Interview:

All cultures attest to the fact that composing, performing, listening, and dancing to music produce peak experiences, ranging from the highest sense of well-being to mystical oneness with the universe. I call such events, which are among the most deeply cherished of our lives, Transcendent Musical Experiences (TMEs). I believe we each have a soul, which guides us to fulfill our destiny, often using TMEs. The purpose of TMEs is to give permission and show the way. Think about it, if you create music, if you adore a composer, singer, or group, even to the point of allowing their lifestyle or lyrics to guide you, chances are there’s a TME behind your actions. As producers and consumers of music, we need to be aware of the power of TMEs.

How do we guide our listeners in ways that open up their potential to move, love, think, imagine, create, and get closer to the soul? Is the music we love leading us in directions that benefit our growth and that of others? TMEs break down the barriers that isolate us from each other. They help us know we’re not alone in the world, that others have lived, thought, loved, and experienced ecstatic spiritual highs, just as we have. They open us to a connection with dance partners, a crowd at a party, and the congregation at a worship service. Transcendent Musical Experiences melt the heart, opening the way to the soul.

“Transcendent Musical Experiences melt the heart, opening the way to the soul.”
– Kurt Leland, author of “Music And The Soul: A Listener’s Guide To Achieving Transcendent Musical Experiences”