Sing for Science

Hello, Journal. Today I’m listening to the Sing for Science Podcast conversation with Wilco’s frontman Jeff Tweedy and Cornell University computational psychologist Dr. Shimon Edelman where they talk Tweedy’s lyrics, the nature of consciousness, and a lot more. It’s wild. And interesting.

Sing for Science is created and hosted by New York musician Matt Whyte. The concept is to “use a song's lyrical content as a launching pad for the musician to have a conversation with a relevant scientist.” These episodes cover a wide variety of topics—Quantum Physics, Cardiology, Aerospace Engineering, Climate Science, and a lot more—within that framing. Though it’s new to me, I’m very interested in listening to more.

In this particular episode, Tweedy talks about the lyrics to “Less Than You Think” and the impetus behind them. I loved that Tweedy stuck up for the idea that he doesn’t need to understand, or stand behind, the meaning of the words he writes and sings. At least, that’s how I took it.

All too often, we expect artists to prove or somehow provide or explain meaning or belief when maybe all that there is to art is beauty and the act of creation. They go on to talk a lot about consciousness, free will, imagination, exercising creativity, spirituality, and a lot of other things.

I particularly enjoyed the end of the conversation around focus and flow and disappearing into your work, or how you might not, depending on how you work and how you experience time and focus. And then the subsequent discussion of shadow selves. Interesting stuff. Note to self: look up Chyros & Chronos.

It’s a fantastic listen, and I plan to check out Tweedy’s book. Maybe it’ll fit my reading challenge? We’ll see.