As I delved deeper into my short-lived infatuation with DJing in the late ‘90s and early ‘00s, I came across the work of DJ Brian whose Hardesertrance2 album (1998) I studied closely. In particular, I repeatedly listened to the first electronic dance music (EDM) song on the anthology.
That track was “Emotions” by Sonic Fusion, from the album Confused (1999). One imagines that DJ Brian’s single was released prior to Sonic Fusion’s anthology, which would explain the discrepancy between release dates reflected herein. Yet, I digress.
I recall hours spent alone in my room while listening to various EDM tracks and selecting which song would pair well with “Emotions.” That was back before digital beat-matching software and thumb drives with entire DJ sets were widely used.
Sonic Fusion’s album played on one of my Pioneer CDJ-100S decks while I excitedly scrambled to load an appropriate analogue track into my secondary deck – all while burning a mix in real time. This process was accompanied by a delightful swirl of pleasing emotions and bodily sensations.
For those individuals who received my Insomniac Trip CD mix, I hope to have influenced a similar experience of joy and pleasure. This expressed aspiration relates to Sonic Fusion’s namesake.
The word “sonic” is defined as utilizing, produced by, or relating to sound waves and the term “fusion” is defined as a merging of diverse, distinct, or separate elements into a unified whole. The latter word infers the verb “infusion”—to cause (as a person) to become filled or saturated with a certain quality or principle.
When DJing with hope, I aspired to sonically-infuse emotions—cause people to become filled with a conscious mental reaction that was subjectively experienced as strong feeling with physiological and behavioral changes in the body through the medium of sound waves.
Because of my decision in childhood to maintain a life of sobriety, I realized when DJing that fellow ravers and people who enjoyed my EDM mix CDs likely wouldn’t relate to my lifestyle. However, through the sonically-infused emotions I hoped to inspire, I found common ground with other individuals.
Although it wasn’t a necessary component of my creative process, I found that most of the people who received mixes from me expressed appreciation and relayed their experience of joyous and pleasurable moments which punctuated an otherwise dull, ordinary, or disappointing existence.
Somehow, a sober DJ was able to meld the tradition of exogenous (external) chemically-influenced EDM culture with endogenous (internal) chemicals which influenced pleasant emotive experiences such as joy. This was accomplished through little more than the infusion of a sonic method (mix CD).
When thinking about this matter further, I reflect upon Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) and how the ABC model serves as a matter of causation in regard to the process of self-disturbance. Essentially, people upset themselves with an unhelpful belief-consequence (B-C) connection.
Conversely, individuals can also un-disturb themselves through use of effective new beliefs (the E-C connection). Using this method, people are able to cognitively influence their emotions in a similar manner to how I once sonically-infused emotions when DJing.
Imagine that you’re walking along a street without 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, commonly known as ecstasy) and that you don’t have my Insomniac Trip mix with you. Without external influence, you could achieve a level of contentment by way of a helpful E-C connection.
Notice that I’m not attempting to persuade you to seek happiness. I’ve intentionally advocated “contentment” herein. This is because – at least in my opinion, after having conducted myself as a life coach since 1991 and a psychotherapist since 2011 – the pursuit of happiness is little more than a trap.
While it may be accurately stated that I’ve discussed a “hope to have influenced a similar experience of joy and pleasure” when DJing, I didn’t use unhelpful demandingness in that regard, as doing so would likely have led to self-disturbance.
To understand what I mean, suppose that I told myself when DJing, “I must make people happy;” what may’ve resulted if or when people didn’t like the music that I spun? I’d probably have caused myself to experience sorrow, fear, or anger through use of that unproductive assumption.
Alternatively, if I would’ve stated to myself, “I hope to make people happy,” and if or when people didn’t like the mixes that I produced, I’d likely have been disappointed though simultaneously content from having had an opportunity to at least try to improve the moods of others.
Now, let’s refocus to the point at which you’re imaginarily walking along a street while using a helpful E-C, versus B-C, connection. You could experience contentment in association with what you believe, even in the absence of MDMA or an Insomniac Trip CD.
Even if you were somehow able to make yourself experience joy or pleasure with whatever you told yourself, your default setting would remain as contentment and your surprising ability to attain happiness would likely benefit you, as well. Either way, you wouldn’t be self-disturbed.
Many years ago, I sonically-infused emotions as a DJ, and now I hope to help people improve their moods through use of REBT. At least, I try to do so. Even if I fail in this endeavor, I’m not a failure.
It’s with this understanding that I’m currently content and remain grateful for the music of DJ Brian and Sonic Fusion. If you’d like to know more about how to practice REBT in the interest of a well-lived life described herein, I look forward to hearing from you.
If you’re looking for a provider who tries to work to help you understand how thinking impacts physical, mental, emotional, and behavioral elements of your life, I invite you to reach out today by using the contact widget on my website.
As the world’s foremost EDM-influenced REBT psychotherapist—promoting content related to EDM, I’m pleased to try to help people with an assortment of issues from anger (hostility, rage, and aggression) to relational issues, adjustment matters, trauma experience, justice involvement, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety and depression, and other mood or personality-related matters.
At Hollings Therapy, LLC, serving all of Texas, I aim to treat clients with dignity and respect while offering a multi-lensed approach to the practice of psychotherapy and life coaching. My mission includes: Prioritizing the cognitive and emotive needs of clients, an overall reduction in client suffering, and supporting sustainable growth for the clients I serve. Rather than simply trying to help you to feel better, I want to try to help you get better!
Deric Hollings, LPC, LCSW
References:
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Bogdan Nicolae Cojocaru 3. (2016, October 11). DJ Brian - Hardesertrance2 [1998] [Video]. YouTube. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/SYhby0LgCtg?si=vOod61wwrep8SQwo
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