Devachan Music - Community Room

I think good songs can be written in almost any style or genre. I've written songs that I think, melodically and harmonically and rhythmically, are fine pop-country songs. What I won't do is write songs that put out energies I can't personally stand behind.

To me this position is a direct consequence of how I experience taking in music myself. You are given an unbelievably direct doorway to people's hearts and wills through music. Dictators and opportunists of all stripes have realized this and used the principle in marching music, propaganda songs. Satirists have also used this to wake people up from their lethargy.

I think the same musicians who take in musical material unconsciously are likely to see no problem in putting out whatever "comes into their heads." Any attempts to chide them will be derided as attacks on freedom of speech and the "right to self-expression." But this is a bait-and-switch.

The key point is: do you believe music, and art in general, has an affect on people? In my own writing, in my journal, I will write ANYTHING. And I mean ANYTHING. I will chase and embrace any shadow to get to know it better. This strengthens me. But whether I send that out — that's another story. I don't believe in censorship but I do believe in self-censorship. That is, I want to choose the values and energies I send out into the world.

I believe in a certain karmic law: what you send out comes back to you a thousandfold. This culture currently appears to reward people who don't live by this rule. I don't want to write songs about molesting twelve-year old girls in an unconscious way. By conscious I mean, acknowledging that thoughts and images are spiritual deeds. I don't believe any music can put out energy that can rob the freedom of anyone strong enough in their will. But I believe many, many people in this culture have had their wills shattered by our media and the environment. They are extremely vulnerable. And every time a "mediator" (not necessarily an artist as I'm choosing to use the word) abuses this vulnerability the vicious circle gets ground in a little deeper. This could sound pretty Pollyannaish (Pretty Polly -ish?) except that I do write dark songs and use humor as a way of touching dark subjects. Is there a way of touching a dark topic that sheds some light on it? If not: why join the chorus?

Comment? Use the Tag "Sonwriting & Morality"

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