FINDING REFUGE IN MUSIC
Music therapy
Music is a breath of fresh air from our monotonous life. It is the friend in our chaotic life that gives us solace. The beats, the rhythm, the words speak to us. The very lyrical sounds transcend us to a world of mysticism providing a soothing relief, a release of emotions, and intellectual stimulus.
It is a personal experience, and through artists and genre of music, people establish their profound connection. Drawing upon my encounter with music, here are a few artists and genre that generates a pathway of escape for me when life becomes too overwhelming.
In essence, the music of Coldplay, entices you to relax and immerse yourself in the luscious symphonic magnificence and cosmic-scale reverbs. The honey coated tremolo guitars effect gives the music the impression that it is resonating across the cosmos.
In the midst of a chaotic day, A.R. Rahman’s music brings us comfort. His musical compositions have an unreal quality, while the lyrics just keep flowing, creating an otherworldly atmosphere. One can simply instantly disappear into experience when they listen to his art. To simply put, you aren’t drawn into his creativity, which paradoxically keeps you awake. You are made to be perplexed just as you begin to anticipate the song’s progression. It provides intellectual stimulation in addition to amusement. Rich music in many different genres was perfectly woven together to fascinate the listener.
Sufism has the power to take a person outside of themselves and put them in relation to the “other.” Insofar as music is supposed to relate the self to a divine “other” that exists outside of the confines of human existence, this “other” can be conceptualized in a “absolute” meaning. Through mysticism, the soul is at peace as it rejoins the divine realm. The lyricist Irshad Kamil and singers A. R. Rahman, Javed Ali, and Mohit Chauhan of the song Kun Faya Kun brilliantly expressed the feeling of sufi song. Anyone listening to it can attain a state of peace.
With depression and anxiety becoming a common chronic disorder, many people tend to be lonely, which is when they turn to musicians who sing, rap and they connect to them through the lyrics of their songs based on their own experiences, which also creates a space of shared experiences as opposed to feeling alienated. And let’s not forget the music that makes one dance with adrenaline gushing through their body, making them feel lighter.
“Music was my refuge. I could crawl into the space between the notes and curl my back to loneliness.”
― Maya Angelou
Not everyone can take a break from their life once in a while, but with music, they find that little pathway of peace. It is an instant dopamine booster to help reduce stress if not release it. It is quite therapeutic. The most subtly effective tool in the human toolbox is music.
