Bassist and composer Mighty Joe Belson started out as an all-out rocker, performing at CBGB’s, The Vans Warped Tour, and then in many bands across the Bay Area. However, after he picked up the upright bass, he made his mark within jazz, electronica and guitar-driven instrumentals.
With his latest single, “Process of Individuation”, Belson moves into a new territory – a cross of post-modern classical and ambient music, with the idea of fitting ideas of philosopher Carl Jung into music.
As a composition, “The Process Of Individuation” follows the path of one mind exploring the inner Self. It begins with a simple repeated chord progression and unfolds in added layers of melody, creating an increasingly-complex picture of the psyche. While beautiful at first, it eventually becomes too much, and disharmony sets in. The mind becomes overloaded with introspection, and is on the verge of shutting down, and then – epiphany: the truth was always there, right at the beginning. Returning to the opening chords, the song fades.
“‘The Process Of Individuation’ is a work born of dreams,” Belson notes. “I have always been fascinated by dreams and their interpretation, and often hear the beginnings of my music in them. After learning about Carl Jung’s ideas concerning Individuation and self actualization, I started paying attention to them even more. I really believe that if you listen to your dreams, your life can be better.”
