The words in a book, the colors, shapes and textures on a painting or a photograph, the time of day, the color of the sky, the weather, the seasons, the way light shines down on or reflects off of or even through certain types of objects; the way it casts shadows on other objects. These are the things that can inspire moods, paintings, photographs, video, poetry, fashion and, yes, even music. These are the types of elements that have inspired the music of Symmetry over the last 30 years.
The "raw material", for lack of a better description, is the music of other artists,...some from the present, but mostly from the past and from different regions of the world. There's a whole litany of artists in almost every genre whose music has been recorded and mashed together in our subconscious minds so that, when we create our own music, what comes out is the sum total of everything we've heard.
In a sense, we are what we eat.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRY4W_YrTh0
ReplyDeleteA well known artist/musician talks about the relation between art and music.
What I would like to know is what inspires YOUR music, besides music?
ReplyDeleteSomos seres trascendentes. El espiritu humano tiene la capacidad para trascender los cosmos. El Amor tiene la capacidad para trascender el tiempo, la distancia la materia, la vida y la muerte.
ReplyDeleteMany people treat music like a commodity. They use it to adorn their space, their vehicles, and even their persons. It has to have a function or a purpose. Otherwise, it's useless. Especially if it doesn't have lyrics that tell them what to think.
ReplyDeleteI've been told things like, "instrumental music has no meaning", "it's garbage", "if I can copy it or download it for free, why should I have to pay for it?"
Naturally, as a creative individual, I find that to be very insulting.
The fact is that music is a deep, emotional, psychological, spiritual, and supernatural force. With or without lyrics, but more so, without.
It can sooth, heal, inspire, teach, alter emotions, and expand consciousness. Even without the need for foreign substances.
It instantly enters the human mind and becomes part of an individual's subconscious.
In the process, it brings out feelings, memories, dreams, and fantasies that are unique to every listener.
Since music is a supernatural force, it can either be used or misused, for good or for evil.
Some artists are fully aware of this and deliberately capitalize on that power. Others simply get high on the energy they get from their audience while not fully understanding the impact of what they're doing.
The impact of good and evil on the human psyche and overall well-being have to be put in the proper perspective.
When a living organism, be it human, animal, or plant, is surrounded with fear, hate, pain, despair, starvation, darkness, and isolation, it eventually gets sick and dies.
However, when it is surrounded by love, hope, peace, happiness, light, nourishment, and companionship, it flourishes and grows to the point that it extends that love, peace, and happiness to other organisms and becomes more than itself.
It should also be acknowledged that love and hate don't have a tangible form that can be seen, heard, touched, smelled or tasted. Yet, we KNOW when we feel it inside of us. Hence, the supernatural aspect.
We are birthed in love. Everything else is learned behavior.
My point is this, just as Spiderman taught us that "with great power comes great responsibility," artists have a moral responsibility to do what is right for the sake of ALL humanity.
All too often, people seem to forget that the world doesn’t revolve around THEM.
ReplyDeleteThey complicate life for themselves and others without taking into account the fact that life is ALREADY complicated by itself without their intervention.
The harsh reality is this: LIFE GOES ON NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS.
Tomorrow may not be guaranteed, but technically, IT’S JUST ANOTHER DAY.
The sun will still rise, the birds will still sing, and the trees will still grow as if nothing had ever happened.
For thousands of years, that’s the way it’s ALWAYS been, and that’s the way it always WILL be.
Even if we had a nuclear holocaust, nature would eventually reassert itself and thrive once again as if the human species had never existed.
The problems that we stressed about during our lives would be completely irrelevant.
The best thing we can do is understand that we are only a cog in the wheel of a larger scheme. By contributing in a way that is positive and constructive, we can better establish a sense of harmony without destroying ourselves in the long run.
Sometimes people lose their jobs, their property, their health, or even their loved ones. Does that mean that your own life should end?
Of course, not.
You still have to eat, sleep, get up, and make things happen. Not just for yourself, but for those who remain. The people you care about most can’t be replaced. For all that matter, neither can YOU.
In the end, you are here for them more than for yourself.
You MATTER to them more than what's happening in the world.
Your love for each other is more important than the world.
So, LIVE YOUR LIFE no matter what. Live it while you can in the best way possible. Nobody else can do that for you.
The world is not going to stand still for you.
No time for excuses. Life is too short.