Music is More Than Entertainment
It seems that the true nature and power of music has been overshadowed by trends, greed and the fast-pace digital life we’ve been tricked into believing is reality.
Every day I am reminded that what I am doing is rare, but in my mind it’s par for the course. I’m making and performing music from a place of integrity and consciousness. As a child, it’s what the majority of musicians I was aware of were doing too. Nowadays it seems many people my age and younger can’t comprehend that music and performance of that music has a purpose beyond quick bites of entertainment. Purposes like: social change, processing complex and vulnerable emotions, or delivering a profound message. Every song I write and action I take in my publicly accessible life, in one way or another, is the direct opposite of what is cool, trendy or popular. I even make it clear on my web and social media properties by displaying my tagline “Music for a better world,” but it seems many people can’t or won’t comprehend what they really means or they assume it’s a joke. That’s sad. Because it’s not.
Lack of Reverence
I grew up listening to music with reverence. I had reverence for the music and the artist had reverence for the craft. When I listened to music on my own, there was never a moment where music was just entertainment. It was always a “holy communion.” Whether I could verbalize it at the time or not, that is what it was; a communing with the natural forces of existence and all creation; a reminder that I am something greater than the modern world is telling me I am. I was taking in the messages of songs and allowing myself to reflect on those messages. This brings out the opportunity to consider and change my self, my thoughts, my perspective and my beliefs. That is not entertainment, that’s philosophy. That’s introspection and healing. That’s gaining clarity.
An image from Ted Gioia which explains this art vs. entertainment perfectly. Read the article this image is from: The State of the Culture, 2024.
Music and performance used to be a religious-like experience
Music was gospel. Literally. Now, much of it is drivel. Music and performance used to be a religious experience. Many listeners may think that is what is happening when they listen to their favorite song or see their favorite artist in concert, but that’s because they don’t know anything deeper. It’s a false sense of depth and connection, especially when it’s connecting over narcissistic breakup anthems, ego-trips, materialism, lack of sustaining a healthy relationship, substance abuse and casual sex. These are not the topics to bring people together for a better world. If they were, we’d see evidence of positive change, but I don’t see anyone’s life, perspective or beliefs changing for the better after an MGK or Meghan Thee Stallion concert. In fact, I see more division, isolation and social degradation than ever due to this lack of deep music and performance not being available to the mainstream audience.
Just Call Me King of Cringe
Someone (a stranger that doesn’t even follow me) recently DM’d me a relatively long, unsolicited message. They suggested I change what I do in my videos because they’re cringe and that when they listen to the song without the video, they get a whole different vibe. I’m so sorry that I stirred up something within you that you don’t want to face. That feeling you’re resisting (cringing from) is witnessing pure energy running through a high-energy being (me) and sharing that high-energy with you. I’m generating a clear pathway; a genuine connection that allows you the choice to tune into and resonate on the topic the song is discussing – something that simply doesn’t not happen these days. When I say genuine connection, I mean addressing the issue directly, not satirizing it or watering it down so that it’s easier and more comfortable to handle. Real, spiritual work and systemic, societal change doesn’t get done that way.
My art is not for your entertainment – it’s for your enlightenment. If you don’t desire to meet me on the frequency I’m at, please keep it moving. You will not shake me from my focus. I will not meet you down at your level. If you don’t understand the way I vibrate; if the way I present myself makes you cringe, stay sleepy. Go watch someone else that makes you feel safe and comfortable in your little bubble of humor and complacency. I’m not here for your entertainment, I’m here to shatter the illusion of this world.
Music Shatters Illusion
That’s what music used to do, it used to shatter the illusion of this world. That’s what art in general is for. Art is for pushing the boundaries, not conforming to them. Now more than ever, mainstream music and art sustains that illusion. Social media platforms reward those who sustain the facade of this “utopian” digital life that the technocracy has so generously and benevolently created for us. On the flipside, the algorithm punishes anyone with thoughts, ideas, art or beliefs that are outside collective approval. Even in fringe communities like spirituality, there are rules, and if you don’t follow them you are ostracized, both by the people and the algorithm. No one wants their illusion to be shattered. No one wants to be reminded of anything outside of their comfort zone. It may be comfy for now, but that’s how society stagnates.
The Audience Isn’t In Charge
Nowadays, content (of all kinds, including music) is pushed based on what the audience responds to, regardless of whether it’s healthy or unhealthy. You don’t trust sheep to herd themselves. Whether people want to believe it or not, most people don’t know what’s good for them. Most are followers, not leaders, so why are we letting the followers lead?
Recently there was a comment thread on one of my videos on TikTok that started with a stranger commenting “This isn’t the worst song I’ve heard, but it’s bad.” Then a regular follower of mine came to my defense, followed by a different stranger saying that “at least the OP was nice about it” (really?) and “how else is Chad going to get better if he doesn’t get criticism and feedback?” My head about hit the ceiling. There’s too much to say about this dynamic and comments in general, but the bottom line is, artists and creators overall are being conditioned to listen to wholly unqualified strangers, and those unqualified strangers are actually starting to believe they have 1) the knowledge and 2) final say and approval on what an artist or creator does. Well I say, f*** off, this is my art. If you want something else, DO IT YOURSELF.
The Illusion Is Comfy
Nobody wants to be told that 90% of the modern world is a lie. When you tip toe in that direction it makes people cringe in discomfort, disgust or disapproval. Why? Because it’s holding up a mirror seldom seen. Music and art used to be safe havens for controversial concepts and hard-to-explain ideas. It used to be a spiritual experience; a place of experimentation; a safe(r) way to get a complex or controversial message out.
One of my favorite quotes is “When things are too dangerous to say, sing.” I’ll be damned if this quote is describing anything on the radio today. The crazy part is, most of what’s being said through popular music today actually is dangerous for society. The whole world is upside down. The things that need to be said – the topics important to humanity’s survival and growth – are deemed comical and cringe, when in reality, the current mainstream music and entertainment landscape would make any conscious being cringe in horror at what we idolize and glorify en masse.
Music used to change your mind instead of simply distracting or pacifying it. Music could rally thousands together in the name of universal love, understanding and progress. I’ll have to disclaim here that yes, community around positively intentioned music still does exist in small corners of the industry, but it’s only a fraction of what it used to be. Mainstream music is now mostly a race to the bottom to try and entertain as many people as possible in the shortest period of time, as many times as possible. How much ear candy can we fit into 3 minutes or less? How can we make it short-form friendly? How many lower-chakra references and imagery can we squeeze into the lyrics?
Music Is an Agent of Change
Music can do wondrous things for an individual and thereby society. I’ve spent my whole life studying music and energy so I can harness and combine them to bring to life those wondrous things. Things like belief in one’s self (not egomania), love and respect for your neighbor, reverence of spirit and the unseen realms, curiosity beyond the 3rd dimension, true love relationships, and a deeper understanding of humanity and general existence. If these things are no longer of interest and are no longer part of a culture’s focus, that culture is doomed to decay into the chaos and nothingness from where it began.
And so is life: a cycle of birth and death, but this cycle of life – humanity’s life – is nowhere near ready to end. Life is constantly on the move. It’s meant to be that way. Constant change is the very nature of existence. Right now, we’re in a state of lethargy. There is no change, no progress, no movement. That’s not living. That’s barely existing. That’s how disease crops up. That’s how anything from cities to our own bodies slowly die off. Technology and the illusionary media it pushes and perpetuates makes us think we’re moving ahead faster than ever, but that’s a calculated lie. We are stuck and sputtering and it’s making us sick. Whether anyone believes it or not, there’s a collective cry for help echoing from within today’s popular music.
Music is meant for more. Humanity deserves more. To be pushed forward through love and hope, not held back by ego, fear and greed. Music is more than entertainment, and I’ve dedicated my life to prove it.
– Chad
