot of fun actually.
INTERVIEWER: Could you tell me what was the event about?
RESPONDENT: The event was a Greek music night, for Greek traditional music,
organised by a band coming from London, called the SOAS Rebetiko Band. And
yeah, they came with a nine piece band and played some music.
INTERVIEWER: What type of music did they play?
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Topic: Music Experiences and Preferences
Candidate Number: 829989
RESPONDENT: It was like Greek folk music, Greek traditional music. Greek music
that came from the Ottoman Empire, sort of through the underground. That kind of
music.
[The respondent describes rebetiko music, the music played by the SOAS rebetiko
band; rebetiko is a traditional type of Greek music]
INTERVIEWER: Excuse me?
[I didn’t understand the last phrase]
RESPONDENT: With the underground. A kind, a music the rebels, the people who
took a lot of drugs, the criminals, the underground people, from the Ottoman Empire.
INTERVIEWER: Oh, alright. How often do you go to events with this type of
music?
RESPONDENT: This kind of music? Very very rarely. Simply because is very hard
to find places where you can go with this kind of music.
INTERVIEWER: How do you usually find out about this type of events?
RESPONDENT: In this kind of events, in their nature, they are kind of different
from different areas. I mean you can go to some places with very very traditional,
some places with not that traditional. But I normally find out from word of mouth
actually because it’s not a very popular kind of category of music. So, you only going
to find out from people who really really enjoy this kind of music. So, normally from
word of mouth.
INTERVIEWER: How often do you go to this type of events?
RESPONDENT: I would say I would go about twice a year to an event like this.
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Topic: Music Experiences and Preferences
Candidate Number: 829989
INTERVIEWER: How do you choose the events that you attend with this type of
music?
RESPONDENT: Pretty much they are the only ones that take place. Or I go to the
ones which have popular stars in them.
INTERVIEWER: What do you mean by popular stars?
RESPONDENT: People who, most of the experts would tell me, are the people I
should listen to in this kind of musical field, sort of the pioneers of the music.
INTERVIEWER: Alright. Why do you attend this type of events, events with Greek
traditional music?
RESPONDENT: I play that kind of music.
INTERVIEWER: Greek traditional music?
RESPONDENT: Yes. But I am just learning that, I played various forms of music
and I like a lot of folk music and Balkan music. So I play (...) and I really really enjoy
to play Greek music, so I really enjoy the Greek music. So I go to the events a) to hear
about the music and b) when you play an instrument you appreciate how the people
do stuff.
INTERVIEWER: Alright. So as you said, you enjoy this type of music, the Greek
and the Balkan folk music.
RESPONDENT: Yes, sort of like Serbian, Croatian folk music, Balkan music.
INTERVIEWER: Was this the type of music that was played yesterday?
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Topic: Music Experiences and Preferences
Candidate Number: 829989
RESPONDENT: Ehm, in a sense yes, I mean if you class Greece in the Balkans yes.
I would, but I am sure that they are so many people that they would not. But yesterday
it was Greek traditional music, it is what you would call it.
INTERVIEWER: Alright so, if I understood correctly, you enjoy the traditional type
of music?
RESPONDENT: Well primarily, the form music I enjoy the most is jazz. If I am
going to listen to one form of music it will be jazz. Like, the form of music that I am
most comfortable is jazz. After jazz I probably enjoy rebetiko and Serbian folk music,
like Goran Bregović, Bob and Markowitz. This kind of things.
INTERVIEWER: Ok. Now we will proceed to some more general questions. Do you
go to concerts or other live music events of any kind?
RESPONDENT: Yeah, all the time actually.
INTERVIEWER: What do you mean by all the time?
RESPONDENT: For jazz concerts, anytime jazz people come, I go for live concerts
to listen to how they play. Ehm, if famous Serbian, Croatian bands come (...) for
example, a band called Chantel came over last week, I went to see them. So, yeah I
try to attend quite a lot of live performances for the kind of music that I like. But
mainly it has to be the kind of, you know, musicians music, sort of everyone playing
with musical instruments and you know everything completely live and new rather
than electronic music which is just a dj playing on the decks.
INTERVIEWER: Do you prefer the live type of music compared to the electronic
music?
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Topic: Music Experiences and Preferences
Candidate Number: 829989
RESPONDENT: Yeah yeah.
INTERVIEWER: Anything else? You have already mentioned jazz concerts that
you really enjoy.
RESPONDENT: You mean to go and watch?
INTERVIEWER: I mean any other venues, or live music events that you attend.
RESPONDENT: Jazz is the one that I will go to the most, and after that I prefer folk
music because of the setting, like the Greek rebetiko, like Serbian folk music. Just
because I like the setting and I like the atmosphere. But I mean, I go to the opera
sometimes and I go to pop concerts sometimes.
INTERVIEWER: So, do you enjoy different types of music events?
RESPONDENT: Yeah. And a lot of musical. Basically it is lot of stuff, but I mean,
primarily if you want to say which concerts I go to the most it would be jazz concerts.
INTERVIEWER: How often do you go to jazz concerts?
RESPONDENT: So in numbers, jazz concerts would be once every two weeks.
INTERVIEWER: Ok. How often do you go to folk music concerts?
RESPONDENT: Folk music concerts, if you include the Greek music in the folk
music (...) (the respondent thinks)
INTERVIEWER: Do you include it in your personal categorization?
RESPONDENT: In my category it is alright to say it is traditional folk music, music
that comes from the ports, music that comes from the (...) you know (...) traditional
music basically. I would say probably that, you know, once every two months, once
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Topic: Music Experiences and Preferences
Candidate Number: 829989
every three months maybe. Opera probably once a year (laughter) simply because is
really expensive and I rarely find good operas to go to.
INTERVIEWER: What about the pop concerts?
RESPONDENT: Probably once a year as well, yeah. If is someone really really
good.
INTERVIEWER: Like?
RESPONDENT: For example for Muse, Muse for example.
INTERVIEWER: Excuse me?
[I didn’t understand the name of the band]
RESPONDENT: Muse.
INTERVIEWER: Muse.
RESPONDENT: There is a band called Muse.
INTERVIEWER: Alright. (overlap)
RESPONDENT: They have amazing live performances.
INTERVIEWER: I have never heard of them. (laughter)
RESPONDENT: Yeah. Or reggae artists, or something you know.
INTERVIEWER: Alright. Do you go to night clubs? You mentioned previously that
you prefer live music compared to electronic music.
RESPONDENT: I used to like electronic music but I kind of went off it slowly.
Maybe age, I am not sure but, ehm, I do go to clubs but the reason I go to clubs is not
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Topic: Music Experiences and Preferences
Candidate Number: 829989
because of the music, it’s more for the atmosphere, for the socializing (...). Ehm, I
would prefer to put the two together.
INTERVIEWER: Do you mean the atmosphere and the people?
RESPONDENT: Yeah, so for example, I would prefer to go at a folk music venue
where I can stay until to very late, drinking, talk to everybody while listening to, say
rebetiko or while listening to jazz. But generally the jazz concerts I go to are concerts,
rather than the typical form, which is musicians playing on stage and you know
people interacting in the crowd and talking and having a good time. That kind of
thing.
INTERVIEWER: Ok. How would you categorize the different types of music you
are listening to?
RESPONDENT: Well, ehm (...) I would put live music and clubs in different
categories simply because there is very very little overlap between the two.
INTERVIEWER: What do you mean by this?
RESPONDENT: So when jazz, jazz’s first origins was to be popular music in the
twenties, so people would be drinking and dancing together and socialising while jazz
was playing in the background, because this is what the popular music is. The popular
music now, that I do not really appreciate, it is the one in the clubs (...) so it is very
rare to find a jazz venue, which ehm, especially in Oxford, where you can go to with
all of your friends and socialize and have a good time and listen to the music at the
same time.
INTERVIEWER: Why does this happen?
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Topic: Music Experiences and Preferences
Candidate Number: 829989
RESPONDENT: There is not enough numbers of people who would like to do this.
Most people want to go and listen to popular music.
INTERVIEWER: In the clubs?
RESPONDENT: In the clubs yes, because the clubs have to play the popular music
of there, of the area and the popular music of the area is, you know general (...)
general chart hits, that kind of thing.
INTERVIEWER: Alright. I would like to ask you some further questions. What are
the reasons that you go to jazz concerts?
RESPONDENT: So I play a lot of jazz (...) ehm, I find most of the jazz songs talk
more about my life than other songs, so I find myself more closely linked to jazz
songs, the American songs. Ehm, and because I play. Generally when you play a
musical instrument you (...) you tend to appreciate how good other people are at
playing your instrument. So you want to go to concerts to see what are they doing,
how good they did, and (...) your ears become more and more tuned to the concerts.
INTERVIEWER: More and more?
[I didn’t understand the word]
RESPONDENT: Tuned.
INTERVIEWER: Oh, ok.
RESPONDENT: Yeah tuned, so you appreciate more and more, because you know
the effort that they have gone through to achieve what they have achieved, it is not
just as someone who has never played something.
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Candidate Number: 829989
INTERVIEWER: Alright. And what are the reasons that you go to the folk music
events?
RESPONDENT: I think I just really enjoy the sound of the music. I guess I can say
Serbian music because it is very very energetic, ehm, in a way. For example, they
have some trumpet concerts in Serbian traditional music and they have drums and
trumpets and trombones and they play very very energetic music. So it is very
energetic and I enjoy. Greek traditional music to me sounds, because of the roots of it,
it is almost like the blues and jazz. It is very, you know, real (...) ehm, very strong
emotional songs from musicians who have lived through a lot, who have experienced
a lot and ehm (...) so I kind of appreciate that even more, you know? And you know
you can hear it through the music.
INTERVIEWER: Alright. What are the reasons that you go to the opera?
RESPONDENT: (laughter) I appreciate some operas. But, I mean like, I love
Madame Butterfly and I like some operas.
INTERVIEWER: Could you explain me the reasons?
RESPONDENT: It is partly because of the music. I like some classical music and I
really like the singings sometime, especially like, some male tenor voices or male
baritone voices, I really like. I would go to the opera once in a while. And I really
enjoy the dress and I really enjoy the concept in a whole. But it is not the kind of
musical form I would associate with or enjoy the most.
INTERVIEWER: Ok. What about the pop concerts? Why do you go to pop concerts,
even once per year?
RESPONDENT: I think it is because my friends drag me along.
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Topic: Music Experiences and Preferences
Candidate Number: 829989
INTERVIEWER: (laughter)
RESPONDENT: And because they will play one or two songs which I will probably
enjoy, ehm, I mean everyone because you listen to it all the times. So you are bound
to get, enjoy the song or not.
INTERVIEWER: Alright, and what about the clubs? Why do you go to night clubs?
RESPONDENT: Well I guess, I also like dancing.
INTERVIEWER: Did you also mention your friends before?
RESPONDENT: Yeah, my friends go there and I like dancing and we can’t dance
much to jazz. So, even though it is not the kind of music you would like to listen to in
your room and you know, you do it.
INTERVIEWER: Alright. Could you tell me with whom you are going to those live
music events?
RESPONDENT: To the jazz concerts you mean?
INTERVIEWER: To all of them. So, let’s start with the jazz concerts, do you go by
yourself?
RESPONDENT: Sometimes yeah, sometimes jazz concerts they are likely to be
played off the road. Sometimes I will just go and I can’t find anybody to go with.
INTERVIEWER: Ok. How often does this happen? How often do you go by
yourself to jazz concerts?
RESPONDENT: Mmm (...) once a month probably. You know like, every three or
four times I go to concerts, I will probably go off by myself in one of them.
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Topic: Music Experiences and Preferences
Candidate Number: 829989
INTERVIEWER: Alright. What about the folk music events? Do you go with
company or by yourself?
RESPONDENT: No, to those generally I would not go by myself. Uh, I don’t think I
can. Because is not (...) jazz I can associate with, it is for the native speaking
American music form where I would fit in there. Folk, traditional folk music come
from different countries like Greece, Serbia, Croatia (...) uh, I wouldn’t feel
comfortable going by myself. I mean, I love the music, but I wouldn’t feel
comfortable going by myself.
INTERVIEWER: Alright, so with whom do you go?
RESPONDENT: With people from those countries normally, always with some
friends, I mean always with some friends. I feel more comfortable than going by
myself.
INTERVIEWER: What about the opera?
RESPONDENT: Always with friends! (the tone of voice shows certainty) (laughter)
Always with friends. (laughter)
INTERVIEWER: Always with friends.
RESPONDENT: Yes, I would never go by myself.
INTERVIEWER: Are they the same friends that you are going for example to the
jazz concerts?
RESPONDENT: No, completely different.
INTERVIEWER: Do you have different people (respondent intervenes)
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Topic: Music Experiences and Preferences
Candidate Number: 829989
RESPONDENT: For different musical events.
INTERVIEWER: Alright. (laughter)
RESPONDENT: Generally there is very little overlap between, ehm.
INTERVIEWER: Alright. Does the same apply for the pop concerts and the clubs,
do you usually go with different people? (respondent intervenes)
RESPONDENT: No, for the pop concerts and the clubs there is always a lot of
overlap, so it is always the same people and the groups are generally much much
bigger. For the clubs I mean, you pretty much see everyone there. Ehm, for the jazz
concerts, it is just small subsets. For the folk music, another small subset. Ehm (...)
etc. etc.
INTERVIEWER: Alright. And do you go to the clubs and the pop concerts with
other people or do you go by yourself?
RESPONDENT: Nooo. (laughter) I always go with other people. Especially to a
club, I would never go by myself. If there is not music that I really enjoy (...). I am
going to the clubs to socialize, to dance. Ehm, and I wouldn’t go to dance by myself at
a club. Ehm, so, I wouldn’t go to a club by myself, and yeah.
INTERVIEWER: Alright. Is there any type of live music event that you have never
been to?
RESPONDENT: This is surprising actually, there are very few. Ehm (...) none that I
can think of, I have tried to experience as many different kinds of (...) maybe,
probably like Asian live music, sort of like Chinese traditional music. (...) I think that
would be pretty much. I have tried to see as many as live performances as possible or
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Topic: Music Experiences and Preferences
Candidate Number: 829989
listen to at least once. Ehm, yeah, but I mean (...) I can’t say that I have been to all of
them but I think I have been to all the ones I want to go and see or I can have access
to.
INTERVIEWER: Alright. So you haven’t been to some very specific types of music
events, like the one you mentioned, the Chinese traditional music. Is there any other
type of music event that you have never been to?
RESPONDENT: Maybe, well I have never been to an Irish folk concert for example.
INTERVIEWER: To a?
[I didn’t understand what the respondent said]
RESPONDENT: Irish folk concert.
INTERVIEWER: Oh! An Irish folk concert.
RESPONDENT: Irish folk music which you know is quite popular and quite similar
to most of this stuff. I have never been to any of those concerts. Ehm, I (...) yeah.
INTERVIEWER: Alright. Anything else?
RESPONDENT: Ehm, I am trying to think of (…) there will be something. (...)
(respondent thinks and laughs)
INTERVIEWER: (laughter)
RESPONDENT: (pause for ten seconds) Uh! (the tone of voice shows excitement) I
have never been to a heavy metal concert.
INTERVIEWER: Alright. (overlap)
RESPONDENT: Yes, but I would really like to go, to like, a Metallica concert.
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Candidate Number: 829989
INTERVIEWER: Why you have never been to a Metallica concert?
RESPONDENT: I guess I just never had the access. Where I grew up I just didn’t
have, ehm (…) heavy metal people they would not come. And then when I came here
I started changing my musical taste and probably exploring those musical tastes and
suddenly I just didn’t have time to go and see a heavy metal music concert but (...) I
wanna go one day. (the tone of voice shows certainty)
INTERVIEWER: Alright. Is there any type of live music experience that you
wouldn’t want to have?
RESPONDENT: Yeah! Salsa! (the tone of voice shows certainty)
[The respondent replied immediately after the question]
INTERVIEWER: Salsa?
RESPONDENT: Yeah.
INTERVIEWER: What are the reasons for this?
RESPONDENT: I hate salsa. (laughter)
INTERVIEWER: What do you mean that you hate salsa?
RESPONDENT: (laughter) This is a very strong opinion. (laughter)
INTERVIEWER: (laughter)
RESPONDENT: But I don’t think salsa is a valid musical form. I think it is just
something new that make people to dance to and they take old songs and they add the
salsa bit to the back of it and (...) (laughter) there is something about it, I think,
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Candidate Number: 829989
maybe, I went to a lot of clubs which played a lot of salsa and I just became very very
intolerant to it. (the tone of voice shows certainty)
INTERVIEWER: So is it because of the combination of (respondent intervenes)
RESPONDENT: Is something like (...). Yeah, I just hate salsa! (laughter)
INTERVIEWER: Ok, do you hate salsa because (respondent intervenes)
RESPONDENT: Because of the music and the people dancing, uh (laughter) I just, I
hate salsa. And it is an opinion shared by a lot of my friends as well. So, ehm, I guess
it is like, like a group thing, we are all people intolerant to salsa.
INTERVIEWER: Alright. (overlap)
RESPONDENT: If there is a salsa concert (...) probably it would be the only form of
music I would say right now, that definitely never ever go for. (the tone of voice
shows certainty)
INTERVIEWER: Alright. We have finished with the questions about the live music
experiences, so now I am going to ask you some questions about your music
experiences throughout your life. What type of music do you listen to?
RESPONDENT: Uh, basically it varies, so alright, if I want to dance it will be R&B
and hip hop.
INTERVIEWER: Alright. (overlap)
RESPONDENT: If I am in my room it will be jazz and traditional folk music from
Greece, Serbia, Croatia, those three countries mainly. So Balkan, Greek and jazz and
the three categories I would put together.
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Candidate Number: 829989
INTERVIEWER: Alright. And did you say that you listen to folk music and jazz
music when you are in your room?
RESPONDENT: Yeah, when I am alone basically (…) uh, you know especially jazz
music when I am alone (...) because, you know jazz music is always slow music, and
very romantic music, so you can say generally when you are by yourself, because, uh,
nobody would listen to it (laughter) at a social setting.
INTERVIEWER: Ok. Do you have any favourite songs?
RESPONDENT: Yeah. But I mean my favourite songs aren’t reflective of (laughter)
my musical taste.
INTERVIEWER: Ok, could you tell me more about this?
RESPONDENT: (laughter) Yeah, so, I would say my favourite song ever is George
Michael’s, Kelly’s Whisper, which is amazing because (interviewer intervenes)
[I intervened because I didn’t understand the title of the song]
INTERVIEWER: Excuse me, which song of George Michael?
RESPONDENT: Kelly’s whisper.
INTERVIEWER: Kelly’s Whisper.
RESPONDENT: You know. He is with his saxophone and (…) ehm, which is
completely non indicative of anything I have told you, as my favourites. I mean there
are several jazz songs. There is a jazz song called Round Midnight. It was written by a
guy called Thelonious Monk, ehm, it is like a romantic ballad. One of the most
romantic ballads ever written. And yes, I would class that as one of my favourite
songs, yeah. And I like S agapo giati ise orea (laughter).
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Candidate Number: 829989
[“S’ agapo giati ise orea” is a Greek traditional song translated to “I love you because
you are wonderful”]
INTERVIEWER: Alright. (laughter)
RESPONDENT: (...) And I love Genethlia by Sfakianakis, yeah, Genethlia would be
one of my top.
[“Genethlia” is a Greek traditional song translated to “Birthday”. The singer’s name is
Notis Sfakianakis and he is a Greek famous artist]
INTERVIEWER: Do you understand the lyrics of these songs?
RESPONDENT: Yeah.
INTERVIEWER: Do you know how to speak Greek?
RESPONDENT: Well no, but I either get translations online or get my fellows to
translate for me, so yeah, I understand the lyrics, yeah. Ehm (...) and I enjoy a Serbian
singer called Šaban Bajramović.
INTERVIEWER: Šaban Bajramović?
[I repeat the name to make sure I heard it correctly]
RESPONDENT: Yeah. He is like one of the kings of the gipsy music in Serbia.
Yeah, and the song is called Djelem Djelem, which I really like.
INTERVIEWER: Djelem Djelem?
[I repeat the name to make sure I heard it correctly]
RESPONDENT: Yeah, Djelem Djelem and Edeletzi by Bregović.
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Candidate Number: 829989
INTERVIEWER: Edeletzi?
[I repeat the name to make sure I heard it correctly]
RESPONDENT: Yeah, Edeletzi by Bregović. So yeah, I mean, if you would listen to
my favourite stuff you would find these kinds of songs, these kinds of songs, yeah.
INTERVIEWER: Alright. Do you have any favourite artists?
RESPONDENT: Yeah. So my favourite artists (…) uh, you can break it down. When
I was younger, ehm, because I grew up in Africa, I enjoyed (...) hip hop the most. It
used to be everything I would listen to. So back then I used to worship Tupac Shakur,
Tupac you know he was everything to me, everything (the tone of voice becomes
emotional). And then I slowly started moving on to jazz (…).
INTERVIEWER: At what age did you start moving to jazz?
RESPONDENT: About eighteen, once I left Kenya, and (...) once you leave school
and you are legally allowed to listen to whatever you want without repercussions.
Yeah, so I started listen to Frank Sinatra and now I would say my favourite artist is a
guy called Charlie Parker.
INTERVIEWER: Charlie Parker?
[I repeat the name to make sure I heard it correctly]
RESPONDENT: Yes, he is this guy here. (the respondent takes out his mobile phone
and he shows me that he has set Charlie Parker’s picture as the home screen image)
INTERVIEWER: Alright, so you have Charlie Parker on your mobile screen.
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RESPONDENT: Yeah, he is, ehm, he is a completely genius is my mind, he
basically changed the whole world of jazz, heard things that nobody would ever
heard, and he was just, you know, he is such a good musician, that, out of the
musicians of the era who were fantastic themselves, all they wanted to do was to play
like him.
INTERVIEWER: Hmm. (overlap)
RESPONDENT: Like imagine, he is not only capturing the heart of the public he is
capturing the heart of all musicians everywhere, who respect him so much because
you are different at the end to play this kind of beautiful music.
INTERVIEWER: Hmm. (overlap)
RESPONDENT: So my favourite artist would be, Charlie Parker. (the tone of voice
shows certainty)
INTERVIEWER: Alright. And as you said you are listening to different types of
music, like you listen to R&B and hip hop when you want to dance and also to folk
music and jazz music in your room. So, if I understood right you don’t listen to the
same type of music always?
RESPONDENT: No no, definitely not, it changes a lot.
INTERVIEWER: Does it change according to (respondent intervenes)
RESPONDENT: Mood sometimes (...) (respondent thinks). Mood yeah, generally
mood I would say, mood is the major one (the tone of voice shows certainty). You
know, in a romantic mood you listen to jazz. When you are in a more (...) ehm, you
know (...) when you want some sub real music instrument you listen to folk music
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(…) and when you, ehm (...) when just want to feel good and great and just dancing
you know (laughter) I am listening to pop music, R&B, hip-hop, reggae. I love it.
INTERVIEWER: Do you also love reggae music?
RESPONDENT: Yeah I like it. Like R&B, hip hop, reggae put them in one category.
INTERVIEWER: Alright (laughter). I am asking because this is the first time you
mention reggae music. (interviewer and respondent laugh)
RESPONDENT: Yeah, it is just because there are so many musical tastes (the
respondent was laughing while answering). But yeah, I like reggae, I love it.
INTERVIEWER: Alright. Do you attend live events with reggae music?
RESPONDENT: Occasionally, occasionally (...) ehm (…) but very very
occasionally. (...) I mean it is really hard to find reggae concerts in Oxford, really
really hard.
INTERVIEWER: Hmm. (overlap)
RESPONDENT: In the UK in general, unless you go to London in certain venues
(...) but even then, I mean, I am talking about Caribbean reggae and not just London
bands and things like that.
[I think that the respondent wants to say that even in London it is difficult to find live
events with high quality reggae music]
INTERVIEWER: Ok. You mentioned before that your musical preferences have
changed from times to times. So, if I recall correctly, up to eighteen you were
listening to rap music and then after eighteen you started appreciating jazz music and
(...) (respondent intervenes)
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Topic: Music Experiences and Preferences
Candidate Number: 829989
[I paused in order to recall the other types of music the respondent had mentioned]
RESPONDENT: Folk music (…) and a bit of everything (interviewer and respondent
laugh)
INTERVIEWER: Alright. (overlap)
RESPONDENT: I guess, when you are (…) ehm, well, it is like one of the things
that follow your life pattern. When you are, ehm, a young boy, ehm, all you want to
do is, you know, to be a big man and (...) impress and feel (...) feel of kind like a
strong guy, like a cool guy (the tone of voice becomes energetic), that kind of thing.
And rap music is very very good for that. It is sort of one of those things, you know,
you like (…) so a gangster, and you know, someone important, somebody to not mess
with (the tone of voice becomes more energetic). And you know until eighteen, ehm, I
was, you know, that would be the persona I would like to be, you know. And then, I
guess, I got into university and I could listen to anything I want, and then, you know,
you fall in love let’s say for the first time, and then, you know, you get your heart
broken (the speed of speech decreases and the tone of voice becomes emotional) and
then suddenly rap music (…) ehm, you know it is not singing about what you are
going through, it is just singing about, you know, a life that, you know, (laughter) you
don’t have any association to whatsoever (laughter). You know, shooting people and
selling drugs in the hood and things like that (...). And then Frank Sinatra suddenly
starts singing about, ehm, you know, ehm (laughter) how some girl broke his heart
and you suddenly, you know, you suddenly start listening to that more and more (…)
and then (...) your musical preferences change I guess.
INTERVIEWER: So, your musical preferences were changing according to the
different phases of your life?
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Topic: Music Experiences and Preferences
Candidate Number: 829989
RESPONDENT: Different phases of your life I guess, when you know, and I sudden
listen to jazz primarily, just you know, a small transition when I started (…) so for
example, I gave you the example of let’s say fall in love, and then I started listening to
jazz music, and (...) since I started picking up an instrument which (…) it made me
listen to more jazz music. And then, once I started appreciating the life sense of jazz
music, I started moving on to other kinds of live music. (...) And because I have a lot
of friends from Greece, I started listen to Greek music. (...) And, ehm, there is
probably enough people who don’t believe it, but Greek music and jazz music are not
that dissimilar. They still have the same roots you know, from the poorer people, the
blues, ehm (...) and are very respectable forms of music so (...). And I guess, now I
guess I just try to keep an open mind because, I think all musical forms to be valid
and, ehm, if somebody else likes a form of music, I should keep an open mind
because if they like it, somebody likes it, so there must be something good about it, to
do like it, you know. Apart from salsa! (the tone of voice shows certainty) (laughter)
(interviewer and respondent laugh)
INTERVIEWER: I was ready to ask you about salsa. (interviewer and respondent
laugh)
RESPONDENT: Yeah, yeah, apart from salsa (laughter). No, my mind is shut for
salsa, yeah, honestly (laughter).
INTERVIEWER: Alright. So, just to make sure that I understand you right; up to
eighteen you were listening primarily to rap, after this point your life pattern started
changing (respondent intervenes)
RESPONDENT: Life pattern changes, yeah, you know you feel like, ehm, first of all,
it is interesting, another note, it is that, it is not only that your life pattern changes but
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Topic: Music Experiences and Preferences
Candidate Number: 829989
university is a lot freer than school. In high school you can’t listen to, let’s say to
Celine Dion.
INTERVIEWER: Ok. (overlap)
RESPONDENT: (respondent laughs) You know (laughter) you are going to be a
social outcast, but in university, you can listen to whatever you want, and nobody
cares. (...) Ehm, so you can choose whatever musical form you want, and then I
personally chose jazz because I love the balance, and that probably it sang about my
life more than anything else, and that’s what happened. And then as I got older I (...)
expanded my musical taste even more and more (...). It is something like a cone
getting bigger and bigger with more musical taste coming in there.
INTERVIEWER: Do you expect that your musical taste will expand further?
(interviewer and respondent laugh)
RESPONDENT: I think that it will eventually straighten out and I will just listen to a
certain kind of music, but I like all kind of music, yeah.
INTERVIEWER: Alright. What about your friends? What type of music do they
listen to?
RESPONDENT: So, I have a lot of Greek friends and lot of them listen to nothing
but Greek music and indie music.
INTERVIEWER: Hindi music?
[I was trying to understand the type of music that the respondent mentioned since I
had never heard of it before]
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Topic: Music Experiences and Preferences
Candidate Number: 829989
RESPONDENT: Yeah, which I like. And I’ve been to concerts, I would class them
as pop, but they wouldn’t.
INTERVIEWER: Hindi music?
[I am asking again, trying to understand the type of music mentioned]
RESPONDENT: No, indie.
INTERVIEWER: Indie?
RESPONDENT: So it is like independent rock.
INTERVIEWER: Ohhh! Alright!
RESPONDENT: So indie music is like, ehm you know, like, kind, sort of British, the
British stream after the sixties of like just The Smiths, Radiohead, and these bands,
sort of like Radiohead.
INTERVIEWER: Radiohead (...) is this a type of anarchic music or?
[I had never heard of Radiohead band and indie music so I was asking further
questions to understand the nature of this type of music]
RESPONDENT: Oh, no no no (the tone of voice shows certainty). This is, ehm, a
type, it is like (...). What is the best way to define it, ehm, it is like slowish rock.
INTERVIEWER: Slowish rock?
RESPONDENT: Slowish rock, but without, you know, the heavy drums and the
heavy distortion.
INTERVIEWER: What are the basic instruments in indie music?
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Topic: Music Experiences and Preferences
Candidate Number: 829989
RESPONDENT: Guitar, guitar based, drums and vocals. And then probably they
sing, very kind of like, personal music, like very real personal music about their lives.
INTERVIEWER: So, is it an emotional type of music?
RESPONDENT: Very, yeah, very emotional and very real. No, no, no false
pretences about who they are, they are very independent. For example, your friend
yesterday, I would class him as an indie boy.
INTERVIEWER: Who?
RESPONDENT: You know, your friend who was there.
[The respondent was talking about my colleague that we went together to the music
venue]
INTERVIEWER: Oh, yesterday?
RESPONDENT: Yes. Because this is just the way they dress. You know there is a
certain way of dressing, there is a certain lifestyle.
INTERVIEWER: How would you describe their dressing style?
RESPONDENT: Basically they all wear like (respondent smiles) skinny trousers and
grow up long hair, or like, you know like, longish and dirtyish kind of hair.
INTERVIEWER: Dirtyish kind of hair?
[I wanted to understand how the respondent defines dirtyish hair]
RESPONDENT: Well it is, like, you know, like unkempt, like not, not pristinely
kempt, like they don’t give a crap you know. Like they will always have bands here
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Topic: Music Experiences and Preferences
Candidate Number: 829989
(showing his wrist) (…) and, I don’t know, it is just you can tell (...) all of them, they
always wear those (…) converse shoes and things like that. You know.
INTERVIEWER: Alright. (overlap)
RESPONDENT: So they are lot of them (laughter). So the Greek friends would
listen to that and, ehm (...) I guess other friends listen to various, ehm, there is no real,
ehm, everyone, ehm, me and my friends, ehm, have their own particular musical
tastes. Ehm, the only way that we all join up the same musical taste is at the night
club. And I think it is completely because we are not listening to the music but
because we just have to dance.
INTERVIEWER: Ok. In addition to your friends listening to Greek music and indie
music, do you have other friends listening to different types of music?
RESPONDENT: I have a bunch of friends who I played with sometimes who would
love jazz, ehm, so I called them my jazz friends (interviewer and respondent laugh).
And, I have friends, a lot of friends, who like pop music and we just listen to the
charts, the songs that they are in the charts and then listen to nothing else. Ehm, and I
have a set of friends who listen to nothing but opera.
INTERVIEWER: Nothing but opera?
RESPONDENT: Nothing but opera! (the tone of voice shows certainty) Opera and
that’s it.
INTERVIEWER: Alright, so how similar are your music preferences with those of
your friends?
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Topic: Music Experiences and Preferences
Candidate Number: 829989
RESPONDENT: I think not very similar (...) or it depends with whom I am hanging
around with basically, yeah. But, I think that my musical taste is more similar with the
Greek people, I guess. With them, they cover the most range of what I like.
INTERVIEWER: What do you mean by this?
RESPONDENT: They listen to other kind of music that I appreciate as well. So for
example, the Serbian, Croatian music, they would love as well. And some of them
they would love jazz as well. Ehm, but generally, ehm, there is no group of people
that listen to all the kind of music that I listen to and I like all the time. So I have to
find different people.
INTERVIEWER: Did you always have different music preferences comparing to
your friends?
RESPONDENT: No, when I was eighteen everyone was listening to rap. All of us
liked exactly the same thing. Eventually when I started diversifying my taste (...) and
you know (…) people didn’t have the same.
INTERVIEWER: Why do you think that your musical taste diversified?
RESPONDENT: Because you can grew up and listen to whatever you want. When
you are a young boy you have to conform to what everybody else listens to.
INTERVIEWER: So when you were young, do you believe that you conformed to
listen to rap music?
RESPONDENT: Yeah, I think I conformed (the tone of voice shows certainty). But I
mean, I really enjoyed it back then, I really loved it (the tone of voice becomes very
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Topic: Music Experiences and Preferences
Candidate Number: 829989
energetic and the respondent smiles). But I am pretty sure that if I was, I just hadn’t
been experienced enough to (…). Rap music was what I wanted back then.
INTERVIEWER: Ok. What about your parents? What type of music do they listen
to?
RESPONDENT: Uh (...) Indian traditional music.
INTERVIEWER: Alright, Indian traditional music. Do they have any relationship to
India?
RESPONDENT: Oh yeah, my parents are Indians, but we grew up in Africa.
INTERVIEWER: Oh, alright. Do you enjoy Indian music?
RESPONDENT: Yeah.
INTERVIEWER: Do you listen to Indian music as well?
RESPONDENT: Yes I do, but only one or two artists. So that’s why I didn’t tell you
that I like Indian music. So, there is one artist or two artists who are ridiculously
famous, ehm, like Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, I don’t know if you know him.
INTERVIEWER: (laughter) No, could you spell his name please? (interviewer and
respondent laugh)
RESPONDENT: Yes, I can write it down. (the respondent writes down the name of
the artist)
INTERVIEWER: Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. Is he a famous Indian artist?
RESPONDENT: Well, he is actually a Punjabi artist, Pakistani-Punjabi artist.
INTERVIEWER: Alright. (overlap)
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Topic: Music Experiences and Preferences
Candidate Number: 829989
RESPONDENT: Ehm, and he is very very famous, respected all worldwide, and I
love his music, like nothing else. He is fantastic. And a few other traditional like
Rabbi Shergill.
INTERVIEWER: Rabbi Shergill?
[I repeat the name to make sure I heard it correctly]
RESPONDENT: Yeah, the guy who played with, like, sort of The Beatles and, ehm,
so, I like that kind of stuff, but I mean, I really like a few artists. But my parents listen
to all of them and probably listen to nothing else.
INTERVIEWER: Alright, so how similar are your music preferences with those of
your parents?
RESPONDENT: Well they are very very different (laughter). Yes, we only cross at
the few artists that I like and few songs. But primarily we are quite different, yeah.
INTERVIEWER: Alright. Now we are going to move at another question. So, if I
recall correctly you said that you are going to jazz concerts and other live concerts
because you play music as well. So, would you like to tell me more about this?
RESPONDENT: Yeah, basically I play the saxophone and the guitar.
INTERVIEWER: Alright.
RESPONDENT: But primarily the saxophone, ehm, and I am learning to play a
Greek instrument.
INTERVIEWER: Mmm, a Greek instrument. Which one?
RESPONDENT: The Baglama.
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Topic: Music Experiences and Preferences
Candidate Number: 829989
INTERVIEWER: The Baglama?
RESPONDENT: I brought it yesterday.
INTERVIEWER: Alright, great.
RESPONDENT: And the drum.
INTERVIEWER: And the drums?
RESPONDENT: The hand drum, single.
INTERVIEWER: Alright, so do you know how to play four instruments?
RESPONDENT: Well, I can say I know two, and I am learning four.
INTERVIEWER: Alright. When did you start learning those instruments?
RESPONDENT: Four years ago (laughter).
INTERVIEWER: All of them?
RESPONDENT: Yeah (laughter). Well, no, I started learning the saxophone four
years ago, and then I started learning the guitar a year ago, and I started learning the
baglama six months ago, and the drum six months ago.
INTERVIEWER: Alright. And how often do you play?
RESPONDENT: Oh! (the tone of voice shows disappointment) In nowadays,
because I have so much work, once or twice a week.
INTERVIEWER: All of them?
RESPONDENT: No no no, the saxophone mainly. And the guitar sometimes at night
for ten to fifteen minutes once or twice a week.
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Topic: Music Experiences and Preferences
Candidate Number: 829989
INTERVIEWER: Once or twice a week the saxophone (respondent intervenes)
RESPONDENT: Saxophone once or twice a week, guitar once or twice a week.
Yeah.
INTERVIEWER: What about the other two instruments?
RESPONDENT: They are on hold for the meanwhile. I used to play every day but
(...) ehm, I just don’t have the time these days. So, I hope to go back to playing every
day, but I need to get some work done for my PhD.
INTERVIEWER: Alright, so which is the instrument that you prefer and that you
would like to spend more time in playing it?
RESPONDENT: The saxophone.
INTERVIEWER: Could you explain the reasons?
RESPONDENT: Because I want to get good, I want to get really good (laughter)
yeah, yeah. And then you know, the more you play, the better you get, which means
the better music you play, which means the happier you are because you are playing
the nice music exactly how it should be played. And, so yeah. And also I play live
sometimes, so I am trying to get better so (…) to play live and get the moved on stage
(laughter).
INTERVIEWER: Alright, great. Why did you start playing those instruments?
RESPONDENT: The saxophone because it is a jazz instrument, the guitar because it
is very very versatile so because my musical taste expanded so much. The guitar is
like the keyboard, you can really play everything on it. And the Greek music (…)
INTERVIEWER: Do you mean the baglama, the Greek instrument?
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Topic: Music Experiences and Preferences
Candidate Number: 829989
RESPONDENT: Yeah. Because I needed a Greek instrument to play Greek music
and the drum, because drums are in everything as well.
INTERVIEWER: Alright.
RESPONDENT: So the guitar for versatility, the saxophone for jazz.
INTERVIEWER: What do you mean by saying the saxophone for jazz?
RESPONDENT: Because I started liking jazz and I started liking instrumental jazz,
ehm, the saxophone was the instrument that most, I wanted to play the most. Not the
trumpet, not the piano, but the saxophone. I am in love with the sound of it. So I
wanted to learn it.
INTERVIEWER: Alright. And did you say that you have performed in public as
well?
RESPONDENT: Yeah. And we have, ehm, we play, we jump together.
INTERVIEWER: What do you mean by this?
RESPONDENT: Me and my friends, ehm, it is a weird way dynamic. Whereas,
although all of us we listen to different kinds of music, when we play music, we all
come together, and we play everything.
INTERVIEWER: Alright, so with how many people do you play music?
RESPONDENT: So when I play in lives, I play with a band of four or five people.
INTERVIEWER: How often do you play in lives?
RESPONDENT: Nowadays none, but it used to be every week, every Thursday at
the Thirst Lodge.
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Topic: Music Experiences and Preferences
Candidate Number: 829989
[The Thirst Lodge is a bar in Oxford]
INTERVIEWER: Alright, at the Thirst Lodge. And when did you stop?
RESPONDENT: I stopped about two weeks ago.
INTERVIEWER: Alright. And since when you were playing there?
RESPONDENT: About a year ago.
INTERVIEWER: Alright, so for a year you were having weekly live performances?
RESPONDENT: Yeah, and then on the weekends we have a small band which we
play gipsy music, reggae, rock everything. But this is just friends getting together and
playing some music. And that only started about three months ago.
INTERVIEWER: Did you play this weekend as well?
RESPONDENT: Yes, we played like six hours on Saturday.
INTERVIEWER: Really?
RESPONDENT: Yeah, we didn’t go out.
INTERVIEWER: Alright. So, why did you start this band with your friends?
RESPONDENT: Well, because we enjoy music (the tone of voice shows certainty).
Because all of us we enjoy music and we are looking for (...) ehm, somewhere to play,
just to fool around (laughter) and just jam basically.
INTERVIEWER: (laughter) What do you mean by jam?
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Topic: Music Experiences and Preferences
Candidate Number: 829989
RESPONDENT: Just jam, you know, the jamming principle. The live stuff, I play
just to make myself better. But I do not enjoy it as much as playing with my friends,
because I am playing with random people.
INTERVIEWER: Alright. (overlap)
RESPONDENT: So, I am enjoying playing with my friends more.
INTERVIEWER: Alright. So, now I am going to ask you some more general
questions about your musical experiences. What is your relationship with music?
(laughter)
RESPONDENT: Mmm (...)
INTERVIEWER: Or how important is music to you?
RESPONDENT: Oh! Huge huge is everything! (the tone of voice becomes
energetic) Ehm, probably one of the most important things in my life. If I couldn’t
listen to music, ehm, I would be very upset, I wouldn’t know what to do. Music is a
huuuge, integral part of my life. I listen to music all the time, while I am working,
while I am at home. Pretty much most of the day I am listening to, just you know,
music. It is a huge part of my life I mean. It helps me with my mood, it helps me with
how I am feeling, it helps me with everything.
INTERVIEWER: Alright. So what type of device or media do you use to listen to
music?
RESPONDENT: Apparently?
INTERVIEWER: In general?
RESPONDENT: (laughter) Ehm, illegal downloads.
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Topic: Music Experiences and Preferences
Candidate Number: 829989
INTERVIEWER: Oh no, I didn’t mean the way you download music. I mean what
type of device you use to listen to music.
RESPONDENT: Mp3 and the computer. I work at the computer so, ehm, I listen to
most stuff on the computer, so iPod player or computer.
INTERVIEWER: Do you listen to the radio?
RESPONDENT: No.
INTERVIEWER: When you are going back to your country do you listen to any
specific radio station?
RESPONDENT: No, not anymore, no. Only when I was eighteen, to listen to the
radio for new rap songs, but now no, no, the radio does not play what I like so (...).
INTERVIEWER: Alright, so when do you listen to music?
RESPONDENT: When I work, when I am doing nothing. When I am not out I listen
to music.
INTERVIEWER: Excuse me, when you are?
[I didn’t understand the last phrase]
RESPONDENT: When I am at home I am listening to music basically. Unless I am
watching television, I am listening to music.
INTERVIEWER: And what happens when you are out of your house? Do you listen
to music?
RESPONDENT: If I go to a club.
INTERVIEWER: If you are not at a club? Do you use your iPod or your mp3?
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Topic: Music Experiences and Preferences
Candidate Number: 829989
RESPONDENT: No no no. When I go out, I go out. Basically when I am at home I
am listening to music or when I am at work I listen to music.
INTERVIEWER: Alright. Do you listen to different types of music according to the
activity that you are doing?
RESPONDENT: No, not really.
INTERVIEWER: Alright, so what type of music do you listen to primarily? I am
asking because you have mentioned too many categories. (interviewer and respondent
laugh)
RESPONDENT: I guess romantic ballads, romantic jazz ballads and folk music.
INTERVIEWER: Do you always listen to the same music?
RESPONDENT: No, no definitely not. Different songs.
INTERVIEWER: Different songs, but the same type of music?
RESPONDENT: No, even that no. No, it is very various.
INTERVIEWER: So do you listen to various types of music and various songs?
RESPONDENT: Yeah, I listen a bit of everything yeah (…) uh (…).
INTERVIEWER: Alright. So, if I recall correctly, you said that you listen to music
when you are at home and when you are going to clubs or to venues.
RESPONDENT: No no, I listen to music when I am at home or when I am at work
and when I go to clubs and venues. In between nothing. So let me elaborate. When I
am at home or work, mainly jazz, ehm, and folk music. But often I would branch out
to anything else. But, if you are looking at the percentages, ehm, then probably like
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Topic: Music Experiences and Preferences
Candidate Number: 829989
(…) 70% of the time would be jazz and folk music and 30% would be everything
else.
INTERVIEWER: By everything else, do you mean the other categories that you
mentioned before?
RESPONDENT: Yeah, all the other kinds, rap, R&B, opera etc.
INTERVIEWER: Alright. Is there any pattern that you could see between the music
that you choose to listen to and the activity that you are doing?
[I repeat the question because I think that the respondent did not understand the
question when I firstly asked him]
RESPONDENT: (pause for 5 seconds) Ehm (...) there is only one thing. When I do
computer programming, ehm, is the only time I listen to electronic music, because of
its really repetitive nature, I find it very good for computer programming. (laughter)
INTERVIEWER: What do you mean by this?
RESPONDENT: That helps me to work better, yeah.
INTERVIEWER: Ok. Any other pattern?
RESPONDENT: If I am reading a book, I like to listen to jazz at the background.
Oh! (the respondent hops) When I am cleaning I listen to rap.
INTERVIEWER: Ok. (overlap)
RESPONDENT: Simply because I can dance while cleaning. (laughter) (interviewer
and respondent laugh)
INTERVIEWER: Anything else?
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Topic: Music Experiences and Preferences
Candidate Number: 829989
RESPONDENT: Ehm, that’s all I can think of actually.
INTERVIEWER: Alright. Does the music that you listen to vary according to the
people that you are with?
RESPONDENT: Well usually I listen to music by myself, yeah, I generally don’t
impose the music that I like on the people that I am with. I let them pick what they
want to play and I just listen to it, yeah, most of the time.
INTERVIEWER: Alright, so we have talked about the music that you like. Now
let’s talk about the music that you don’t like, you have already mentioned salsa music
(respondent intervenes)
RESPONDENT: Salsa yeah. That’s really about it, you know. (laughter) I like a lot
of music, yeah, it is really bad because I like everything. Yeah, salsa.
INTERVIEWER: Anything else?
RESPONDENT: No, no. (…) Let me think (pause for 8 seconds, the respondent
thinks). No.
INTERVIEWER: Just salsa?
RESPONDENT: Yeah. I am sorry. Yeah.
INTERVIEWER: What are the reasons that you don’t like salsa?
[I had already asked the respondent about the reasons that he does not like salsa but he
didn’t give me a clear answer]
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Topic: Music Experiences and Preferences
Candidate Number: 829989
RESPONDENT: I don’t know, I think that just (…) this is a really weird thing,
maybe it is subliminal or unconscious, I just don’t like the bit (the tone of voice shows
certainty) (laughter).
INTERVIEWER: You don’t like the bit?
RESPONDENT: I just don’t like the bit at all (the tone of voice shows certainty).
Salsa I think it is just a bastardisation of everything, you know, it is just terrible, yeah.
INTERVIEWER: What do you mean by bastardisation? A mix?
RESPONDENT: Yeah, but like a non, a non-valid mix, it is not like something that
is in an amazing musical format or something like that, it is just a crappy musical
form which people dance to. And I hate (laughter), I hate, I don’t know, I just hate
salsa. (laughter) It is the bit. I will stick with the bit. I just don’t like the bit in salsa.
INTERVIEWER: Ok. Is there anything that you have associated salsa with and you
think that it might be the reason that you do not like salsa?
RESPONDENT: No no no, it is just because of the bit. I used to listen to all the times
salsa because I used to go to night clubs and you know salsa clubs, and, ehm
(laughter) one day I just, I just hated it, it makes me feel nauseous every time I hear
salsa. I hate it, yeah (laughter). And it is not just me, it is an opinion shared by many
of my friends. (laughter)
INTERVIEWER: Alright. Which are the friends that they hate salsa?
RESPONDENT: The Greek Friends.
INTERVIEWER: Alright. Another question now, do you always listen to music
actively?
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Topic: Music Experiences and Preferences
Candidate Number: 829989
RESPONDENT: No, actively mean like do it while I am doing stuff?
INTERVIEWER: Basically (respondent intervenes)
RESPONDENT: Oh! You mean like choosing to listen to music rather than just
being in the background or something like that?
INTERVIEWER: Well, I would say actively means listening to music when you
really want to.
RESPONDENT: No, not always, no. Sometimes when I am working the music will
play in the background but, I am really not listening to it. Not analysing it, I am not
paying a lot of attention to the lyrics and everything like that.
INTERVIEWER: Ok, and when do you listen to music actively?
RESPONDENT: Very active? I guess when there is a very very good song (...) uh, I
will pay more attention to it (...) or when I am very very bored, then I listen to music
very actively, uh, or sometimes to procrastinate.
INTERVIEWER: Procrastinate?
[I didn’t know the meaning of the word]
RESPONDENT: You know like waste time basically. For example when I am at
work and I really don’t wanna do the work, I tend to listen to music very very
actively, as a way of (...) of not doing my work. (laughter)
INTERVIEWER: Alright. Do you think there is any kind of music that you are
listening to without noticing?
RESPONDENT: Without noticing like without listening to it at all? Like (…)
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Topic: Music Experiences and Preferences
Candidate Number: 829989
INTERVIEWER: For example, do you think there are times that there is music but
you don’t really notice it?
RESPONDENT: No no no. I normally pay attention. Like, so, if you walk through
the shopping centre and they play music in the corner, I don’t really pay attention to
what they play. But, for example, if I walk into Starbucks and they play music I will
probably be listening to exactly what they play, tapping my hand (the respondent taps
his hand on his feet to show me what he means) and things like that.
INTERVIEWER: Alright. Do you have any secret musical preferences? For
example, a type of music that you are listening to but nobody else is aware of it?
RESPONDENT: Yeah. (laughter)
INTERVIEWER: You do? (laughter)
RESPONDENT: Yeah, a little bit? Ehm (...)
INTERVIEWER: What are your secret preferences? You can share them with me.
(laughter)
RESPONDENT: I like Take That. I like George Michael. I like Mariah Carey. I like
Whitney Houston.
INTERVIEWER: Excuse me, I didn’t understand the first one?
RESPONDENT: Take That, you know, the one that sang Back for Good.
INTERVIEWER: Excuse me?
[I didn’t understand the name of the song]
RESPONDENT: Back for Good.
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Interview Transcript
Topic: Music Experiences and Preferences
Candidate Number: 829989
INTERVIEWER: Back for Good.
RESPONDENT: If I play it for you, you would know it, it is one of those really
really cheesy songs, yeah, like boy bands is cheezy songs which (…) yeah, no
(laughter) nobody knows it (…). But I listen to it, and I enjoy it, yeah.
INTERVIEWER: Alright, and George Michael?
RESPONDENT: George Michael, yeah, and nobody knows (laughter). I am glad that
this is anonymous. (laughter) (interviewer and respondent laugh)
INTERVIEWER: And you also mentioned two other artists (respondent intervenes)
RESPONDENT: Yeah (laughter) Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey. (laughter)
INTERVIEWER: Why do you keep those musical preferences as secrets?
RESPONDENT: Because of shame I guess. Shame, that this is such girly, teenage
music that (...) that probably people would not respect me for listening to it.
INTERVIEWER: What do you mean that they would not respect you?
RESPONDENT: Like, there is no need for me to tell them, ehm, because it is not
going to help them in anything. But if I do tell them, they may think less of me for it.
Because, you know, you talk about jazz and this stuff all the time and then you go and
listen to (…) if I go to a jazz joint and start (...) saying that I want to listen to Whitney
Houston, people are going to (...) look at you oddly, they will not respect you.
INTERVIEWER: Ok. We have finished with the music questions. So, now we will
to proceed to some demographic questions.
RESPONDENT: Cool.
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Interview Transcript
Topic: Music Experiences and Preferences
Candidate Number: 829989
INTERVIEWER: So, could you please tell me your age?
RESPONDENT: Twenty five.
INTERVIEWER: And your gender please?
RESPONDENT: I am a male. (laughter)
INTERVIEWER: And your marital status please?
RESPONDENT: Single.
INTERVIEWER: And your ethnic background?
RESPONDENT: I was raised in Kenya, uh, of Indian ethnicity.
INTERVIEWER: Both of your parents are (respondent intervenes)
RESPONDENT: Indian. But I was raised in Africa, I am like a third culture child,
you take two cultures that they create a new one. So taking Kenian culture and Indian
culture, create a Kenian-Indian.
INTERVIEWER: Alright, but both of your parents are Indians?
RESPONDENT: No, well, Indians but they were raised in Kenya as well.
INTERVIEWER: Ok. Could you tell me about your educational background? Did
you say that you are a PhD student?
RESPONDENT: Yeah, a PhD student.
INTERVIEWER: What are you studying?
RESPONDENT: Swine Flu.
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Interview Transcript
Topic: Music Experiences and Preferences
Candidate Number: 829989
INTERVIEWER: Swine Flu. Is this your research topic?
RESPONDENT: Yeah.
INTERVIEWER: In which year of your studies are you now?
RESPONDENT: Fourth year (laughter). This is why I shouldn’t be here, I should be
working. (interviewer and respondent laugh)
INTERVIEWER: How are you funded?
RESPONDENT: NERC. It is N-E-R-C (the respondent spells the name).
INTERVIEWER: N-E-R-C.
RESPONDENT: Yeah, it is like a funding body.
INTERVIEWER: Alright. Now some questions about the place you are staying. Do
you stay here in Oxford?
RESPONDENT: Yeah.
INTERVIEWER: In which area?
RESPONDENT: Jericho.
INTERVIEWER: Do you know the postal code?
RESPONDENT: Basically I don’t have a clue. I think it is OX1 6ED or something
like this.
INTERVIEWER: Do you stay in an apartment or a house?
RESPONDENT: House.
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Interview Transcript
Topic: Music Experiences and Preferences
Candidate Number: 829989
INTERVIEWER: Do you share it with other people?
RESPONDENT: With two other people.
INTERVIEWER: Each one has its own room?
RESPONDENT: Yeah, each one has its own room. Thankfully. (laughter)
INTERVIEWER: Is it a rented place or an owned place?
RESPONDENT: Rented.
INTERVIEWER: And for how long have you been staying there?
RESPONDENT: Four months now.
INTERVIEWER: Where you were staying before?
RESPONDENT: Just off the road.
INTERVIEWER: So you didn’t change area?
RESPONDENT: No, same area, same people for the last three years.
INTERVIEWER: Alright. Do you have any working experience?
RESPONDENT: Not really, I have done some research assistanceship, but not solid
working experience.
INTERVIEWER: For how long?
RESPONDENT: For six months.
INTERVIEWER: Alright. What was the topic of the research?
RESPONDENT: Statistics.
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Interview Transcript
Topic: Music Experiences and Preferences
Candidate Number: 829989
INTERVIEWER: And why did you stop working?
RESPONDENT: Oh, I just started my PhD.
INTERVIEWER: Oh, ok. And now some questions about your parents. What is the
marital status of your parents?
RESPONDENT: Married.
INTERVIEWER: Do they live in Kenya?
RESPONDENT: Yeah.
INTERVIEWER: In which part of Kenya?
RESPONDENT: Nairobi.
INTERVIEWER: Alright Nairobi, the capital city. And what about your house back
home?
RESPONDENT: You mean how big?
INTERVIEWER: First of all, is it a house or an apartment?
RESPONDENT: It is a house, very near the city centre.
INTERVIEWER: Is it a big house or a small house? With how many rooms?
RESPONDENT: For UK it would be a big house. For Kenya it is a pretty normal
house, ehm, with six rooms.
INTERVIEWER: And how many people live in the house?
RESPONDENT: Four.
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Interview Transcript
Topic: Music Experiences and Preferences
Candidate Number: 829989
INTERVIEWER: And could you tell me about your parents’ occupation?
RESPONDENT: My dad is an accountant and my mom is a teacher.
INTERVIEWER: What is the subject that she is teaching?
RESPONDENT: Well, she is a headmistress and a school counsellor. So she is like a
psychologist, the counsellor, she councils all the students if they have any problems
and she is also the headmistress.
INTERVIEWER: So she is not practicing the teacher’s profession?
RESPONDENT: No, she is not actually teaching actively, she is more like an
administrator.
INTERVIEWER: Alright, and what about the educational background of your
parents?
RESPONDENT: My dad he went into a university in Nairobi, and then he became an
accountant. And my mom went to LSE, to do Anthropology, and then went back to
Kenya, and she became a headmistress.
INTERVIEWER: So, did they complete the undergraduate level of their studies?
RESPONDENT: Yeah, my mom did her undergraduate and that was it, my dad went
from O-Levels straight to university and did his accountancy undergraduate. Yeah, no
further education.
INTERVIEWER: Alright. Another question. Where you were born? In Kenya?
RESPONDENT: No, I was born in London.
INTERVIEWER: Alright. (overlap)
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Topic: Music Experiences and Preferences
Candidate Number: 829989
RESPONDENT: Yeah, and then I moved to Kenya when I was six weeks old.
INTERVIEWER: Ok. (overlap)
RESPONDENT: My mother’s family was here and the Kenyan hospitals are not so
good. Because my mom is a British citizen and my dad is a Kenyan citizen, so we
came here for my mom.
INTERVIEWER: So your mom is a British citizen, but she is originally from India?
RESPONDENT: (laughter) I will tell you it is ridiculously complicated. My mom
was born in Kenya because her dad is Kenyan.
INTERVIEWER: Alright. (overlap)
RESPONDENT: But her dad, he did a lot of things for the British Empire back then,
so he became an English citizen, so my mom became a British citizen and my mom
spent sometime in the UK. So, she has an Indian ethnicity but she spent most of her
time in Kenya, you know forty something years.
INTERVIEWER: Ok. What about you? You were born in London, you stayed there
only for six weeks and then you went back to Kenya?
RESPONDENT: Yeah, so essentially I am Kenyan completely.
INTERVIEWER: Alright. When did you move out of Kenya?
RESPONDENT: When I was eighteen, to England, to the University of Bath.
INTERVIEWER: And did you stay in England for all those years?
RESPONDENT: Yeah.
INTERVIEWER: So you went to Bath and (respondent intervenes)
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Topic: Music Experiences and Preferences
Candidate Number: 829989
RESPONDENT: Cambridge and then Oxford.
INTERVIEWER: Ok, and for how long did you stay in each place?
RESPONDENT: Bath three years for my undergraduate, Cambridge one year for my
master, Oxford now four, for my PhD.
INTERVIEWER: Alright, great. So, basically we have finished with the questions.
Is there anything you would like to add or clarify?
(The respondent nods negatively)
INTERVIEWER: No? (laughter)
RESPONDENT: I don’t listen to George Michael. (laughter)
INTERVIEWER: Alright. Would you like to receive a copy of the interview
transcript?
RESPONDENT: Not particularly, no.
INTERVIEWER: Ok. So, we have finished the interview. Thank you very much for
your cooperation and your time, you were very helpful and thank you very much for
contributing to my research, thank you.
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