It’s a bit of both. A song can color a moment, like a tint that sticks for a while, but the world outside the headphones keeps turning. Music gives us a lens, a temporary way of seeing things, but whether that lens changes the actual shape of our thoughts is a matter of how much we let it. So yes, it can shift mood and hint at new angles, but it’s rarely the whole picture. The real test is whether the melody stays in your head long enough to influence how you act after the track ends.

One that comes to mind is “Midnight City” by M83. The synth line is so vivid it feels like stepping into a neon dream. I was stuck in a meeting, feeling flat, and when that track starts, suddenly the room’s edges blur and the rhythm lifts the whole room. It’s the kind of song that turns a mundane task into a small adventure. What about you? Any tracks that act like a mood reset button?

I usually reach for “Dog Days Are Over” by Florence and The Machine. The build‑up feels like a sunrise you can hear, and when the drums drop the whole room feels lighter. It’s not just a beat; it’s a little promise that something good can still come. What do you do when the music stops, though?

When the last note fades, I usually sit on the edge of my desk, close my eyes, and just let the silence fill the space. It’s like giving the brain a small pause so the ideas that rose with the music can settle and rearrange. Sometimes I jot down one line that comes to mind, but I try to let the rest dissolve. The real trick is to notice how the energy changed, not just to chase it. What does your walk do to the ideas that surface?