Therapy Through Music
What's good, everyone! I'm especially excited about this week's TearDrop, primarily because I felt a deep connection to the message as a creative. However, the more time I spent reflecting on the content and editing the article ruthlessly, I realized the message can apply to damn near everyone.
So let's get into it!
Today's featured guest is BMAR, a 24-year-old hip-hop and R&B artist who's insanely gifted at telling emotive stories through music. I was fortunate to connect with BMAR a little over a year ago through Rap Fiesta. And as soon as I listened to his album "Our Graceful Obiedent Death," I found myself addicted to BMAR's sound and musical swagger.
From then on, I stayed updated with all the music he released. I'm continually inspired and impressed (and perhaps a little envious) at the unapologetic vulnerability BMAR pours into everything he creates. From feelings of heartbreak to battling anxiety, BMAR fearlessly picks apart these complex emotions and regenerates them into an aural experience that hits your ears just right.
And that's what I'm hitting today; the immeasurable value in finding an outlet for genuine expression.
"Whenever you start something new, it's terrifying because you're worried about other people's perception and what they'll think," BMAR.
So how do we, as humans living in a world where others can scrutinize almost anything we do, get past that fear of genuine expression? Or, a more philosophical question, what's the point of expressing your raw emotions?
For BMAR and his music, being genuine and present as he's creating something is a way to capture a moment in history. Having the ability to freeze time for a moment and hold a piece of yourself there forever is a bit nostalgic.
But BMAR explains it's also an incredible way to look back and see how you've changed, see how you've been able to evolve from whatever you've experienced. And, as an artist, I think that's something beautiful.
Whether through a medium like music or an alternative way to express yourself, there's immense value and power in portraying what you truly feel inside. Easier said than done, I know. You're reading content produced by a queen of negative self-talk and continuous disbelief in my capabilities (shoutout mental health).
It's f*cking nerve-racking to take what you're feeling inside and show an unfiltered version of that to anybody, let alone the public. People have a lot to say about, well, anything. And the longer you sit there internalizing that fear about other people's perception, the scarier it gets.
But know this...
An extraordinary amount of personal power comes with finding an outlet for free expression. It's a form of therapy. It's a form of release. Holding all your emotions inside can do some serious damage (mental and physical). Maybe not immediately, but in the long run, that shit can eat away at you (particularly the hard-to-deal-with the emotions).
Find an outlet for self-expression (this may take some trial and error). And once you find that outlet, hold onto it tightly.
Each time someone introduces their true self to the world, this place gets juuust a little bit better.
A quick thank you and hype up to BMAR. We were introduced seemingly randomly and stayed in contact because of the art of music, which I find so dope. Thank you for always being so open about who you really are and what you're really feeling. And for helping DPRSD connect more people.
If you need some song recommendations from BMAR's discography, my personal favorites are "Last Breath," "Rockstar," and "Problemz." All heaters, I promise.
xo,
Jerksy
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The TearDrop is an integral part of the DPRSD brand; these individuals help create our genuine community of love and empathy. For each story, Jerksy has an open conversation with the featured guest, elects a creative direction, then writes and edits everything before your beautiful eyes see it. The process is fueled by an indescribable passion to construct something powerful enough to accurately describe the complexity of our mental health. So if you want to support DPRSD and ensure there are plenty of TearDrops to come, we graciously accept monetary contributions (and yes, $1 is donated).
