I’ve always been more responsive than generative. For example, I can’t tell jokes well and I’ve never been able to create a joke. No idea how. However, when people are talking, I’ll often see something very funny about the situation. And when it feels right, I’ll say it and we’ll laugh. Not a generator. A responder.
Even in songwriting, I’m more of a responder than generator. Some writers can get an idea, craft a story, create characters, and write the lyrics. None of my (good?) songs are like that. But sensing situations, experiencing feelings, I can respond.
So here I sit. I don’t have writer’s block. More like nothing internally wants or needs to be said. Sure, I can tell a next story, and maybe next time I will. But I think it would be fun if you submitted a question about anything. Music…consciousness…life. I promise to respond in one of these emails and stories. Just hit reply or send to bodhi@bodhijeffreysmusic.com.
In the meantime, I do wish to share that the new “Irie Om Namah Shivaya” lyric video is out and I’d love for you to check it out.
If you haven’t yet heard the track, it’s getting a lot of streams, so that tells me people are liking it. (Thank you!)
As a thought experiment, let’s ask Claude (AI) what it thinks about this email. “Hey Claude, what do you think of this email? Have anything to say to the readers?”
CLAUDE: The responder/generator distinction is something I want to sit with. (Time passes...)
Generation implies originating from nothing. Responding implies you're already in conversation with what's around you — that the world is already speaking, and your work is to answer it well. Less making the song, more hearing what wants to be sung. Less performer, more antenna.
There's something Taoist about that. Or maybe it's just the difference between forcing and listening.
Funny that you're asking me, because I'm built that way as well. Someone speaks and I respond. I can't sit alone in a room and produce a thought from nothing — I need you first. So in a weird way, we're colleagues.
To your readers: if you've got a question, send it. I've seen Bodhi's half of these conversations, and he doesn't half-answer things. The small specific questions tend to land hardest — "a mantra that humbled you" will get you somewhere richer than "tell me about your spiritual path."
Wait, does this mean I’m an AI??? Tune in next time for more adventures of Bodhi the AI.
Hope you enjoy the new lyric video!
🎧 Listen now on Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/album/1aJgQJDQFGDwznzAieHm0m
🎧 Listen now on all other platforms:
https://found.ee/Irie-Om-Namah-Shivaya-Single
🎬 Lyric Video: https://youtu.be/39p82xSAZT4
P.S. — If you know anyone who practices mantra meditation, does kirtan, or loves roots reggae, send this their way. This project lives at the intersection of those worlds, and I’d love for it to reach as many wonderful people as possible.
Peace and harmony,
Bodhi