Music plays a big role in our lives. It shapes our emotions, memories, and even our identities. Music has the power to instantly change our moods; a sad song can help us process a heartbreak, an upbeat song can lift our spirits, it can even be a form of therapy to help relieve stress and anxiety.
Certain songs can transport us back to a moment in our lives “I don’t know if time travel exists, but music may be the closest thing we have to that” says Ryan Valdron, former radio host for Classic Rock 98.1 in London, Ontario.
Ryan Valdron sorting through some vinyl records at the radio station (Credit: Ryan Valdron)
“Music is a time transport device. You can hear a song, and you go back to that place in time. I think it must have been like, 1999. I remember our washing machine broke at home.” says Valdron, recounting one of his own memories of music transporting him through time.
“We had to go to the laundry mat. I went with my mom. We were doing our laundry, and there was an old TV in the corner playing ‘Much Music.’ I remember the song by New Radicals, Get What You Give, came on, it was awesome. Hearing that song for the first time, and it has become my all-time favourite song.”
Most of us have a memory of a song that can trigger the same kind of effect. Whether you heard a song for the first time on the radio, or a family member showed you a new album, or maybe you were watching a new movie and there was a song in the soundtrack that caught your ear, music can become a part of us in those moments.
I sat down with Valdron in one of our XFM studios at Fanshawe College and he told me about his musical journey.
“Music has always been a huge part of my life. My parents grew up through the 70’s and 80’s, so they were big into the punk rock scene in the 80’s.” says Valdron.
“When I was born in 1987, I was born into a collection of vinyl records and cassette tapes. I remember holding Green Day’s album Dookie for the first time. I would have been 6 or 7 at the time. If you look at the album cover, it’s animated and cartoonish, that drew me in. I wanted to know more about this band, so I started listening to Green Day and that was my introduction to rock.”
Valdron was also influenced by one of the most popular comedy movies of the 1990’s, “Wayne’s World came out in 1992, the first time I heard Bohemian Rhapsody in my life was because of that
Album cover for the Green Day record ‘Dookie’
movie. I was maybe 5 or 6 when that movie came out” says Valdron.
“When my parents would put me and my brother to bed, they would stay up late to watch the grown-up’s movie. I would always wake up to watch their movies with them. I remember Sweet’s – Ballroom Blitz from Wayne’s World, and Bohemian Rhapsody, the incredible soundtrack to that movie, it just encapsulated me and pulled me in.”
Now, Valdron has worked many years in the radio industry, most notably for the radio station Classic Rock 98.1 here in London, Ontario. From 2014-2022, he was part of ‘Classic Rock Morning with Blair & RV.’
Valdron has two young boys at home and gets to enjoy fatherhood and passing down some of his favourite music like his parents did when he was little. “I have two boys, I have a 9-year-old named Desmond, and a 5-year-old named Bowie, who may or may not be named after the rock star” Valdron laughed.
But it turns out the young generation might be learning about music in a new way “They’re big into Fortnite. Fornite has really learned how to adapt music culture into the game.”
Fortnite is a very popular video game that most of the younger generation play. The game gives you the option to either unlock or buy a new ‘skin,’ which basically allows you to play as different pop culture characters. Recent skins in the game have been Peter Griffin from Family Guy, Spiderman, Thanos, John Wick, various Star Wars characters, and musicians as well.
“They’re learning about Eminem, Juice Wrld, Nicki Minaj, all of these musicians through Fortnite, which is crazy.”
“They’re not really into Dad’s music. Usually when I play a song that I like, usually a rock song, they’ll be like ‘Dad, can you ask Siri to play Eminem’ and I’ll be like alright, you win.”
Music is more than just sound, it’s a powerful force that connects us to our past, shapes our emotions, and even influences the next generation. Whether it’s a song that instantly transports us to a childhood memory, a soundtrack that sparks our love for a new artist, or even a video game introducing younger audiences to classic hits, music continues to play a defining role in our lives. Music remains a timeless part of who we are.
If you want to hear the full conversation, you can watch the video at the top of this article, click the audio link below, or listen wherever you get your podcasts.
‘Almost 107 Episode – The soundtrack of our lives’
