A Deeper Purpose For Making Music

Hey guys, this is Zion from The Triple Threat Artist.

I've been thinking a lot about the deeper meanings and the deeper purposes behind making music.

Now, I love making music and that includes producing, songwriting, anything I'm doing instrumentally. I love making music and I bet you do too. That's why you're on this list. That's why you're watching this video. So what are those deeper meanings?

Well, right off the bat, there's fame and fortune, and those are great. There's nothing wrong with any of that, but those aren't the deeper meanings that I'm talking about. Let's get to the heart of why we like to make music.

I'm thinking of four different reasons that have come to mind for me, and these overlap. They're not totally succinct. And these are just my thoughts. And I'd love to know if you have reasons that I'm missing here.

The first is to send a message, to send a message to the world, to put a message out. I think is an amazing reason to write music, especially this year, being 2020, it's a great time to send a message to the world. Whether that's encouraging, whether that's standing up, coming back, going out to vote - whatever your message is.

I wrote a song with a co-writer Lauren light called "Rise Again". We released it early in May and it was really motivated by the riots, the Black Lives Matter riots, and the injustices we've seen a lot in our country right now. And so it was my way and her way of sending a message to the world and saying, Hey, come back, Rise Up!

If we've been knocked down, we're going to come back. Think of the song "Imagine" by John Lennon. It's a great song for change. He's saying we could do better. We could be better if we tap into loving each other and empathizing with each other and getting along better in the world, there's a better life we could be living.

I think of the song, "In The Arms of the Angel", by Sarah McLaughlin that was used for all those really, really sad animal humane ads that were on TV for awhile. Those are extremely effective.

There's a thousand other examples in which songs are used to disrupt the normal status quo and invoke change. So that's one big reason why I think we should be making music.

The next is to express ourselves, to express our light. And this gets into our creativity. If you're like me, you love to create things. And that doesn't mean just music. I love creating businesses and revenue sources. I love creating when Legos are available.

Oh my gosh, do not get me started! I love Legos. I have a little brother with Big Brothers, Big Sisters. And when we have a chance to play Legos, I think I'm more excited than he is, because I just love to create it's so fun! I think there's something to be said about creating, doing music for just the purpose of the feeling and the benefits of creating. It's our way of sort of tapping into being like God, if God is a creator. So I love that.

Next I would say is to empathize and support. To empathize with the human heart. I'm thinking of several songs. One that came out, Billie Eilish's brother Phineas is an incredible artist. If you haven't heard him and followed him, I strongly suggest you do. He's incredible.

Phineas has a song called, "I lost a friend", which is all about losing his best friend. And he was even quoted as saying, 'you know, there's this feeling that guys can't express the love that they have toward other guys without sounding gay for straight men.' And he said, 'this is stupid. I loved, I loved my friend and I lost him and I want to sing about it.' And it is one of the most moving most raw, incredible songs! I highly suggest you check that out.

One of my favorite songs is by Dido. And if you know me, you know that this is one of my favorite songs. This came out like in 2003 or something like that - a long time ago. For some of you, you weren't even born! It's called "Here With Me". It's incredible! I think it's 'the' perfect song.

It expresses the feeling of not having your lover with you, not having your romantic interest or your partner or whatever it is with you. And that I can't sleep until you're resting here with me. I can't breathe. I can hardly do anything until you're with me. And I love that kind of empathy that she captures in the human heart.

I had an opportunity couple years ago in 2016, actually four years ago, to put music to a poem that my friend Brooke wrote. Brooke was struggling with cancer and she has since passed away.

I flew out to DC before she died. She was working for the White House at the time, in the Obama administration. She gave me a personal tour of the West Wing of the White House! It was incredible!

I went to her little apartment and she had written a song about her struggle with cancer and it's called 'October'.

(Music and vocals from "October" play.)

i want to show you the song. I'd really like you to listen to the song, and if you like it, please post it! I just went with her to her little bedroom (the acoustics were best in that room). I recorded her voice speaking these words, and talking about this poem. I put music behind it and I released it. I was able to show it to her right before she passed away.

At the time she wrote this, she was in remission and thought she had kicked cancer. The whole purpose of this poem that she wrote was to express her frustration with the fact that every October she's reminded so much about her cancer, because she sees all the pink everywhere. And even though people mean for it to be a very big support "Hey, we're supporting cancer awareness" for her, it was, as she describes it, 'a bitch slapping every year'.

I loved the sentiment, because I'd never heard it from this angle before. And so I wanted to put it to music and I was just extremely honored to be able to do that, which just leads me back to my point, to empathize and support the human heart. The emotions that we have are one of the most beautiful reasons for why we're making music.

Whether that's sadness, depression, or fun and celebration, and to go out driving, and in the club and capturing, you know, the excitement of a sports game, or a win or a victory in your life! It's those moments! To be able to capture those in music is so amazing.

Sometimes you can do that better with a song than you can with words. There's something about the melody and the tension between the intervals of the notes, along with the words, can create a sentiment in a message that words alone cannot do. It's one of the most amazing things about a piece of music.

Lastly, music is an amazing tool to be like the 'soundtrack' to your day.

If you've ever gone to have a massage at Massage Envy or whatever place you go, and they put on the spa music in the background, it's so relaxing and it fits what's going on, it's very similar to yoga. They put on something very soothing and to have something, even if it's just one chord that's just moving and playing and swelling. And it's just a chord. Sometimes that can be so beautiful and can be a perfect soundtrack to what you're going through and what you're doing at that time.

I've recently started a YouTube channel with a buddy of mine, and it's called Lo-Fi Panda. And it's all Lo-Fi Chill Hop or Lo-Fi Hip Hop music. It's the kind of music you can put on and just put on in the background while you're working and studying.

This has been around for a long time, and I'm just excited about doing it. I'm working with other producers and we're making this kind of music and putting it out on our channel. And I have to tell you, I didn't expect to love this so much! I really love this!

It started as sort of a business adventure, but it's quickly become a passion. I listened to Lo-Fi Hip Hop all the time when I'm working, when I'm reading, in the car, while I'm cooking in the kitchen - I've listened to this kind of music. If you want check it out, please follow us if you'd like to.

I'd like to hear what you think. These are the four reasons of mine - was to send a message, to express your light, to empathize with the human heart, and to be a 'soundtrack' for our lives.

Those are my deeper purposes for why I make music and why I love music.

What are yours?

Talk to me!

Now go make great music!

Zion

Zion and Lauren's "Rise Again" https://youtu.be/pLnXBSgGRRs

Finneas' song "I lost a friend" https://youtu.be/3mMVcCMO_Ng

Dido's song "Here with Me" https://youtu.be/PSu5nAQ7uZw

Zion and Brooke's "October" https://youtu.be/IBx7lxhj3p0

Lofi Panda https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCi4lF928QJSDRBqrBBpa1tA