I was in college in the early 2000's. Outkast was such a big deal at that time that it was almost impossible to walk into any campus community space without seeing their videos on TV. I'm not a visual person but the image of the iconic video from "Hey Ya!" playing on the TV in the student gym is burned in my mind.
Outkast was a rap group, but that video and song made it abundantly clear that the group's constituents, Big Boi and Andre 3000, weren't overly concerned with genre. Given this, I suppose I shouldn't have been surprised by Andre 3000's latest album but I admit that I absolutely have been.
If we had to put Outkast and Andre 3000 in a genre category, the best categorization would probably be rap, right? Well, what kind of album did Andre just release? A new age flute album entitled New Blue Sun.
This is not a joke, but when I first read about this I swear that I grinned from ear to ear. I wasn't laughing at Andre. Far from it, I was elated for him. It appears that he became somewhat obsessed with the flute, started doing pop up concerts, and let himself play enough to generate an entire album.
New age is not my normal genre, but I decided to give New Blue Sun a listen during my meditation sessions. The titles alone made the experience worthwhile. The first track is called "I swear, I Really Wanted To Make A 'Rap' Album But This Is Literally The Way The Wind Blew Me This Time ."
I'm not a musician. At best, I am an avid car/shower singer and a failed pianist. As a writer, though, that title spoke to me so deeply. How many times had I sat down to write one thing only to see some other totally different thing emerge? And how many times had I come up with something great just because I let myself play and have fun?
I am here to say that New Blue Sun is one of those great things that comes from having fun. Unlike some of Andre's prior work with Outkast, I would say it fits squarely within the new age genre. It's all instrumental and the vibes are similar to what you'd get from artists like Enigma, Enya, or Deuter.
But what I like best is that you can hear Andre playing with sound. Flute is present on most tracks, but it is used in so many ways you may not always realize it is the sound from a flute. You can also hear other sounds blended in throughout, such as shells rattling.
Though the tracks have a feeling of being random, Andre's skill with sound is apparent. The tracks come together in the end to create a cohesive whole and convey an emotion. The changing quality of the tracks, however, is what I like best.
Because so many varieties of sound, rhythm, tone, and mood are used in each track, the album is perfect for meditation. The music in general is calm and introspective, but the shifts and changes help keep your attention.
In fact, my favorite track for starting a meditation session is "Ninety Three 'Til Infinity And Beyonce." That track starts with beats perfectly synced up to box breathing and enables deep relaxation in less than 3 minutes.
Does New Blue Sun signify that Andre 3000 may defy expectations entirely by venturing beyond the bounds of music into the world of spiritual teaching? I don't know. Rumors are that a new Outkast album may happen first and I personally can't wait to see what might come from that.
In truth, I don't expect Andre 3000 to start a profile on Insight Timer any time soon or to become the next Oprah. But his album teaches a spiritual lesson for many lawyers out there and anyone who wants to live a creative life.
The lesson is that sometimes you can't predict where the wind will blow you. You can't control what comes out when you start to make things. This can be scary and frustrating, but it can also be worthwhile. New Blue Sun shows us it is possible to see beyond the expectations set by others and ourselves. And when we do something totally unexpected but also good can emerge.
As I start my new year in a new law firm, I for one am thrilled to have Andre 3000's New Blue Sun as an example of the beauty can emerge when you learn to just play with life.
Want to learn more about mindfulness and compassion? Check out my new book, How to Be a Badass Lawyer, for a simple guide to creating a meditation practice of your own in 30 days. And to share mindfulness with your little one, check out my new children's book, Mommy Needs a Minute.
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