Company Blog

Three And A Half Minutes

by Adam Zack — September 9, 2026

“On the music that has been playing in the background of my whole life.”

Music has always been a huge part of my life. I love so many different styles, bands, and genres that I’m not sure I could ever pick a favorite. What I listen to has changed over the years, but one thing hasn’t — there has always been a soundtrack playing somewhere in the background of my life.

It’s funny how music can fill in the gaps in your memory. I can hear the first few notes of a song and suddenly I’m not standing where I am today. I’m 18 again. Or 25. Or driving a certain car, hanging out with certain friends, falling in love, getting my heart broken, becoming a dad, or just living a life that seemed a whole lot simpler at the time.

The ’80s probably hold more of those musical memories than any other decade. The Cars, The Cure, Depeche Mode, Morrissey and The Smiths can instantly take me back. It was a great time in my life and, looking back now, it sure seems like a simpler time.

Then there was Def Leppard, The Rolling Stones, Tom Petty, The English Beat and so many others. Each one brings back different places, different people and different versions of me.

And then I became a father.

Suddenly the soundtrack wasn’t just mine anymore.

Music became connected to my kids, the years they were growing up, the music playing in the car, around the house and during all those ordinary moments that I didn’t realize at the time would someday become some of my favorite memories. Counting Crows, Nickelback, Foo Fighters, Goo Goo Dolls and especially Collective Soul all became part of that chapter.

That’s what I love about music. Songs somehow attach themselves to people.

There are songs that remind me of friendships. Songs that remind me of relationships. Songs that take me back to places I haven’t been in decades. There are songs connected to happiness and others that can still bring a lump to my throat. Sometimes I don’t even realize how strongly a song is tied to a memory until I hear it again.

My musical taste has never stayed in one lane either. Punk, new wave, alternative, classic rock, country — I don’t really care what label somebody puts on it. If I like it, I like it.

One of my favorite music memories goes all the way back to my first day of college.

I walked into my dorm room as the RA introduced me to my new roommate. The guy barely introduced himself before laying down the rules. He went to bed early. He woke up early. And most importantly, he did not like loud music.

That became the shortest roommate relationship I ever had.

I’m probably half deaf today because of how ridiculously loud I listened to music back then, but I’ve always believed music isn’t supposed to quietly sit in the corner.

Music should penetrate the soul.

And mine certainly has.

Every stage of my life has had its own playlist. Some songs remind me of who I was. Others remind me of the people who helped make me who I am. And some remind me just how quickly all these years have gone by.

The great thing is, my soundtrack isn’t finished.

I’ll keep finding new music. I’ll keep going back to the old stuff. I’ll probably keep playing it louder than I should. And somewhere along the way, songs I’m listening to today will become the memories I look back on tomorrow.

I’m incredibly thankful for music and what it has brought into my life — the memories, the people, the emotions and the ability to travel through decades of my life in about three and a half minutes.

So turn it up.

Until next week, cheers. Scott