I have always played MMO's without RL friends to play with. I find it very easy to get along with people in game and enjoy playing with them when I can. At the same time, I am also a very private person. I enjoy playing alone and doing my own thing a majority of the time. I also have a very sporadic schedule, so my play time alters bi-monthly.
I find when I am playing alone, I listen to music and I don't even notice most times.