Worldly Resonance

Wata%2C+the+lead+guitarist+of+Japanese+experimental+Prog+Metal+band+%E2%80%98Boris%E2%80%99+rocks+with+her+signature+loudness+under+the+bright+pink+lights+of+the+Biltmore+Cabaret+in+Vancouver%2C+BC

Photo Credit: Tim Bray

Wata, the lead guitarist of Japanese experimental Prog Metal band ‘Boris’ rocks with her signature loudness under the bright pink lights of the Biltmore Cabaret in Vancouver, BC

Parker Winn, Reporter

The world we know is dense with different cultures, languages, and customs. Along with such a dense mixture of uniquity, there is an equally dense world filled with music. When you think about it, the differences between the two are so clear. Music can be freeing, and culture is easily defined by its regularity and exclusive structuring.

Music flows without goals, without strictures, and without adversity. In a world filled with hate and prejudice in everyone’s daily lives, music is entertainment that can be enjoyed by everybody, by themselves, with others, or even with the contempt of humanity at their side.

Conversely, the two are so closely related that it feels only natural for them to mingle and reflect upon each other.

Musicians continuously use culture to inject its teachings and philosophies into their music, employing its teachings and ideas in a way that crafts a sonic footprint that can incite anything from solemnity to rebellion.

These perceived differences can drive the two to differentiate and disassociate themselves from each other, but as mentioned before, they’re not exactly all that different.

Culture is generally a space in which a person or a people reside, music can be the same. Both are spaces in which a person can feel like part of a group, whether it be behavioral similarities or other signifiers, the two have always served as a way for individuals to come together.

Around the world, culture and music are everywhere. They’re both incredibly varied, unique, and special in every way. Every place in the world has a selection of both. They go hand in hand, they’re two of the biggest reasons we can differentiate places and people.

At such a broad scale, it can be hard to enjoy the similarities between certain styles of music and their respective cultures. For example, for many who live in America, it’s likely pretty hard to listen to anything other than western style music. Top 40 and the like are easily listenable for a lot of folks, not so much for say, Norwegian black metal or traditional Mongolian throat music.

Part of the reason for this could be language barriers, or a lack of personal relationships with such music.

Alternatively, the people in the west who might listen to such music may seem outlandish or supposed to have some sort of familiarity with that kind of music.

For a lot of us, music is not so one dimensional that we need to understand or even partially grasp the language to respect and enjoy the music.

Music very easily bridges the gap between culture. Everyone listens to music, everyone has some sort of semblance of natural rhythm inside of them, and therefore, it’s a universally enjoyed activity.

The world is full of style and nature when it comes to music, and some of us are bound to enjoy only a small portion of all that variety. The world is a big place full of such uniqueness and quality, don’t focus on just a small amount of what’s available, but don’t force yourself to see the world, either.