AEWCH 270: BEN CHASNY (SIX ORGANS OF ADMITTANCE) / HOW DOES MUSIC BECOME MEANING?
Jul 9, 2024
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Guitarist Ben Chasny of Six Organs of Admittance dives into the essence of music with Conner Habib, exploring spirituality in music, the evolution of podcast culture, and the personal story behind a song. They discuss the collaboration process in songwriting, the relationship between music and the astral realm, disruptive musical styles, and Gaston Bachelard's view on creativity and constellations.
The depth of meaning in music transcends preconceived emotional labels.
Pop music is analyzed in comparison to 'artsy' music, exploring subjective value.
The collaborative process of songwriting merges artistic expression and production aspects.
Emotions evoked by music challenge conventional labeling, urging deeper engagement.
Deep dives
Music's Multifaceted Meaning
Music carries a depth of meaning beyond its perceived function, digging into spiritual and soul realms. The complexity of music extends beyond predefined emotional labels like major keys being happy and minor keys sad, challenging typical Western perspectives.
Exploring Pop Music and Artistic Depth
Pop music's societal impact and perception in comparison to 'artsy' music are scrutinized. The subjective value of different music forms and the evolution of personal tastes are examined through pop music and traditional artistic concepts.
The Intricate Dynamics of Musical Creation
The intricate interplay of production and composition in music creation is explored. The process of collaborative songwriting is dissected, highlighting the fusion of artistic expression, musical structure, and production aspects.
Reevaluating Boundaries in Musical Experience
The episode delves into the fluidity of emotions evoked by music. It challenges preconceived notions and encourages deep, individualized engagement with musical compositions, transcending conventional emotional labeling within musical contexts.
Navigating the Imaginal Realm
A discussion focuses on the concept of the imaginal realm and how it pertains to spiritual and philosophical exploration. The origin and specificity of the term 'imaginal' as coined by Henri Corbin are highlighted, emphasizing the need for a spiritual orientation to access this mediating realm between the material and the spiritual. The dilution and misuse of such terms in contemporary discourse are critiqued, urging a deeper understanding and appreciation.
Artistic Engagement and Spiritual Inquiry
Exploration of the relationship between artistic engagement and spiritual inquiry is undertaken, reflecting on the role of high art in philosophical and spiritual discussions. The critique of shallow conceptualizations and buzzwords in spiritual influences and art discourse is discussed. The importance of artistic depth and creativity in aligning with spiritual and philosophical exploration is emphasized.
Defining Spiritual Engagement through Creativity
The significance of creativity and imagination in defining spiritual engagement is underscored, contrasting uninspired approaches to spiritual and philosophical discussions. The value of unearthing personal meaning in art and spiritual pursuits is highlighted, encouraging individual exploration and interpretation. The conversation delves into the pitfalls of superficial spiritual representation and the need for substantive engagement.
Reflection on Personal Growth and Artistic Exploration
In a reflective exchange, personal growth through introspection and artistic exploration is acknowledged. The evolution of understanding and interpretation in exploring art and spiritual concepts is a focal point, emphasizing the necessity of individualized investigation. The conversation closes with an acknowledgment of the transformative power of creative expression and philosophical inquiry on personal development.
How does music become meaningful? How does it become meaning? And what can we learn about reality from music without reducing music to its function?
Rudolf Steiner said “The music of the spheres is a reality. As soon as we come into the spiritual world which lies beyond the soul-world, we are in a world which lives altogether in sound and song, in melody and harmony, and harmonies of spoken sound. Out of these inner relationships of sound the human ear is formed. “
I invited guitarist and songwriter BEN CHASNY AKA SIX ORGANS OF ADMITTANCE on the show to discuss all of this. Ben last appeared on the show way back on AEWCH 45 when we talked about Rudolf Steiner and the spiritual aspects of intervals. Well... sort of. Ben's actually been on every episode for quite some time because we recreated the AEWCH theme song (originally co-composed with AEWCH guest, Jeb Havens) together. On this episode, he plays the song live and we discuss writing it together. We talk about the essential aspects of music, if there are any. And we look at the spiritual influencer culture of podcasting that has eroded its credibility over the years. At the end, Ben plays "The Mission" from the recent Six Organs of Admittance album Time Is Glass, which is, as it turns out, about me and my boyfriend.
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