Free by Rudimental featuring Emeli Sande
freedom: the power to determine action without restraint
So recently, I asked my friends and family what has been inspiring them. Why? I am in this creative flow right now. It all started after I had a dress rehearsal for a performance coming up next week. There was something that the practice sparked in me. There is something about getting up on stage in a completely vulnerable way that really gets my blood flowing. 5 of us are sharing stories to an audience next week. 200 people will be sitting and listening to us open up about the way we have interpreted our lives.
The two directors helping us with this show are awesome. They offered deep and constructive feedback on how to authentically share our stories I'm starting to learn that vulnerability can be one of the most freeing mechanisms for freedom in this life.
Based on this spark from the dress rehearsal, I've been writing more music and whenever I'm writing, I love being surrounded by ideas that move me.
And that's where the reach out to folks came in.
Damn, ask people a simple question and get profound answers.
I received this flood of responses from my people that continue to bring me new ideas related to art, books, nature, children, spirituality, music, and politics. Some of the things folks sent me brought me to tears, others made me laugh.
Every time an email came into my inbox, it was like this soul gift. And one particular gift was learning about Rudimental. Which may soon not be a gift because I can't stop listening to them! ahahaha. My friend Thanh introduced me to their music. They are this British group who creates beats, lyrics, etc. and they collaborate with musicians like John Newman, Alex Clare, and Emeli Sande. Their album 'Home' won the Mercury Prize in 2013 and the group is classified as drum and bass. Check out other songs like 'Spoons' and 'Powerless,'
They have this song 'Free.' And of course, Emeli Sande is doing the vocals. I always come back to her in some circuitous route! I think it's her incredibly soulful voice and what she brings out that's not in the everyday.
Her voice + the search for freedom = elevation of my soul
And the funny thing is, this isn't a complex song on a lyrical level. There is a repetition, but then again, when I think about the prayers and mantras that I follow in life that speak deeply to me, they aren't the ones that are heavy-handed or difficult to understand, they are simple and yet through the lens of each one of us, we can add our depth.
"I don't do yoga, never tried Pilates
Not many people want me at their parties
Tryna find my place, some place, oh I, oh I, oh I
And I drink a little more than recommended
This world ain't exactly what my heart expected
Tryna find my way someway, oh I, oh I, oh I..."
Maybe something's wrong with me
But, whoa, at least I am free, oh, oh, I am free..."
The search for freedom...wow...huge...maybe one of the biggest searches in life: the freedom to be who we want to be regardless of where we come from, freeing our mind from social constructs, freedom of expression, freedom from grief, freedom to love, freedom from fear....
We're getting close to the end of 2014. How are you thinking about freedom? If you read this and want to share your thoughts, reach out: sheebamj@gmail.com.
For now, take a moment, close your eyes, and fly. Much love:
FREE by Rudimental
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