Music is the reflection of a spirit. A composer’s condition steers their art, so the composition will thus take the form of the individual’s love, melancholy, rage, etc. From the composer’s standpoint, the production of music is medicinal as it enables them to be expressive and practice translating their sentiments into communicable sound.

It is the listener who must be wary!!! For a listener has access to the music, but may not have knowledge of the composer’s condition when they produced it. Without a full understanding of the composer’s intentions, one can only draw from their own experiences in their interpretation. While this may seem inherently positive on the grounds of free thinking, it is in this space where music can manifest into a harmful tool.

If one knew the condition of the composer’s heart when crafting their music, they’d perhaps refrain from indulging in the work. For example, If an artist wrote a dis track about another individual on a fallacy, I for one wouldn’t know the dis was a lie without knowing the artist’s condition, and secondly, I’d have listened to another individual backbiting someone else for banter, which inevitably pollutes the soul.

Conversely, If I were listening to the lyrics of ‘Peace Train’ by Cat Stevens (now Yusuf Islam), I’d develop an urge to pick flowers from an untamed field and distribute them to elderly folk, even the ones who didn’t believe I belonged in this country, for a good hearted song will make you rise above the occasion.

Be selective in the music you listen to, as the ears are an inroad to the heart.

Peace and Blessing,

Karima Osman