If you play music, in a band, like I do, (whitewolfsonicprincess & The Telepaths), you know. And/or if you love music and listen to music, intensely, religiously, you know. Music is a branch of magic. “The repetition itself becomes the important thing; it’s a form of mesmerism.” As Maria Popova’s great blog post tells us: “Music takes place in time, but repetition beguilingly makes it knowable in the way of something outside of time.”

I have marveled at how essential and all-consuming music has loomed in my life. From a very, very young age. Yes, indeed, music “enchants the brain.”

I have lately wondered if other musicians/bands love to play music, and to rehearse as much as we do. They must. I find the process almost like a form of worship. It can transform a mood, a feeling, a day, a week. It can, and it will, transform you as a being. It helps that we play with extraordinarily excellent musicians. It helps that everyone is committed to the work.

Yes, it’s also rewarding to play in front of people, an audience, but it turns out that it isn’t essential. The communication between the musicians, sitting in a room, working intensely together, establishing a secret, nonverbal relationship is an essentially rewarding phenomena.

Yes, and the repetition takes you “out of time.” Working in a room with others takes you “out of yourself.” It is a sacred thing. Even if you are just banging out wanky, garage rock, or if you are playing beautifully lyrical and rhythmic songs. Seems, that the content doesn’t really matter so much, although, it helps if you play with heart. The form of the ritual is most important. It’s a form of Magic. A conjuring. Enchanting. – Jammer

photo by Nancy Chambers