Don't listen to music. That's how this tutorial begins. Go outside. Walk down the street. Don't listen to music. Keep your head in the game. Listen to the climatic sound that you're walking through - or riding through! That's right. Ride your bicycle. Ride the bus. Don't listen to music. The music describes a dream, but you're living in reality. Think about it. Wait for it. Anticipate listening to music. When it comes, it will be a moment of truly letting the world go away, and at that time, it will be you and the music, and that will be everything. Until then however, don't listen to music. When you're in public places, don't listen to music. Music should be banned in public places. Go home. Get home. Don't listen to music. There's still a few things you have to do, and you want to be able to give yourself to the listening when the time comes. You don't want music to be your wallpaper. That's potentially a lazy action, and disrespectful to the music. Music means something! If you want to know how to listen to music properly, start by remembering this. Before they had records, people went to special places to hear music. They sat in those places and experienced recitals, concerts, operas etc, and they didn't do anything else. It was rude to the other listeners and rude to the musicians. Sure, this was in olden times, and it was classical music, and maybe that music was more sophisticated and required you to listen and mostly, it wasn't for dancing, it was for listening - but actually, it wasn't that different from what we've got today. So take care of your business, don't listen to music. Then it's time. You're ready. It's like an appointed time. It's not really a ritual though, it's just your life. You can call it a ritual if that amuses you. Or arouses you. Music is there to stimulate, so if calling the experience something other than 'listening to music', well yeah! Go ahead! Do it! Pour your glass of alcoholic beverage, if need be. Smoke your drugs - or pop, snort, shoot or rub your drugs. Or vape your oil of drugs! Put them wherever they go best - your anal retina? If it floats a boat, yeah. We're happy for you. Because when you listen to music, that's a moment that should launch a thousand ships in your heart and mind and life. So put it on and get it on! Headphones, speakers, whatever (no ear buds)! Ahhh. That's good music. We like this music. Give yourself to this music. Take it real seriously for once - not as the soundtrack to the cartoon you call your life, but as an entity that is feeding your soul. You freaking vampire, appreciate it, damn you!
The next time, tomorrow - whenever it is. Listen to music the way you want to listen to it. We're not the music police! Well, we're not YOUR music police. But keep this method in your thoughts. This is a valid and provocative way to listen to music.
Rian Murphy
Drag City Inc.
April 2015
