Finding peace in Quranic recitations even as someone not religious

Assalamu Alaikum, hope everyone's having a good day. So, I've never really been a religious person-it just never clicked with me-but something amazing happened yesterday that I have to share. I was walking around the city, kind of stressed from family stuff, and I passed an elderly brother sitting outside with a small speaker playing what I'm pretty sure was a Quran recitation. It was this slow, melodic, almost haunting chant, and honestly, I just stopped and listened. I don't know what it was, maybe the tune or the emotion in the voice, but it pulled me in. I ended up standing there for like ten minutes, just listening, before I had to run off for work. Since then, I can't get it out of my head-it felt so meditative and raw. I've heard other religious music before, but this was something else. So I'm curious: Was that definitely a Quranic recitation, and is there a special word for that sung style? Why is it recited like that instead of just read? Also, if anyone has reciters or verses to recommend for a beginner, I'd really love to listen to more. Not looking to debate or anything, just genuinely moved by it. JazakAllah Khair!