Goodbye's aren't forever

 Photo Credit: Mikala Gallo

The majority of people reading this blog most likely already know it was an assignment for school. This is my final assigned post. In the beginning of the assignment, I was told to pick any topic a wanted for my blog. Initially, my thought was to inform all my viewers and followers about one specific artist who inspired me, but then my thoughts kind of evolved. I had the idea of creating a blog that would kind of reach out to more people; hopefully help certain people. I wanted to create a blog about music, the way it changes people, the way it cures people, and the way it can move people from within. This is a place for anyone and everyone.

This blog has taught me many interesting things that I had no idea existed. From research, I’ve discovered new artists that I am completely fascinated by. Without making this blog, I would have never known that music is such an important piece in so many people’s lives. I’ve found out so many interesting facts about artists I’ve never known before. I had no idea music therapy was used in so many places, and I most definitely had no idea that the people close to me used music as a remedy.

There were many challenges when creating this blog. It was incredibly tedious and it took me quite some time to concentrate on writing all of my assigned posts. Research took a lot of time, which was difficult since I had other work at the same time. Although I had some troubles, I most definitely wouldn’t have wanted any other final project for this class. I think creating a blog was a great choice. It really brings out each of our personalities and it let’s us have our own space to talk about things we feel passionate about.

When I interviewed someone very close to me for this blog, I discovered things I did not know; I would have never found these things out if it weren’t for this blog. I also realized the difficulty in answering personal questions. It’s not so easy to just open yourself up and spill your emotions out for everyone to read. I felt very close to my interviewee while talking about the importance of music on his life. It’s so exciting to have people around me understand the significance of music, and use music as a cure for troubles, like myself.  I feel that music can bring people together, and create friendships that may not have existed if it weren’t for the music.

I am supposed to tell you if I will be continuing with my blog or not. In all honesty, I want to say yes, but I may not have the time to use it as much as I have been lately. This blog was a blast to create and play around with, but it won’t be used as frequently as I have been using it. This doesn’t mean I won’t check it ever again, or post anything ever again. I might use it again in the near future, or I might not use it until a year from now. Thank you for reading my blog, I hope it has fascinated many.

A musicians perspective

 Photo Credit: Mikala Gallo

This is an interview that took place on January 25th 2012 with a 17 year old male. He explains how music has helped him, and has created a remedy for his problems. I am not able to reveal his name so please do not ask.

When did you first start to play music?

Answer:  I was eleven years old.

Did you have any problems going on in your life at the time you started playing music? If so what?

 Answer:  Yes, I definitely had struggles with a lot of things. They were school struggles, not exactly school work related but people and I didn’t fit in with what people thought, I couldn’t really be what everyone else wanted. I cried a lot, people made fun of me, and because of that I cried more. Every day after school I would be completely stressed out, I would yell and just be angry. One day I picked up a guitar and started to fool around with it.

Did music help you deal with these struggles and deal with stress? How so?

Answer: yes, it did. When everyone around me didn’t like who I was, I could be myself just playing music and I knew the guitar wouldn’t judge me. I started to like writing music a lot and listening to music. Whenever I had stress and troubles I would tune into the music, play, write; it was a way for the emotions to get out, I could put them somewhere. I played music to relieve stress. I have turrets and music would make the symptoms disappear, and all the feelings turrets would bring. I became absorbed in the music, because it helped me. I would play hours and hours daily. At the time it became, and still is, the creative element that drives me and relaxes me.

Do you see yourself pursuing music as a career?

Answer:  I can see myself doing that, but our society is in fear of failing, so many people push to go a safe route as a career, and music is not a safe route. As long as I can do it, I want to, even if it is not my primary career. I don’t really know what else I want to do though.

How do you use music as a remedy for stress?

Answer: I write until all of the bad feelings are gone.  I’ll write pages and pages of lyrics pertaining to whatever sound is coming out. I use the sounds of the words to help me relieve my stress. This was my turrets. I would use words with strong continents when I first started to play. After playing for a while the tension inside me would go away and I could write with a clear mind.  Another reason music is so incredibly good for me, is that even if I can’t say the right words when speaking, I can always communicate through music. Even if someone in the same room as me speaks a completely different language, as long as we both have an instrument, we can communicate.

What instruments do you use when playing?

Answer: My voice, guitar, piano and anything else I feel like making into an instrument. Anything can be an instrument, in my opinion.

Do you enjoy playing alone or with others? And why?

Answer: Well, they are completely different. Playing with someone else can be a wall to my own personal feelings, which is why playing by myself, is the best way to express how I actually feel. Playing with other people can be so unexpectedly beautiful in the sense of surprise and creation, and how you interact together to make one conjoined voice.

What kind of advice would you tell someone who went/goes through the same problems you went/go through?  

Answer: Well, I’d say pick up an instrument, find your voice and release it.

Album Review of Sleep Party People

  

Sleep Party People Album Cover

Sleep Party People is a band that was created by Brian Batz. Batz, on impulse, constructed this band, by himself, to let his emotions seep through the music. Batz created all the music, but when performing live he brings other musicians into the mix. The genre that has been assigned to Sleep Party People is Electronic, but I beg to differ. Sleep Party People’s debut album invokes a chill down my spine. I can’t think straight after listening to them, and it’s only because the sound wraps itself around my soul and mind; it’s so much more than just “electric” it’s a twist of dreamy melodies and altered vocals. I recommend Sleep Party People to anyone who enjoys CocoRosie, or Cocteau Twins, and if you don’t know either of those bands, then check em' out!

 Sleep Party People released the album “Sleep Party People” in 2010. The track list includes:

1.     In the Morning Sun We Stand

2.     Our Falling Snow

3.     10 Feet Up

4.     Notes to You

5.     An Iris Pseudocorus

6.     The Dwarf and the Horse

7.     A sweet Song About Love

8.     Third drawer Down

9.     I’m Not Human At All

10. Everything Has an End

This album is simply beautiful; it’s eerie and melancholic, but magical and so greatly unique. Sleep Party People play with rabbit-masks on which makes them truly sound like non-humans; and their song Not Human At All gives the sense that they really are not human, that maybe deep inside, we all aren’t human. They make me question so many things about humans and music; which is why, to me, they are so unique. Their debut album has been “crowned” album of the week inDenmark. I encourage all of my blog readers to listen to Sleep Party People.