I oftentimes catch myself wondering where we’d be, as a civilization and even as a species, if music was nonexistent. Then, I find myself conceding to the belief that music is probably something that is universal, something that all intelligent beings have in their culture – regardless of species. With this in mind, I thought I’d share the music that I listen to when I consider myself to be at my most “intelligent” (please take note of the air quotes) state – music that accompanies me into the dynamic yet stationary realm of homework.

The artist that nearly always sits alongside me, indirectly playing the 100 billion  neural keys of my mind, is someone that goes by the name of Tom Day.

I like music that works my ears, something that will manipulate them into believing they are part of an inner monologue that doesn’t exactly pertain to them, yet almost feels nostalgic to the ear. An inner monologue where the subject matter is unknown and yet the one thing my ears and I know best. A monologue where two different voices make up one. A voice that guides me in whatever task I’m trying to accomplish.

Needless to say, Tom Day is what I listen to while reading, writing, walking, or simply thinking, and there’s a very unorthodox or unconventional reason for this: it’s because this music plays out almost like one of our automatic bodily functions, ignored yet spirited and vital. It is music that is agreed upon, mutually, by both parties, the producer and the audience, to not interfere with the conscious at work. In other words, I especially like Tom Day because I can ignore it (while it’s playing) and can wander into whatever metaphysical reality I want to step into.

I must note that I consider his music to be quite the opposite of what is understood as background music. The reason for this is very simple… it’s not background music. His music accompanies and blankets itself around the you that isn’t corporeal.

I’ve saved what I consider to be one of his best pieces for last. I won’t say much, if anything, about it, simply sit back and neglect your eyes’ vision (close your eyes) while listening. Enjoy.

~Richard Gonzalez