Pregame Playlist: Moses Wagner

Before every game, match, or meet every athlete has a go-to playlist that they listen to before to get themselves ready for action. In Pregame Playlist we hear what student-athletes' playlists mean to them! Today, lets talk to Moses Wagner of Men's volleyball, who shares how music has shaped his life and how his eclectic music taste helps him prepare for games ahead of the MPSF Tournament.

GoStanford.com: What’s your favorite song on this playlist and why?

Moses Wagner: My favorite song on this playlist is “Over the Hills and Far Away”. I love all Led Zeppelin songs, but this one really hits because of the intro and the transition into the rock-heavy section. I also know how to play it on guitar, so when I listen to it, I always throw some air guitar in there to really get into it. 

GS: Who are your favorite artists these days?

MW: My favorite artists vary constantly as I listen to new music all the time, but currently, some of my favorite artists are The Backseat Lovers, Houndmouth, and Led Zeppelin. Each band has its own unique sound and vibe, and they all resonate with me in different ways. I've seen both The Backseat Lovers and Houndmouth in concert, and their atmosphere is unreal. With Led Zeppelin, one of the greatest bands of all time, their sound is amazing, and Jimmy Page’s guitar gets me fired up. I can never get enough of their music.

GS: What about this playlist gets you ready for competition?

MW: My playlist is very all over the place with songs from many different genres. When I want to de-stress and lock-in before a game, there are songs in there for me to do that. If I am on aux in the locker room, I have songs I can throw on that will get the whole team fired up. Whatever it is that I need before a game, I can pick and choose the songs from the playlist to fit the vibe needed.

GS: How would you describe your music taste in general?

MW: I would describe my music taste as eclectic. I listen to many different genres, ranging from Classic Rock to EDM to Indie. All music is great music, and I love exploring and finding new songs and genres that I can listen to. 

GS: Does this playlist different from what you listen to normally? If so, how come?

MW: I listen to all of these songs on a day-to-day basis, so the playlist isn’t a big departure from my usual taste. The only real difference is that I might include slower, more chill songs throughout the day that don’t really fit the vibe of a pregame playlist. 

GS: Any unique stories behind what these songs meant to you or your team?

MW: All of these songs mean a lot to me because each one has a story of where they come from and why they made it onto my pregame playlist. One example is “Tennis Court - Flume Remix”; When we were playing in Hawaii this year, I played this song in the car before we went into the gym, and it got us all fired up to eventually beat UH that night which was a huge win for us. Now, whenever I listen to that song, I think of that game and how it got us all ready to compete at our highest level or games.

GS: How does your music taste compare to the rest of your team’s?

MW: I would say that my taste is similar to most of my teammates. Of course, there are a few artists that I listen to that don’t overlap with everyone else’s taste, but generally, we’re all into the same kind of music. Especially when it comes to the songs that get us hyped for games.

GS: Describe your relationship with music, and how/if that relates to your sport.

MW: Music is a major part of my life. Growing up in a musical family, with my dad playing almost every instrument imaginable and teaching me how to play piano and guitar at a young age, I was always around music. I would fall asleep listening to my dad play the piano and wake up with my dad playing the electric guitar at max volume. This early exposure to music led me to fall in love with every kind of music and allowed it to become central in my life. It is something that can both energize me and also help me relax at the same time. In volleyball, there is always music playing at warmup or in between points, and those small snippets of songs can really drive me to be my best. 

Check out Moses's full playlist below.