Monkey Mind Music - Thursday evenings from 11p-1a EST, 8-10pm Pacific.

The following is a fantastic essay by TLM that embodies his love of music and the flavor of his show.

Music never disappoints.

“I’ve been very vocal about contemporary music, to me it’s ICK! as opposed to music because the muse is absent. The muse in music has a divine quality to it and a mysterious quality to it.” ~ Joni Mitchell

When you are in the creative process, a gentlemen’s endeavor, truly present as it unfolds before you as if from some source other than yourself, and clearly this is the case, there is nothing that can touch the profound impact of such pure emotion. Genuine, honest music is a private affair. You are taking something as completely private as your own heart and putting it on display for all to see. You are giving the universe a glimpse of your soul. You are the universe observing itself. Music enriches all our lives however oblivious we may be to this fact. I don’t deny that music has become a distraction for most, something that you ignore playing in the background in restaurants and shopping malls. But the experience of listening to music without distraction is, for me, a source of endless wonder. Like making love it is a personal experience. Those who have not had the good fortune of being exposed to open spiritual expression in the form of song cannot share my enthusiasm; they cannot know the feeling of making love that enters your spirit through your heart as the notes fill the air that surrounds you.

The exchange of ideas that occurs between players when they let themselves be moved is as exciting as anything you can possibly imagine. Do you have to monitor your behavior or concern yourself with what kind of impression your outpouring might have on another? You have no need to take such matters into consideration because what you have presented is an honest reflection of your own spirit and no one can question it. There are many who may be more proficient on their instruments, have more hooks than a tackle box, or are more genetically gifted in the realm of appearance but there is only one you. No one else can do what you do the way you do it. It is your personality that shines through the darkness filling the air with your unique expression. You may not be flashier than the next guy, you may not be as commercially viable as the next guy, you may not have the outlandish wardrobe that he/she has but you love music and that emanates through every note you play, every sad/happy/hurt/ecstatic note that passes through your body, your heart, your mind. Every note that conspires to send your blues hurling skyward, every note that sends your fingers up and down. This is the place where flesh , wire and wood unite. It’s sex! It’s euphoria! It’s ecstasy! It’s making love! It is your unique statement to the universe.

There are those that feel that music is something the world owes them. They are filled with resentment and regret. I feel that music is something I owe the world. It is my gift, my love note, my offering to the universe for filling my life with so many incredible artists that dazzle me with their talent.  I am not star struck in their presence. I am not enamored. I do not place them above me. I am not taking autographs, or imposing on them in any way because they have given so much already. I am not greedy! I am grateful to them for sharing their gifts with me. They are as fortunate for meeting me as I am for having the opportunity to meet them. Still I am honored to be in their presence, for their music has changed my life.

I am not going to cheapen my expression by putting on airs. I am not going to pretend to be something I am not. This is who I am warts and all. This is my passion, this is my means of expression and though I remain humble in the face of my good fortune, this is the one thing I make no apologies for. This is the one thing I have complete confidence in myself about. This is my strongest desire but much like enlightenment it is not meant to be an intense serious affair (few things are) much like enlightenment it is meant to be a joyous whimsical experience. It is supposed to be fun! And there is always room for one more. There is no competition for you when you are in a class of your own. You cannot compete with individuality. You cannot scoff at individuality. You cannot show up individuality. We are all unique and no one else can say exactly what we say, exactly the way we say it. We all have influences (and be cautious that your influences do not take precedence over your own means of expression) but they are all filtered through to create something that is exclusively your own design. I cannot be less passionate than I am and I cannot pretend to be a buffoon when I am not. I think music is important. I think musical expression is important to the survival of our species. I think without creativity the universe is bleak and without form. I think music (art, literature, poetry, theatre, etc…) is the heat that warms us, the light that illuminates us, the compassion that nurtures us. It is the voice that guides us through our most difficult and fondest affairs.

“Some of the best things emanate from sound”

I love music!

tlm