It is truly frustrating when you write something about a great or interesting statement you heard in an interview but didn’t bother to write down where the interview came. This is such a case so I can’t give you the source (it was on YouTube but I cannot find it no matter how I try. It was from the BBC if remember correctly). If you find it please let me know.

An interviewer asked Brian Eno if dark times made for better music. His reply was interesting. He said that he thought that great music is being made all the time, it’s just that we notice great music more in dark times.

I believe it works both ways. Artists have a tendency to allow their art to reach new heights when they are most desperately drowning. But that has to be for them personally. The more desperate or bleak things become for more people, the better chance for great music (if the artists allows).

By the same token, people discover hidden gems more readily when things are rough. For instance, I have always been a fan of the band Pearls Before Swine and Tom Rapp. I’ve owned Journal of the Plague Year for a long time but it took me until just recently to really appreciate it. It took me until I was in the right place to truly get it. My personal situations and the general atmosphere of the times made this album present itself in sharper relief. Music, whether appreciated or created, is a mighty healer.

I believe this is a prime time to seek out music you’ve never heard before. I hope to be more regular in my writing to help with this. I also will continue to be on the lookout for gems. I, however, seem to accidentally stumble on them and am open enough to listen. Same thing, I guess. The only difference is that I open the door and stumble in as opposed to opening the door and charging in.

Happy hunting or stumbling!

Cheers!