This an ode to Jono, Paavo & Tony who are the trio behind one of the most influential electronic music acts in the world, Above & Beyond.
“In the confines of a photograph
Lives a child who once was me
do you see?
I still see through those eyes”— “My Own Hymn”
Their music is a fusion of emotionally charged progressive melodies with relatable and raw lyrics. songs that remind you of all that surrounds you…and that we are never alone.
Music unites us all. (watch for ~40 seconds).
I was at EDC (Electric Daisy Carnival) Las Vegas in 2015. It was my first time seeing Above & Beyond. It didn’t take long before the tears began to stream down my face. Their music is uplifting and euphoric but it is also bold and full of presence. You know when they’re on set. In that crowd, on that day, my best friend found the love of his life (and now baby mama!). I found joy, community and lots of hugs in that crowd. I was so entranced I actually let my thoughts and worries roll right off of me. For those couple hours anyway.
Their music has birthed a very loyal and meaningful community. They “win” because they value their fans over their own interests. It is clear to me that the coherence of their community is directly related to their focus in bringing the community together with something we can all understand: love.
Music unites us all because, well, music is a feeling. Something we can all understand.
the stranger beside me was also singing:
“If you’ve ever lost every part of yourself
If you’ve left your heart on a lonely avenue
It will be only a matter of time
Before your life comes through for you”
You are reminded that there are others out there struggling just like you are now or how you have in the past. you are reminded that even if for a few hours, we can feel like we’re all in this together. Every hug, every smile and every high five from that crowd is a reminder that music really can unite us.
when we see others gathering for the same reasons as us, we begin to heal the part of ourselves that feels alone because we believe we are unworthy, undeserving or even incapable. we see that we are in fact not that different and not that alone, if we choose.
their music gave me the freedom to feel comfortable being myself. anytime that anyone reimagines themselves enough to feel comfortable being themselves, is growth. But before growth must come joy. We have to be enjoying our experience as a human being in order to evolve.
Their music showed me that love is everywhere. that feeling gave me the moments of joy i needed to feel free and evolve as a human. I found a way to generate joy, with a big assist from Above and Beyond.
Jono, Paavo and Tony, thank you. The music you create gives me all the feels. The shows you put on are exactly as advertised: group therapy.
A king for a day,
Omid