If you were to ask me what kind of music I like listening to, I would probably say something like, "mellow indie music that can play quietly in the background". Definitely artists like Sufjan Stevens, Keaton Henson, Fleet Foxes, The Antlers, Blind Pilot, Daughter, etc.

However, if you were to ask me who my favorite musical artist is, I would say--without a second thought--that it is Relient K, a Christian pop punk/alternative rock band from Canton, Ohio.

This tends to surprise people, but a big part of what drew me to them was that they were loud enough to be considered edgy, but Christian enough that my parents would be okay with it.I still have a 6-year-old poster of them hanging up in my room, I pre-ordered their upcoming album and I'm even going to one of their concerts in November.

But the truth is, if I didn't know who they were and tried listening to them now, I probably wouldn't like them.

Even writing that statement makes me feel quite guilty, but a good part of my reverence for Relient K comes from the sheer amount of time I spent listening to their songs over and over again.

To put this in perspective, I first listened to their single "Be My Escape" when I was only 9 years old.

Ever since then, I have been faithfully listening to them for the past 11 years and counting.

Over those years, I went through a lot of physical, mental and spiritual changes, but listening to Relient K seemed to be the one constant throughout everything.

At this point, I would even go so far as to say that their music is a part of my identity because it's something that I've grown very attached to out of comfort and nostalgia.

For other people, it might be more tangible things like a piece of jewelry, an old picture, or a favorite book or movie.

While I do have things like that too, I feel like music is unique because it's easily accessed. It allows you to carve out your own bubble at any place and time, whether you're blasting it over the speakers or through your headphones.

For me, I feel safe and happy when I put Relient K on shuffle and can sing along with them because I've memorized 90 percent of their entire discography.

They might not be my cup of tea now, but you can bet they'll still be my favorite even when I'm on my deathbed.