Music is a Soul Comforter by Wendy Cason

We always have music and that alone can soothe the soul.  June is not only about the beginning of summer, but it has also been celebrated as a month of African American music recognition. You don’t hear too much about Black Music Month anymore.  So to lighten the load of the world a bit, let’s celebrate just for a little while.  We can’t let June slip past without showing appreciation to some of the soul comforting sounds of African American music. Whether it be jazz, hip-hop, neo-soul, gospel, reggae, house or R & B, music transcends through all barriers and transforms our whole sensory nervous system.

Music is a force that moves through our soul like a bolt of lightning!  When we hear a song for the first time and quickly use our mobile app to get the name of the artist(s) and song title, the next thing is to buy it.  Some people like to download music, others go to major retailers and get it, but there are still some that like the authentic music stores.  You know the ones that are jamming when you walk in and make you stop in your tracks…yeah, I find those little gems to be magical. 

At any rate, when we make these purchases we’ve just bought stock in something and the only reason is because at that moment it made us feel a certain way.  Paying homage to the Black record stores is one of the things I do just to show appreciation for the longevity of staying in a tough fight.

In the world of technology, music can be obtained with a press of a button.  Yet, record stores are becoming obsolete especially Black-owned record stores.  Nevertheless, some enthusiasts like myself, still prefer to have collector’s items as such.  One of my favorite places to visit when I need to press pause is a music store.  Here in Atlanta, GA you can find some of the best music at Moods Music in the Little Five Points district.  Although they carry a wide selection of various artists stemming from all across the world, I find that they have the most diverse selection of “SOUL” music.

Artists like Jumanji, whose cd is so immersed in mind-blowing craftsmanship that you can’t even predict what the next track will sound like but be prepared for eargasms throughout.  Other artists that are slipping under the radar but can definitely set or change a mood to complete blissfulness are: Maysa, Sy Smith, DJ Ezasscul, Esnavi, Robert Glasper,  Carmen Rogers, The Rurals, Dangerfield Newbies, King, Oddisee, Elijah Bland, JSoul, and Conya Doss just to name a few of my personal favorites.  These talented brothers and sisters are unique in their own right bringing a style of their own and doing it with pure delight for your listening pleasure.  This is the type of music that keeps me coming back to the record store…it’s not mainstream but definitely “music to my ears”.  No matter where I go, I will always find a record store. 

It really doesn’t matter what you’re musical taste is or whether you want to step outside your preference of music as long as you let the music play.  Let it carry you for a while if for nothing more than to wash away the stresses and hardships of the day.  Celebrate every day with a little bit of soul; don’t get swept away in the midst of the chaos.  We can’t run from our problems but we can run to music. 

 Respect to all the amazing African American artists that fill us up when we’re running on empty with their beats and lyrics.  Blessings to the Black record store for bringing sunshine to my life.  Black Music Month is a time to celebrate how far and wide our music has reached across cultures however, we have access to it on a daily basis…go ahead put your music on! 

As an era where the music industry has drastically changed, it hasn’t halted in the desire to feed us.  We sing to it, dance to it, play to it, dress to it, exercise to it, drive to it, and yes, we’ve even made lots and lots of babies to music.  Music is truly the one thing that has no color barriers or stereotypes…it loves all people.  Its vibrations move through us in different ways but we all find something about music we love.  Now who can hate that?  With music you can just be!