It’s all kinds of melancholy at the moment - deaths in the family, struggles with depression, energy levels all over the shop and the desire to self-sabotage sounding more delightful every day. And yet…
Music.
There’s always Music.
This track could just as well have ended up on the Music to Grieve To list. but today it felt right to place it here - on the Essay writing list - so that I - and You - can write away our fears and disappointments and somehow feel better as a result.
That’s the thing about sad music - and make no mistake, this is sad music - when it’s done well, you get transported in both space and time - where you end up will be unique to you - but for me…
…I’m slumped at the piano - head down, shoulders hunched, eyes blind with tears trusting in muscle memory to guide my fingers - but of course for me this isn’t imagination - it’s memory.
What I love about this track is the hope it offers.
You don’t need to understand music theory to recognize the subtle shift at around 3 minutes - the melody alters slightly - one note - a half step up - changes everything - and without even noticing - things start to feel better…
…my back straightens and head comes up, shoulders move back and wrists adopt the correct posture, I can see the keyboard and there’s the tiniest hint of a smile on my lips…
But it doesn’t last.
Not now.
For now there’s a long road ahead and this is just the beginning.
While I know there’s hope in there - something to hang on to and work with and develop - it’s time to withdraw again - to revert into melancholy and find the peace in sadness that this exquisite track delivers.
You should definitely take this out for a spin…
You can learn more about Chad Hewitt here:
About the Curator: Andrew McCluskey
The first visual memory I have is that of the white upright piano in Singapore, Hell and the Dark Forces lived at the bottom, Heaven and the Angels at the top, they would play battles through my fingers and I was hooked.
I’ve been fascinated by music ever since.
As a psychology graduate I studied how sound affects human performance.
As a musician I compose instrumental music that stimulates your brain but doesn't mess with your language centers, leaving you free to be creative and brilliant without distraction.
As a curator I research how music can improve your life and create flow - I can tell you what music to listen to when studying for a test and why listening to sad music can make you feel better.
As the founder of musicto I’m on a mission to inspire a global audience of music lovers and artists through the development of people powered playlists.
Latest Posts
Lonely Dream – Drunken Kong Remix – The Archer, Drunken Kong
24 November 2021
But as I’ve moved from ideation to manifestation, the energy of the playlist needed to change – solo piano is good for thinking – but 8 minutes of 130 bpm edm is great for getting things down
Out Of Reach – Cristoph, Yotto, Sansa
8 November 2021
So if you’ve been listening to the playlist recently you know what’s coming. Last week’s track was all about setting the intent for change – away from the more relaxing ideation space of solo instrumentation to this week’s electronic track from Cristoph, Yotto and Sansa.
Mr. Clay – Johnny Klimek, Tom Tykwer
31 October 2021
I’ve known for a while that the feel of the list was going to change – while piano instrumentals are perfect for reflection and ideation – at some point you need some energetic input to get your fingers moving.
Andrew McCluskey
The first visual memory I have is that of the white upright piano in Singapore, Hell and the Dark Forces lived at the bottom, Heaven and the Angels at the top, they would play battles through my fingers and I was hooked.
As a psychology graduate I studied how sound affects human performance.
As a musician I compose instrumental music that stimulates your brain but doesn't mess with your language centers, leaving you free to be creative and brilliant without distraction.
As a curator I research how music can improve your life and create flow - I can tell you what music to listen to when studying for a test and why listening to sad music can make you feel better.
As a creator / contributor at musicto I’m part of a global creator community that collaborates through music. You can learn more about our community here.