Unbeknownst to many is that the origins of music lay in the repetition of primal drumming for spiritual, shamanistic rituals. There was a clear link between music and emotive awareness, and thus it was through this basic ritual that one's states of consciousness could be altered.
Although it has evolved a long way, evidence of this early state can be seen in the genre of electronica. Many forms of trance and house seem to embody this facet, and through a series of repetitive beats and slowly shifting tones they are able to represent this primal intent. The use of vocal melody and percussion (though electronically synthesized) form the background for most songs, mimicking the prehistoric sounds by which music was conceived.
Stylistic Features of Trance & House
The specific features of electronic music work together to facilitate a breakdown of the normal affects of consciousness (particularly trance). The complexity of the songs is a unique facet; they can consist of up to 9 or 10 layers simultaneously (against the standard 4 for a rock song or 3 for hiphop) and there are no designated/ required sounds. Indeed songs use any and all instruments to weave a complex web, anything from guitar to piano to even saxophones have their place.
The rhythmic bass and drum beats alongside an interspersing of other sounds can bring about a type of temporal or virtual reality. It is very easy to lose oneself in the song or to forget themselves entirely; in doing so one can clear all extraneous thoughts and appropriate their full attention. In addition, the progressive nature of the tracks can have an equally significant effect on bodily functions, and by progressing in waves, a song can have both a stimulating and relaxing effect on the listener merely seconds apart. The gradual progression and acceleration of tempo can bring about a hypnotic trance in the listener (hence the name of the genre) and distort one's sense of time. Such an impact can regulate physiological processes and attune one's heart rate and brain chemistry in a similar fashion.
Emphasis on Sensory Over Rational
A unique distinction is that the focus is typically not on the lyrical content of the songs, but instead on the sound as a whole. In this sense, the vocals are usually little more than an extension of the music. A prime example of this is the newly evolving trance technique of a vocal stutter, in which only a fragment of a word being sung is sampled and mixed among the track in such a way that it is indistinguishable. The vocals then become merely another instrument in a medley and serve to add to the complexity of the song without engaging one's faculties of reason to comprehend. Another instance of this is when a vocalist merely hums a wordless melody alongside the beat, a favorite tactic of singers like Nadia Ali.
In these cases, the focus on trance/house music is as a sensory perception instead of a rational one (in which the lyrical content plays some goal - political/ poetic). The goal is to arouse emotions and mental states without the use of words or an understanding of them as such. The majority of trance songs tend to have lyrical content that is simple in nature, and although the words may be poetic and moving, the topics are simple and straightforward. Thus, the genre is primarily an emotive experience as opposed to a cognitive one.
Affecting States of Consciousness
An altered state of consciousness is any shift in the normal functioning of psychological consciousness or experience. This can happen for a variety of reasons, music, drugs, and religion all serving as specific mediums whereby to achieve this shift. Electronic music can assist in achieving an altered perception and a complete dissociation of the mind and body.
Trance music in particular is studied to stimulate the theta waves of the brain most typically associated with levels of sleep. It is a state of extreme relaxation in which heavy dreaming occurs, a phenomenon that is nearly unattainable in a conscious state. The only well known method is by bouts of intense meditation.
In addition, raves and other performances can be viewed as collective gathering of people moving in unisont; and it is not uncommon to feel as a part of a whole, leading to a sort of identity distinction amongst those who participate. According to religious studies scholar Robin Sylvan, "Over the course of nearly two decades, the rave scene has evolved into much more than simply an electronic dance music party. For thousands of people around the world, it has become an important source of spirituality and the closest thing they have to a religion." (Trance Formation)
This can be related to particular forms of religious experience and meditation in which the words and prayers are little more than a medium for arousing an altered state or to the utilization of drugs as a tool for spirituality. Sufi dervishes, for example, would spin themselves into a physical state trance while meditating to dissociate their mind in such a way that was believed to get them closer to God. Ritual use of hashish in some ancient eastern religions was not uncommon nor was it for Aztec priests to ingest peyote as a tool for spiritual guidance or visions.
Trance Music as a Transcendental Force
The dissociation of the mind and body as witnessed in some experiences can lead to varying results- for some it can cause them to think with clarity whereas for others it can do the exact opposite. Music can be a relief from the constant thoughts that plague one’s mind and inevitably end up a burden. The power of music on states of consciousness is ultimately entirely subjective. Music is thus a vehicle whereby one can transcend their own reality- to lose themselves in some greater force.
Sources:
- Sylvan, Robin. Traces of the Spirit: The Religious Dimensions of Popular Music. NewYorkUniversity Press. 2002.
- Sylvan, Robin. Trance Formation. Routledge. 2005.
- Monks, Shamans, Drum Beats, Primitive Cultures, Rhythmic Sound & The Brain. http://brain.web-us.com/primitivebeats.htm
Jamil Karim - Jamil Karim is a California local of Indian descent who holds a BA in Philosophy and a prolonged interest in writing and journalism.Among ...
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