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In this episode, hosts Pam Shaffer, Jessica Stoya and Laurie Penny delve into the emotional and sensory aspects of music, the science behind it, and its universal appeal. Co-hosts Jessica Stoya and Laurie Penny ask questions that highlight the multifaceted impact of music on emotions and its role in personal expression and therapy, as Pam shares her journey from her childhood fascination with music playing piano to producing music under the name Pearl Holly and balancing her music career with her work as a therapist at Best Self Psych. The three hosts also discuss the cathartic power of music, misheard lyrics, and the art of music production.
Links
Best Self Psych - therapy and coaching
Episode Notes
Pam's Early Music Experiences
•Pam Shaffer shares her first live performance experience at a Cats musical, where she sang along loudly and was told to use her inside voice.
•She describes how performers interacted with the audience, which made a lasting impression on her.
•Pam recounts how she passed out from excitement after the performance, highlighting her passion for music.
•Laurie Penny and Jessica Stoya discuss Pam's role as the "music person" in their trio and her contributions to their theme song.
The Creation of the Theme Song
•Jessica Stoya explains how she came up with a six-verse song about a friend's cabin, dubbed the "f_ck hut," and asked Pam to turn it into a song.
•Pam describes the process of creating the theme song with Jessica, using synthesizers and her own voice.
•Laurie Penny expresses her excitement about the spoken word piece about the "f_ck hut."
•Jessica mentions that the friend with the "f_ck hut" is now happily married, making it comfortable to release the song.
Pam's Musical Journey
•Pam recounts her early musical experiences, starting with her sister's piano lessons and her own talent for mimicry and memorization.
•She describes her love for a wide range of music, including Mozart, Janet Jackson, and Simon and Garfunkel.
•Pam shares her first live performance experience at a Cats musical, which solidified her desire to pursue music.
•She discusses her parents' initial encouragement of her musical talent and their later concerns about its unpredictability.
Balancing Music and Therapy
•Pam talks about her dual career as a therapist and a musician, and how she used different band names to separate her professional identities.
•She describes the challenges of balancing music production with her therapy practice, especially during the pandemic.
•Pam explains how she continued to make music despite not actively releasing it, focusing on the mechanics of sharing her music.
•She expresses her joy in returning to releasing music and the importance of storytelling and myth-making around her music.
The Artistry of Music Production
•Pam discusses her approach to music production, emphasizing the importance of multi-sensory experiences and the use of colors and textures in her music.
•She explains how she harmonizes with sub-audible frequencies when writing at her piano, which influences her vocal melodies.
•Pam describes the process of mixing sounds to create a cohesive musical experience, including the challenges of balancing different frequencies.
•She shares her fascination with the science behind music production and how it affects her creative process.
The Emotional Connection to Music
•Laurie Penny asks Pam about the emotional connection to music and how it bypasses language centers in the brain.
•Pam explains the universal nature of music and its ability to evoke emotions without cognitive translation.
•She discusses the importance of resolving musical phrases to create a sense of completion and satisfaction.
•Pam shares her experience of writing music inspired by art, such as the queen of cups tarot card, and how it influences her songwriting.
The Role of Music in Emotional Expression
•Laurie Penny and Pam discuss the different ways people express emotions through music, with Laurie focusing on lyrics and Pam on playing and producing music.
•Pam describes how playing the piano can be a more immediate and expressive way to convey emotions compared to singing.
•Laurie shares her experience of being a cantor in her family and how her father's family has a history of remembering words.
•Jessica Stoya talks about her hyperlexic tendencies and how she uses music for emotional catharsis, especially when she can't talk due to a throat issue.
The Impact of Music on Emotional Well-being
•Pam shares stories of how her music has helped others, such as preventing a panic attack on a plane and providing comfort to people.
•She emphasizes the importance of making music accessible and relatable to different emotional landscapes.
•Laurie Penny discusses her role in a LARP as a muse of music and how she plans to portray the character with honesty and no ability to lie.
•Pam advises Laurie to ask her partner about their experience of inspiration to better understand their character's motivations.
The Science of Music and Emotion
•Pam and Laurie discuss the scientific aspects of music, including the relationship between tones and the importance of resolution in musical phrases.
•Pam explains how music theory helps her understand and refine her musical ideas, making her production process more efficient.
•They talk about the use of music in movies to create tension and emotional impact, such as the constant ascending sound in war movies.
•Pam shares her fascination with the neurodivergent aspects of music and how it resonates with her sensory experiences.
The Art of Listening to Music
•Laurie Penny and Pam discuss the art of listening to music and how different people interpret and connect with it.
•Pam shares her experience of writing music with her partner and the challenges of creating vocal lines in their presence.
•Laurie talks about the trust and vulnerability involved in composing music with others, such as her friend Nancy Vogel.
•They discuss the importance of understanding the emotional impact of music and how it can bypass cultural and linguistic barriers.
The Catharsis of Music
•Jessica Stoya and Pam discuss the cathartic effects of music and how it can provide emotional relief.
•Pam shares her love for music made by fellow autists and how it resonates with her sensory experiences.
•They talk about the importance of music in their lives and how it helps them express and process emotions.
•Laurie Penny and Pam discuss the different ways people experience and interpret music, emphasizing the universal nature of its emotional impact.
