A SUNDAY SERMON WITH ULTRA NATÉ.
It started Sunday morning as I scrolled past Honey Dijon on social.
She posted the record image of Leee John's 'Mighty Power of Love’ with words about the power of house music. It struck a cord in me, so in turn I searched out a Mood II Swing mix and came across a version featuring Ultra Naté's 'Free'. What I wasn't expecting was this 1997 anthem to speak directly to me today as if Ultra herself had leaped out of the speaker to grab me by the shoulders and shake me back into life. And just so we're clear, here's those lyrics:
Where did we go wrong
Where did we lose our faith
My brother is in need
But can he depend on me
Do you think if one of you tried
Maybe you could find
A better friend than any other
If you gave more than you took
Life could be so good
Come on and try
Now's the time
'Cause you're free
To do what you want to do
You've got to live your life
Do what you want to do
Do what you want
Do what you want to do
Are we all strangers
Does anyone really care
Deep down were all the same
Trying to hide our pain
You think you can never trust another
Cause they're all out to get ya
We have to live in this world together
If we open up our hearts
Love can finally start
Come on and try
Now's the time
'Cause you're free
To do what you want to do
You've got to live your life
Do what you want to do
When you're down and you're
Feeling bad
Everybody has left you sad
Feels like no one will pull you through
Its your life what'cha gonna do
Make that change lets start today
Get outta bed get on your way
Don't be scared your dream’s right there
You want it reach for it
'Cause you're free
To do what you want to do
You've got to live your life
Do what you want to do
Do what you want
Do what you want to do
People sometimes joke, "We're living in a simulation.” But there are days I'm honestly not sure I didn't die one night during Horse Meat Disco at Output and this is actually Hell, where all my nightmares are destined to become true slowly, surely, and steadfastly.
The only thing that reassures me is house music. Because house music gives me Hope. And I am absolutely sure they don't give you Hope in Hell.
One year ago I was preparing for Rites of Spring at Saint at Large's The Black Party; an opportunity for me to shed my demons and move forward back into the Light. But it seems I've found new demons to carry on my back. I suppose thats why we do this every year, because every time we chase our darkness away, it comes back in new, unexpected ways. Now we approach the beginning of April, and an institution that has welcomed us into spring the past 40 years is postponed until fall, just like the rest of life it seems during these times. Life is postponed. We are in the Essential Era. You must have home essentials, your job must essential, and essentiality is the new currency. It makes you very thankful for those that keep society together when it's at its worst, but it makes you feel very lost when all your life is just the frivolous. I don't exist in the sterile world of must-haves and must-do's, and frankly, I don't want to.
But just as Saint at Large was created to share the mission of the legendary nightclub, The Saint, without its walls, we must find it in ourselves to celebrate our Rites beyond the confinement of a dance floor. The Black Party still happens if we all can tune in to that frequency within ourselves.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not valuing a night of hedonism over the health of the public. But self-isolation should be reminding us the value of connection with others and just how fortunate we are when we convene on a dance floor. I hope we don't forget it when this too shall pass.
As a non-essential person, I've been faced again with the question of my purpose – an enigma that has been the driving force of my Fear for the past two years. And every time I seemed to have captured that purpose, it seems to shift shape and escape me again. Much like Elmer Fudd, I'm never going to catch that damn rabbit.
I've worked in events and parties my entire life, but now I'm faced with the realization that their importance in society is as ephemeral as the parties themselves. Smoke and mirrors have no place when the world goes to shit. I was asked what I would do now. And honestly, I don't know. There's only one other thing I can really do, and it's what I'm doing now.
My writing is what has always spoken to people the most, far beyond any other skill I possess. So in this time of darkness it seems my writing is what I can share. I had made this blog private because I felt I had lost so much of myself in the past six months, and this whole site was just a joke. But today I realize it can not only be my contribution, but also my salvation. Through my words, I can rediscover myself and remind you why even the non-essential is truly essential.
I only write when something speaks through my mind, body, and soul, creating the right vibration by which I'm inspired to share my message. And house music is that frequency that tunes me in to a higher purpose. I know I have a message when I hear a track and it sends words racing through my mind, my body starts to move, and my soul is ready to speak. It's good to have that feeling again today, courtesy of Miss Ultra Naté. I've been tuned out for a long time. I'm sure some of you are starting to feel the same, or have been for longer than I.
So tune in. Turn it up. Music is the Answer.
You've got to live your life. Do what you want to do.
Lately, I've felt like the Hatter has looked me in the eye and said, "You're not the same as you were before. You were much more muchier. You've lost your muchness.” Six months ago I moved to Atlanta for work and for what I thought were the right things to do for my life. Obviously I couldn't have foreseen what would be coming. But I also couldn't have foreseen falling in love. And as happy as that made me in a way I haven't been for a long time, it couldn't fulfill my purpose or make me love myself. And if you can't love yourself…
I knew that if I was ever going to be me again, I had to let go. I've got to get back to what makes me so me. Through all this, you've got to get back to what makes you so you. And we've all got to agree that we will get back to what makes us so us.
So with that mission, I'm going to try day by day to do those things that get me back to my normal, which is probably not very normal at all. I'm going to wear silly hats. I'm going to dance like a fool wherever I am. And I'm going to write.
My intention is to focus on more interviews with nightlife artists that are struggling now not only with essentials, but also how they continue to do what they love to do for our community and beyond. I don't want to give any more platform to darkness, but only to vibrant stories from our streets that give us Hope and remind us what makes us so us.
Stay safe. Stay home. Stay connected.
Let there be House.
Xx,
David X Daisy