Hi! It's Charluxx.
I love music!
Music has the power to transcend borders, age, colors, genders, species and societal boundaries. Ice-T once said “I feel sorry for anybody who only listens to one form of music.”
I love music in most of its forms. Some genres really touch me, some leave me cold, some chill me, some inspire me, some depresses me. Ultimately what matters is the reaction.
When we hear new music for the first time we have one of three reactions: like, dislike, or indifference.
That is a basic human reaction to everything—or to anyone—new. If we like, or dislike, we have a connection. That matters. The worst reaction is indifference because that is nothingness. Like the saying goes: Nature abhors a vacuum. Indifference is a void that cannot exist in harmony. It isn’t remembered or cherished, it has no existence of it’s own. Unlike love or hate that stay with you because they are strong emotions that we hold close to the heart. They have and add value to our lives, or take control and destroy them if unchecked.
Joe Jackson quotes Duke Ellington in the liner notes of his album Night and Day “I am an optimist,” says the great American composer “Music is mostly all right, or at least in a healthy state for the future. In spite of the fact that it may sound as though it is being held hostage.” I love that quote. You may not like what you hear, but do realize that someone is saying something. That is important in and of itself. We owe it to the person to at least listen without judging. To not be indifferent even if we do not understand. Because one day we might. Be polite even if you disagree... heck, even more so if you disagree. Dialog. That is what changes opinions.
As we age our tastes change, they evolve, they rarely stay stagnant. Sure, some people always listen to the same things, it makes them feel secure. I understand that. Just being aware of that fact can open doors though. Keep an open mind. Listen to other types of music. Go into it without prejudice and you might just come out of it with a new understanding, a new appreciation, maybe even a revelation.
Here and on my social medias, I share links to music I find inspiring, be it funk, jazz, hip-hop, classical, blues, rock, pop, folk, and everything in between, around and in the middle. Some music I don’t like or understand, but that’s okay, I’m human. I just make an effort to not be indifferent. To listen.
Here is a useful trick: do not compare what you hear with anything you’ve heard before. Don’t think or say “that sounds like...” Just take it in for what it is: something new and unique.
As for my music, I made a conscious decision to only be positive. I firmly and strongly believe that positivity engenders positivity. I have a hard time with all the negativity, but I do understand the need for it. However, I do not tolerate messages of hate, racism or sexism, that has no place in the human discourse, let’s move past that. I do bring up issues that are important and not nice but I surround them with a positive spin. Like the saying goes, a shit sandwich whereby saying something positive first, then the negative, followed by something positive. It makes the negative easier to swallow, and allows the person at the receiving end to retain basic dignity. I have used this technique as a teacher, as a co-worker, and now as a musician. It’s important for me to reach out with love and encouragement so that people can feel empowered.
I feel privileged as a musician to explore new ideas, new sounds, new techniques, that to me is the essence of creativity. I often feel like a conduit. When you open the door to creativity you will feel inspired. I wake up with songs in my head. Music and lyrics. Certain spots have a life of their own, be it at work, at home, in the bath, in the shower or walking. I listen to the music the world makes around me. A car going by, a cat meowing, the wind blowing in the leaves, a bird signing. An idea is a spark, it ignites, it burns and spreads like a wild fire in my mind. So much more to come...
Peace and Love,
Charluxx.