The first time you hear it. It may sound utter rubbish, noisy and meaningless. I hated it the first time I heard it. Until one fine day I allowed it to do what it can and there I saw what it really does.. Nothing changed significantly for a while… Everything around me ….the problems, work, situations… all the same.
But ‘I’ had changed. My thought patterns, my perceptions, ideas, my energy levels.. The belief system seemed to be attaining an enhanced level altogether… Overall, I saw that my vision had changed. Now, it’s funny to think about some sort of music causing all these changes in a person. Isn’t it?
Point. But what does any genre (type of music) of music do to us? Most of us are not even aware of the fact that ‘Music is one of the strong factors that influences our lives’. It affects our moods, our emotions and therefore our way of thinking. As the wise men said, “we are what we think all day long”.
May be, it’s very difficult to believe that this ‘simple’ thing called music would even matter in any aspect of life. Most people enjoy sad songs a lot in a belief that it eases their pain. It sure does for a while but it’s temporary. In fact, it further worsens the matter by leaving you thinking low of yourself. As a Musician, I’ve lived a number of significant years of my life with this genre of music only to find myself more miserable. Similarly, certain love songs can leave you dreaming about things that aren’t practical in real life. Love songs, surely, are great. But most of the times this is the case.
So, what does trance music do?
That’s the question. Infact, it does not do anything. It means there are no words in it to actually relate to. How can we make sense out of something that doesn’t have words to relate to? It’s beyond words. This is where the actual part of ‘communication’ starts. That’s the power of anything instrumental. What do we normally play when we’re relaxing or want to relax? Yanni, Kenny G, Beethoven, Buddha Bar, Lounge etc?
The word trance comes from the Latin word ‘transire’ which means ‘to go over or to pass’. Further the word ‘transcendental’ means going beyond the limits of human knowledge, experience or reason, especially in a religious or spiritual way. It’s a state that is experienced when we meditate regularly.
Generally, we aren’t on the required wavelength to really catch the rhythm of this music. But when we “allow” it to seep into our system, we shall see the magic. First thing we’d realize is the “energy factor”. The way it flows in our body. We realize how strong we are though we have not so strong a body.
Sages from the east have revealed the secret of the 7 energy seals (points) in our etheric body to us a long time ago (known as ‘Chakras’ in Indian Scriptures) and then there are seven basic notes in Music. In trance music, mainly the sound of base works on these energy seals in various levels. Trance is played on the nature which means, in trance music festivals, during the night they play a kind or trance known as dark. This has a deeper base that hits the lower energy seals or chakras of our body. This music is good to meditate with. It helps us go deep within ourselves. Later towards dawn, they play something known as ‘twilight’ which again has a different base. Later, as the dawn is breaking its ‘morning’ music. This kind of base hits our 4th chakra (Solar Plexus) that is known for happiness & love in Meditation.
Not only you are alive & kicking while listening to this music. But alert, attentive & incredibly creative. It helps us travel beyond a certain level of perceptions and see the world more clearly than you did ever before.
Does this music really offer so much? Why then, haven’t people realized it yet?
Well, it’s like meditation. We all know that it’s good for us but how many of us really give it a thought? We need to be aware of one thing here. Like there are always good movies, there are bad movies and ok movies. Like there are good songs, there are bad songs and there are boring songs. Similarly you’ll find a great variety over here too. There is Good Trance, Crazy Trance, Bad trance and then there is some ‘Noise’. Choose carefully. Whatever feels good to you is the one for you. It doesn’t matter weather it’s famous or not. May I recommend a few artists like Paul Okenfold, Indra-life of faith, Mafia, Zorba, Buddha Trance etc..
But what about melody?
Well, as a musician, I can certainly say that there is a great melody in there. Once you get a hang of it, once you ‘allow’ it on you… You shall know. Remember the times we disliked a certain genre (Rock, Country, Jazz etc) and slowly started liking it? It’s not the melody that grabs our attention but the mindset we’re in. When we’re happy, peppy numbers appeal to us. When sad, sad songs do. When in love or infatuation, romantic music makes sense to us. Basically, something that we can relate to. So, here we need to really come to a neutral level to allow it to happen to us.
I’ve had a great time on stage singing anything from Indian classical music to Soft Rock with various bands, playing, jamming, pubbing, clubbing…call it whatever you want. But in one line if I say, I’d say “All the other Genres of Music are just painkillers whereas Trance is an Anti-biotic”. Yes, it heals you.
This music is said to be best enjoyed or experienced when you’re listening in a meditative state or when consumed weed like the Sadhus (saints, monks of
Just a few months ago, I was another unsatisfied employee complaining about the kind of life I had. Looking for things to happen. Now I’m a proud owner of a small company. I holiday more than I work and I’m passionate about what I do. Everyday is a great day. Life isn’t the same anymore and the future looks brilliant. Once again it may sound really funny to think that a simple genre of music can offer so much. Yes, there is a way to draw anything we want from whatever is given to us.
Two ways of enjoying this music…
1. Dance your way to life (you will). You shall see what dance does to you. How we forgot to enjoy life & stiffened our face, body & mind in order to look good to others !!! Perhaps, for the first time we’d realize how abundant and enormous our energy is. It’s as if you suddenly met your new self. I say this because this is the only genre that has recurrence in the way it is played and hence it goes on pumping up the energy that can make us dance continuously.
2. This way of listening could prove incredibly beneficial to you. Sit quietly and comfortably somewhere with closed eyes in both instances. Let the music slowly pass through your body. Do not move and do not open your eyes for at least 20 minutes. Eventually, you’ll feel a certain lift in your body, a surge of energy. Slowly you’ll see your ‘Intellect’ opening up. You’ll be astonished to see the way your vision changes in just a week’s time. The way you start seeing a hidden-meaning in the things around you in an extraordinary way. Most of us waste our energies in doing insignificant things, pondering over mere thoughts. We play music to have a good time but actually we miss this supreme understanding it has to offer. This way of listening is very useful especially if you’re in difficult situations and looking for answers.
Its all about this splendid force called ‘energy’. Music is but a helping tool only. Once you experience it, you’ll know how futile Tobacco is and how destructive is this pollution around us. Maybe, that’s how I happen to quit my 15 yr old smoking habit. Or perhaps, Smoking quit me.
Finally, remember to choose Good Trance. Just go with you heart… for your heart is your guide for a fulfilling & a rewarding life.
