Sparks: Joni, Abida and Lex

A little triptych of inspiration.

Hi everyone, 

Welcome to a new section of my newsletter called Sparks.

Why ‘Sparks’?

1. Because they can start a fire and that’s awesome.

2. They’re a cool band. See here.

3. Some days you just feel like a dull mound of ashes and forget that you’re actually a sizzling mess of embers and all they need is a little spark to get relit again.

These sparks may be songs, books, conversations, articles, scenes from a movie or photographs that I hope will activate your day in some way. 

Let’s be honest, sometimes the days are just melancholy and we don’t necessarily to need to be ‘lifted’ out of feeling low. Feeling low can be a vital kind of energy that requires tending to. But if you’re just seeking a little spirit activation, I will be collecting things that do just that through the week. Activate me. 

The thing I watch out for these days, is not the slumps or the sad times, but for the ‘checked out’ days. The days when I start to just go through the motions, dulled or dead to the present moment. It’s in those moment that I attempt to intervene.

Sometimes, I just need something to snap me out of it. To remind me of how utterly magical this all is. Art can be such a wonderful reminder to wake up and arrive. 

And if we must escape (which let’s be honest, we most certainly do, sometimes) then at least I invite you to do so using some of these sparks… let them take you to a dormant corner of your imagination and reignite the flame!

So. Every couple of weeks I’ll send out 3 sparks.

One musical spark.
One spoken spark.
One visual spark.

Here we go!

Spark #1

This is an interview with Joni Mitchell from 1988. I included an excerpt of it in this recent post including one of my favourite quotes of hers but this interview deserves further pause and reflection. It is truly one of the most important articulations of courageous artistry I’ve ever heard. She is so alive and direct in this interview, it is inspiring.

I urge you to watch the whole thing. I’d love to know what speaks to you.

I especially love Joni’s reflections on rock and roll around 9:00. It is so curious to think about the ways popular music so directly correlates with the cultural climate of the time and even the wars that were being fought. She speaks about the impact of this on the style and rhythm of certain types of rock and roll. There is so much hidden coding in the music of every era that speaks to these internal longings of the human heart and specific struggles and liberations of that particular time.

Spark # 2

This is both a musical and visual spark but I want to draw attention to the visual aspect mostly. I speak a lot about embodiment and how I use my body as an instrument when I sing but I have never seen this played out so poetically in an artist as I do with Abida Parveen. When she moves her arms I imagine her drawing threads of silk from a hanging tapestry and pulling them out one by one and giving them back to the divine. Her soaring movements are an extension of her voice. You see how she uses these small and large gestures in her body to support the sound, tonality, texture, breath and projection.

I fell in love with Abida around 2016 and have since had a dream of going to Pakistan to see and experience Qawwali devotional music live for myself. I also find the words of this poem so powerful, disruptive and moving in their expression of love for truth and self-examination.

You have learnt so much
And read a thousand books.
Have you ever read your Self?
You have gone to mosque and temple.
Have you ever visited your soul?
You are busy fighting Satan.
Have you ever fought your
Ill intentions?
You have reached into the skies,
But you have failed to reach
What's in your heart!

Spark #3

A fascinating, thoughtful conversation between two friends and scientists Lex Fridman and Andrew Huberman.

I think what I appreciated most (and perhaps least saw coming) was Andrews reflections and insights into the role of prayer (a fairly new practise of his) and Lex’s opening thoughts on gratitude and life being pure gift. I also teared up when they talk about the human connection with animals toward the end. Thinking about the day I’ll have to say goodbye to Nadi is almost unbearbale for me to imagine, but I suspect it is good for one to think about death more often than not. It was moving to hear of Andrew’s deep connection with his dog who recently passed away.

You can watch the interview below or find it on the Lex Fridman Podcast on any podcast streaming platform.

Till next time,