ARTICLES BY:
MARINA VERDI
(Canada)
September 14, 2021 - RIDERS ON THE STORM: MUSIC AND SPIRITUALITY
CULTURE PIECE: "RIDERS ON THE STORM: MUSIC AND SPIRITUALITY"
(written by Marina Verdi)
September 14, 2021
Man’s quest to understand the source of everything – including himself – is as ancient as our existence on this planet. Equally as primal is our innate need for rhythm, which begins to comfort us as early as our time in the womb, in the form of our mother’s heartbeat. Our brains crave rhythm, desire it, and seek it out, because they are built to find order in chaos - because they are constructed to search for meaning. It is no surprise, therefore, that early humans soon discovered that they can use drumming and rattling (as well as dancing and singing) as the highlight of their spiritual gatherings and rites of passage, riding the beats and melodies into a form of altered consciousness. These ecstatic celebrations ultimately brought the tribe together, as well as closer to the earth, and to their gods. Later on, music was adopted into more modern religious practices, continuing to be intertwined with prayers, rituals, and a sense of community. In modern times, we carry the same desire toward music, many of us finding solace, catharsis, and understanding in the more complex rhythms, melodies, and lyrics offered to us by our modern musical saviours. Spirituality has been inexorably linked with music since time immemorial, melded by some unseen force from which they both spring, moving those who are able to understand their language into new realms of consciousness and enlightenment.
Throughout history, there have been those who were able to utilize the mathematical rhythmicity inherent in music to explore spirituality and mysticism, to express their desire for the divine, and to take their listeners on mind-bending, life-changing journeys. As new technologies enabled the recording of musical performances, these experiences have become available to anyone, anywhere, and have brought together listeners from all over the world, regardless of age, culture or religion. Music has become a connector on a global scale, with the tribe being all of us.
Although there have been countless spiritual musicians throughout the ages that moved their listeners, few have been as openly mystical as Jim Morrison, the self-proclaimed Shaman. A voracious reader since an early age, Morrison always seemed to be seeking something, and his search led him to exploring various philosophies (e.g., Nietzsche), poetry, and other writings about spirituality and morality. He would later use his lyrical prowess to enhance the bluesy, dark psychedelic rock sound of The Doors, which became the soundtrack of many people’s spiritual experiences in the 1960s and beyond. His unique perspective on modern life, and his spiritual search – even his brazen exploration of the concept of death – all fed his poetry and lyrics, culminating in a timeless body of work that gets the listener thinking – and feeling – today, just as in earlier decades. His demeanor was without façade, something developed through continual contact with the divine, signalling that he was truly what he claimed to be: an explorer of a vast reality, much bigger than himself. The beauty of Jim’s particular meld of music with his spirituality was the absence of dogma – he simply shared with us his own journey, and his own attempts to understand the meaning of life.
In addition to the many individuals who infused their music with their spiritual quests (also check out Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen, The Cure, even Marilyn Manson, and many others), we now have access to countless genres – even outside of rock – that are meant to induce a state of relaxation, meditation and altered consciousness. One of my own favourites, Psytrance (Psychedelic Trance), is exactly what it sounds like – psychedelic, and trance-inducing. Ancient musicians could not even imagine the kinds of musical creations that we have been able to compose with our modern technology, and these have taken us on even deeper journeys within. After all, it’s the simplicity of this rhythm-focused, wordless music, that takes our brains back to those primal times when, united, the tribes would dance their ecstatic dances under star-filled skies, to the sounds of rattles and drums. Over the years, trance has become a connecting force, creating a significant culture around trance festivals, which focus on leaving politics and earthly concerns at the door, and promoting unity, peace, art, harmony and spirituality. There are, of course, countless other spiritually-inclined genres, from native American flute and drum music, to ambient electronic music, to compositions made entirely of singing bowls and bells – the selection is as varied as the human race itself.
Ultimately, however, all music – even that which is not explicitly meant to be spiritual – helps us to reach deeper into ourselves, and through our improved self-knowledge to become closer with the source from which we – and the music – spring.
Throughout history, there have been those who were able to utilize the mathematical rhythmicity inherent in music to explore spirituality and mysticism, to express their desire for the divine, and to take their listeners on mind-bending, life-changing journeys. As new technologies enabled the recording of musical performances, these experiences have become available to anyone, anywhere, and have brought together listeners from all over the world, regardless of age, culture or religion. Music has become a connector on a global scale, with the tribe being all of us.
Although there have been countless spiritual musicians throughout the ages that moved their listeners, few have been as openly mystical as Jim Morrison, the self-proclaimed Shaman. A voracious reader since an early age, Morrison always seemed to be seeking something, and his search led him to exploring various philosophies (e.g., Nietzsche), poetry, and other writings about spirituality and morality. He would later use his lyrical prowess to enhance the bluesy, dark psychedelic rock sound of The Doors, which became the soundtrack of many people’s spiritual experiences in the 1960s and beyond. His unique perspective on modern life, and his spiritual search – even his brazen exploration of the concept of death – all fed his poetry and lyrics, culminating in a timeless body of work that gets the listener thinking – and feeling – today, just as in earlier decades. His demeanor was without façade, something developed through continual contact with the divine, signalling that he was truly what he claimed to be: an explorer of a vast reality, much bigger than himself. The beauty of Jim’s particular meld of music with his spirituality was the absence of dogma – he simply shared with us his own journey, and his own attempts to understand the meaning of life.
In addition to the many individuals who infused their music with their spiritual quests (also check out Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen, The Cure, even Marilyn Manson, and many others), we now have access to countless genres – even outside of rock – that are meant to induce a state of relaxation, meditation and altered consciousness. One of my own favourites, Psytrance (Psychedelic Trance), is exactly what it sounds like – psychedelic, and trance-inducing. Ancient musicians could not even imagine the kinds of musical creations that we have been able to compose with our modern technology, and these have taken us on even deeper journeys within. After all, it’s the simplicity of this rhythm-focused, wordless music, that takes our brains back to those primal times when, united, the tribes would dance their ecstatic dances under star-filled skies, to the sounds of rattles and drums. Over the years, trance has become a connecting force, creating a significant culture around trance festivals, which focus on leaving politics and earthly concerns at the door, and promoting unity, peace, art, harmony and spirituality. There are, of course, countless other spiritually-inclined genres, from native American flute and drum music, to ambient electronic music, to compositions made entirely of singing bowls and bells – the selection is as varied as the human race itself.
Ultimately, however, all music – even that which is not explicitly meant to be spiritual – helps us to reach deeper into ourselves, and through our improved self-knowledge to become closer with the source from which we – and the music – spring.
August 1, 2020 - SINGLE REVIEW: “ONLY YOU” BY SOMBRE MOON
SINGLE REVIEW: “ONLY YOU” BY SOMBRE MOON
(written by Marina Verdi)
August 1, 2020
By now everyone knows that I gravitate toward hard and dark music (preferably both, when possible!), but even I had to stop in my tracks and listen to Sombre Moon’s upcoming single, “Only You”. Sweet and bright, it pulls you in with its easy summery beat, as Amanda’s floaty, dreamy vocals follow Steve’s synth melody in a pleasantly-hypnotic rhythm. It’s a song that was clearly crafted to evoke positive emotions in the listener, gifting us a safe, pleasant vacation from life’s tumultuous flow. Underneath its surface current, however, I can sense that there is a lot more to these two perfectly-matched music creators, than just this breezy, airy vibe. We can sometimes perceive a vast emotional experience from the way a musician leaves spaces in a song, allowing it to breathe, and I found myself enjoying Amanda’s choices with her vocal space, wondering about the feeling behind them.
I wasn’t surprised, therefore, when I soon discovered that not all Sombre Moon music sounds like “Only You”- in fact, quite the opposite, as their previously-released songs like Prayer, Blurred Reality, and HereAfter definitely have a darker and dancier vibe, which I thoroughly enjoyed immersing myself in. To get a taste of this, check out their recent release, “Linger”, and its excellent remixes (my personal favourite is by Eric C. Powell). Still, the unique beauty of the new single is revealed within its sweetly-delivered lyrics, which hide a darker story of yearning between two lovers, who know that now is not the right time for them to be together (as Amanda explained it to me). Peppered with the sweet “Only You” chorus, Lines like “My head’s in the stars / Wish I knew where we are” and “You hold my hand / Then you just walk away” reveal the pain and complexity of this intense dynamic, which was not what I was expecting from a song that ends with children’s laughter. Then again, the beauty of true art is in its ability to meld and juxtapose opposite concepts almost alchemically, to create an entirely new idea.
“Only You” is coming out on July 31st, and I encourage everyone to watch for it - and for these two, as their musical journey continues to grow and evolve.
Check out the track on bandcamp, here: sombremoon.bandcamp.com/
I wasn’t surprised, therefore, when I soon discovered that not all Sombre Moon music sounds like “Only You”- in fact, quite the opposite, as their previously-released songs like Prayer, Blurred Reality, and HereAfter definitely have a darker and dancier vibe, which I thoroughly enjoyed immersing myself in. To get a taste of this, check out their recent release, “Linger”, and its excellent remixes (my personal favourite is by Eric C. Powell). Still, the unique beauty of the new single is revealed within its sweetly-delivered lyrics, which hide a darker story of yearning between two lovers, who know that now is not the right time for them to be together (as Amanda explained it to me). Peppered with the sweet “Only You” chorus, Lines like “My head’s in the stars / Wish I knew where we are” and “You hold my hand / Then you just walk away” reveal the pain and complexity of this intense dynamic, which was not what I was expecting from a song that ends with children’s laughter. Then again, the beauty of true art is in its ability to meld and juxtapose opposite concepts almost alchemically, to create an entirely new idea.
“Only You” is coming out on July 31st, and I encourage everyone to watch for it - and for these two, as their musical journey continues to grow and evolve.
Check out the track on bandcamp, here: sombremoon.bandcamp.com/
JULY 3, 2020 - ALBUM REVIEW: “THE DEMOS” BY EAT THE DAY
ALBUM REVIEW: “THE DEMOS” BY EAT THE DAY
(written by Marina Verdi)
July 3, 2020
The recently-released “Eat The Day” is a collaboration between Wes Borland, best known for his guitar contribution to Limp Bizkit (as well as front & guitar for Black Light Burns), his brother, Scott Borland, and Greg Isabelle (the drummer of Big Dumb Face). The project was created by the super-talented musicians 18 years ago, and shelved as they looked for a singer. Thankfully, they finally realized that a singer was not really necessary, and decided to release these beautifully-crafted songs as they are.
This album is definitely worth a listen , as it finds just the right rhythm of intensity and gentleness much-appreciated by those of us who gravitate towards harder music, but still have an ear for musicianship and playing ability.
My two favourite songs on the album are the opener, dAdA, which I find myself going back to again and again, and Taste My Gun, but I really do love them all!
Check it out if you like bands like Tool, Nine Inch Nails, Deftones, etc.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist...
This album is definitely worth a listen , as it finds just the right rhythm of intensity and gentleness much-appreciated by those of us who gravitate towards harder music, but still have an ear for musicianship and playing ability.
My two favourite songs on the album are the opener, dAdA, which I find myself going back to again and again, and Taste My Gun, but I really do love them all!
Check it out if you like bands like Tool, Nine Inch Nails, Deftones, etc.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist...
JULY 12, 2020 - SINGLE REVIEW: "BEFORE YOU" BY SYNTHAX XTRUCTURE
SINGLE REVIEW: “BEFORE YOU” BY SYNTHAX XTRUCTURE
(written by Marina Verdi)
July 12, 2020
When I come across new music or a new artist, I usually like to let it grow on me. I try to incorporate its feel into my constant rotation through dozens of songs and genres - whatever strikes my fancy - for two or three days. When a song “sticks”, I would remember to go back to it throughout the day, getting to know it more intimately with each pass. But some songs are too forgettable, and I lose them altogether until days later. Not so with “Before You”, the recent single by the Mexican duo Lui Zk & Alex Black, A.K.A, Synthax Xtructure. Instead of this song dissolving into the musical saturation of my day, I actually found it again and again, choosing to travel its path of sincere emotion - without forgetting.
So what is it about “Before You” that made it stick? Even from the very first moment, the synth melody that starts it off catches my interest with its promise of exactly the kind of journey the song delivers. Once the beat kicks in, I find the groove eliciting a pleasant emotional state of calm and simultaneous energy - not always an easy feat to execute as a composer, so my interest is piqued, and my ears perk up. When the vocals make their entrance, I am pleasantly surprised by Alex’s deep, genuine tone, and I let myself be taken on a well-structured emotional journey whose bright melodies always get me smiling at least once. Yet another not-so-easy feat.
Upon digging deeper, I discover that the words, written by Lui, add a tinge of pain and mystery to the whole atmosphere, and feel romantically-poetic, as if from another era or place. It seems that others have also become enamoured with this upbeat song, as Nature of Wires has created a “Before You” remix, which can be found on bandcamp alongside the original. The more I listen, the more I begin to wonder: “who are these guys? What kind of space do they write in? What is their dynamic like?” Their music has succeeded at what music is supposed to do: it created an emotional connection with me - the listener - based on genuine feeling, and I want to know more. But for now, I will simply hit the replay button!
You can check out the full release on Bandcamp at synthaxxtructure.bandcamp.com.
So what is it about “Before You” that made it stick? Even from the very first moment, the synth melody that starts it off catches my interest with its promise of exactly the kind of journey the song delivers. Once the beat kicks in, I find the groove eliciting a pleasant emotional state of calm and simultaneous energy - not always an easy feat to execute as a composer, so my interest is piqued, and my ears perk up. When the vocals make their entrance, I am pleasantly surprised by Alex’s deep, genuine tone, and I let myself be taken on a well-structured emotional journey whose bright melodies always get me smiling at least once. Yet another not-so-easy feat.
Upon digging deeper, I discover that the words, written by Lui, add a tinge of pain and mystery to the whole atmosphere, and feel romantically-poetic, as if from another era or place. It seems that others have also become enamoured with this upbeat song, as Nature of Wires has created a “Before You” remix, which can be found on bandcamp alongside the original. The more I listen, the more I begin to wonder: “who are these guys? What kind of space do they write in? What is their dynamic like?” Their music has succeeded at what music is supposed to do: it created an emotional connection with me - the listener - based on genuine feeling, and I want to know more. But for now, I will simply hit the replay button!
You can check out the full release on Bandcamp at synthaxxtructure.bandcamp.com.