I really liked this tweet I saw recently by Chris Paik from Pace Capital

"Music is a compression algorithm. Singsong and the brain's hardwired ability to easily recall melody and lyrics has allowed large amounts of data to be seamlessly transferred between people and generations."

This reframes music as more than art—it’s a powerful way to transfer culture, memory, and identity. For me, music has always been a bridge connecting different parts of my life and background, helping me connect with both my heritage and identity.

I've never felt rooted in a single racial, ethnic, or nationalistic community. My parents both immigrated to the U.S.—my mom from the Dominican Republic and my dad from the Czech Republic—while my sister and I were born in New York and raised in Los Angeles, with family still spread across both places. Although I don’t quite fit into any particular category, I suppose the closest identity I feel is simply "American"—though ironically, not in a fully conventional sense (which, itself, is often part of the American experience). Rather than feeling limited by this, I’ve felt extremely enriched by my multicultural background. Growing up in a mixed-race, multicultural household full of diverse languages, histories, and religions has been a gift, giving me the unique ability to connect with people from all walks of life. Growing up in a family full of contrasts, I learned to look beyond surface differences and tap into universal aspects of the human experience to build understanding and connection, a skill I am grateful to carry with me wherever I go.

Paik’s tweet made me think about my relationship with music as a bridge to my heritage and identity. I naturally gravitate toward music that resonates with different facets of my background. I grew up playing classical piano, which connected me to Czech composers like Dvořák and Smetana. At home, we listened to reggaeton and bachata, from Celia Cruz to Aventura and more. As a kid, my dad loved Jay-Z and Alicia Keys, and I probably listened to "Empire State of Mind" and "Young Forever" every morning on the way to school. In my teenage years, LA youth culture was heavily influenced by internet rappers such as Drake, Kanye, Kid Cudi, A$AP Rocky, Travis Scott, Migos, Young Thug, and so many more. By late high school and early college, I’d developed a love for house music, Afro house, Afrobeats, and contemporary genres with Caribbean, French, and Middle Eastern influences.

Reflecting on Paik’s insight, I realize that music serves as a universal language that preserves, compresses, and transfers personal and cultural identities, allowing us to connect with others and understand ourselves. Music, then, becomes a map of my heritage, helping me feel and understand the different influences that shape who I am.

In today’s hyper-connected world, music’s role as a “compression algorithm” has only strengthened. Streaming platforms and social media have created a global musical ecosystem where borders blur, allowing music to transfer large amounts of cultural data seamlessly across people and places. Beyond entertainment, music fosters cross-cultural understanding; engaging with music from unfamiliar places offers glimpses into new worldviews, histories, and emotional experiences. As technology evolves, it’s exciting to imagine how music will continue compressing human stories and feelings and transferring them to those who come after us.