Finding the magic of Music

In the depths of my soul, music found its way, offering solace and healing when life felt fragmented and disjointed. It became my refuge, a sanctuary where melodies intertwined and resonated, mending the broken pieces within. Allow me to take you on a short journey, as I share my experiences as a musician—a journey that traverses the landscapes of self-inquiry, the joy and solace of music, vibrant musical scenes from the 2000s, and the liberating realms of healing and inner work.

From the age of 15, the guitar became a faithful companion. Melodies whispered and echoed emotions and words that I couldn’t otherwise convey. I dedicated countless hours to my guitar practice, seeking solace, connection, and joy within the embrace of its strings. In the solitude of my practice, I found a haven where I could confront wounds and process my emotions, marking the beginning of my journey of self-healing and self-discovery.

Jazz, a genre often dismissed as foreign and uninteresting in my early ’90s Israel, resonated with a depth that defied cultural boundaries. Even before fully immersing myself in its rich harmonies and improvisations, I could hear the jazz phrases playing within me. It felt like a language of shapes and colors appearing within, an intricate tapestry waiting to be explored.

As I delved deeper into jazz, I embarked on a journey of acquiring a skill, the ability to deconstruct and reassemble things that are naturally invisible. The goal of being able to comprehend and recreate what I was hearing was both challenging and exciting. Breaking down the complex structure and understanding its essence on my own terms, eventually instilled in me the patience and discipline needed to fully immerse myself. Through sheer determination and an insatiable thirst for knowledge, I unraveled the mysteries of this art form, allowing its rhythms and melodies to infuse every fiber of my being.

In the early 2000s, when I was in my early 20s, I was living in the vibrant city of Berlin—a melting pot of artistic expression and boundless experimentation. I was drawn to unconventional, experimental music and the act of challenging mainstream music itself. Berlin was becoming a hub for electronic music, avant-garde free improvisation, and experimental soundscapes. The premise of such a diverse musical ecosystem captivated my senses and ignited a period of artistic experimentation in my life.

Within the halls of art school, I stepped into a world where the boundaries of artistic expression dissolved, and creativity knew no limits. Collaborating with fellow artists on interdisciplinary projects became a fertile ground for forming partnerships for exploration. This allowed me to transcend the confines of my own exploration and reach out to what felt like forming and dissolving shapes of my musical vocabulary. The interplay of different art forms felt both liberating and adventurous, expanding my own horizons, igniting new ideas and perspectives towards life and pushing the boundaries of my musical journey further into more abstract definitions of interplay and expression.

As I reflect upon my path, the healing power of music—a force that transcends language and connects us to our deepest selves—emerges as the commonly ignored or forgotten silent force that underpins it all. Through melodies and harmonies, I have found solace and an understanding of the infinite languages of the soul. Music has been my refuge, a vessel through which I navigate the many invisible intricacies of life, finding moments of serenity and joy amidst the chaos.

The journey of a musician is one of constant growth and self-discovery—a dance between love and fear, harmony and dissonance. It is a testament to the mostly invisible and silent forces that constitute and protect the human spirit and the power of art to mend the fragmented pieces of our existence.

As I continue to explore the ever-expanding horizons of life, I am filled with gratitude for the melodies that have graced my life and the healing they have brought. May we all find solace in the embrace of music, allowing it to guide us on our own unique journeys of self-discovery and transformation.