Insights in Music and Culture
The Spiritual Roots of Electronic Dance Music (Part 2)
This article continues on from the Part 1 which describes the evolution of Electronic Dance Music’s (EDM) spiritual roots. Part 2 expands on this understanding, outlining the musical tropes that evolve from ritual, used within House music, and developed into modern EDM. These tropes are included within a philosophy for music creation and performance which aims for altered states, such as experiences of trance, ecstasy, and euphoria. This modern evolution comprises new music technologies, performance approaches, and sounds, incorporated within modern music events and festivals.
The Healing Power of Music
How does music heal ? This article explores this question and suggests that three core elements are necessary for music healing to occur. It uses examples from Latin American ritual, Catholicism, and electronic music festivals to suggest that differences in cultural music are united by these three core elements, used to produce music healing for different audiences and in different cultural contexts.
Modern Music Rituals: What are they and why do we need them?
What are music rituals and how do they differ between cultures? This article explores the traditional role of rituals, initiations, and cults, exploring their customary symbols, metaphors, and processes. It suggests that music rituals are aspects of most cultures, including in Australia, where ritual symbols and processes are expressed through performances, such as electronic music events, to produce experiences of transformation and transcendence.
