I've been with Radio Rivendell since at least 2011, and I looked back to see if my reasons for listening to fantasy music had changed over time. Before I started a family and changed careers, I was rather involved in role-playing games with a couple of groups. Fantasy music often was an inspiration as I created characters or I worked on a fantasy world. Since my priorities have changed rather significantly, I find that fantasy music is more often nostalgic or sets a mood to insert a little more mystery and life into every day responsibilities. I also enjoy revealing my enjoyment of fantasy music to my children so that it may spark their imaginations. What are your reasons for listening to fantasy music? Has it changed over time?

Oh wow well, yes, fantasy music for me, tends to kindle this certain spark of nostalgia, something that I long for, so whenever I find myself falling down into this particular rabbit hole of a genre- it is mostly fueled by a longing for the past or- I don´t quite know how to describe it- it is comfortable, you know? nostalgia! that is. I miss this site for what it was, and still enjoy coming back and listening to this particular type of fantasy music it hosts, for the hour of calm and happiness it brings me. I will always love this site for truly introducing me to fantasy music after first watching LOTR as a young lass! It is calming, inspiring and truly amazing! if it is just to inspire and fuel my art or writing..well, it has multiple purposes, it brings me true, TRUE, joy!

That's an awesome description, Thilion! I have a feeling there are many who would join you in that sentiment. I should also add that, to me, fantasy adds a sort of "depth" to reality, much like dreams add depth. It encourages me to look inward and sometimes can help me see things outward a little differently. It shows there are many possibilities that may be unseen.

Oh yeah totally! it has such a different feel from other music genres, and to me is something extra special, it adds so much. Best enjoyed when listening to the rain pouring down outside in autumn, or while enjoying the snowy weather in winter, and is also a great ´companion´ in those contemplative moments that appears once in a while in ones life.

I tune in to playlists on Spotify (ahem, I know, I should only listen to Rivendell, but I need to manually pick songs too 😜) for that wonderful dreamy fantasy feeling. And as you both mention, nostaliga is a big part, but just some lush chords or melodies transport me to a foreign land where daily troubles in the human life is forgotten, perhaps only for a few seconds. But that's enough for that fuzzy warm feeling to come back, being it childhood memories or just plain real life escape 😄

You know when you are thinking 7 different things and at some point there is noise in the head and an itch right between your eyes you need to scratch by humming in a certain frequency? Fantasy music tones that down. More or less, relaxation ...

Posted by IoannaYou know when you are thinking 7 different things and at some point there is noise in the head and an itch right between your eyes you need to scratch by humming in a certain frequency? Fantasy music tones that down.More or less, relaxation ...

Makes sense! Each day may bring a new reason, but I always keep coming back.

I tune in to fantasy music more or less every day just for that reason! Space out, clean the head and rejuvenate 😄