Lead singer of the band Dissolve, Paul Thorstenson, visits Chris Grosso on the Indie Spiritualist Podcast for a conversation about his journey as a musician and how music can offer a deeper connection to ourselves.
Hardcore Bhav
Paul speaks with Chris about finding himself through music. He talks about his passion for using music to generate positive energy for others that allows them to connect to a deeper place (the bhav). The two look at the positivity, community, and refuge offered through hardcore music, metal, and punk rock – which often gets overshadowed by the harsh aesthetic of the genres.
“There was something that you could feel (through the music), it wasn’t a tangible thing. I think what it was is that there was soul in it. Something that fills you with intangible energy. That was the turning point for me. I remember on the ride home thinking to my self, ‘I have got to be in a band – I have got to do that!’ I wanted to do that for other people and have that kind of uplifting experience with other people.” – Paul Thorstenson
Dissolve (18:45)
Chris and Paul talk about the history of Paul’s long-lived band, Dissolve. They discuss the band’s journey through the hardcore music scene and the lessons that they learned along the way.
“There is music that you hear when you are young, before you get jaded and real-life comes caving in, that really blows you away. It might not even be the best music. There are records that I have that I know are not really good records, musically, but they still make me feel great because they blew me away. These records hit me at the right age at the right time.” – Paul Thorstenson
Another Path Inward (35:20)
What is the connection between mindfulness, meditation and hardcore music? Paul and Chris speak about how music that may seem heavy, dark, and chaotic on the outside can be as spiritually fulfilling to some as any sacred music.
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