Something unexpected and inspiring unfolded during the Solaes Festival on the 7th of October.
I was asked to play 3 times a 25-minute concert with the audience lying down, which was new for me.
Initially, my plan was to showcase my recent project, involving a loop machine and effects. But thinking about playing before captivated, eyes-closed audience fully focused on the music, made me think I should be free from the restrictions of electronics.
During one of my practice sessions, I set aside the electronics, picked up a classical guitar, and felt an immediate sense of relief. My fingers wandered to the very essence of my musical roots and selected five instrumental pieces I had composed at the age of 16. Back then, during a particularly unique phase of my life, I would often play alone for hours, surrounded by the serene silence and nature of the island we moved to when I was 13 years old. Three decades later, fate decided that the time had finally come for these compositions to be performed in public.
Fast forward to when the audience enters the former gym where the concert takes place. Everyone takes place at yoga mats spread around the floor, I welcome everyone and briefly explain the origins of the songs. As everyone lies down, I take my place in the center, silence fills the room and as every smallest sound is suddenly important, it is clear that something special will happen.
The moment I start playing, I feel as if everyone in the hall can see into my soul. I have nowhere to hide, but there is no need to, I feel safe surrounded by friendly souls. I close my eyes and open my heart widely. In a journey full of nostalgic memories, the music no longer comes only from me, but from everyone else in the hall. After the concert, we all know that we collectively experienced something special.
The same thing happened again and again in all three concerts. The emotional experience was intense to say the least. A day later, an email from a member of the audience encapsulated it, saying that my story had become theirs, and their story had become mine.
On October 7, together with the audience, I had the privilege of touching upon the core of what music should represent: faith, honesty and trust. I truly believe that events like these bring positivity into this world. And this gives a deeper purpose to my further quest for authenticity in the future performances.
For those wondering, I did not record these concerts. Maybe it's better that way, who knows, filming might have steered the experience in a different direction.
However, I'm in the process of recording and releasing the songs from the concert, and I'm actively working on arranging another similar performance in the near future.
Stay tuned for more.