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Welcome to Kafka Kaya context - the place where we share thoughts, insights and stories around the works of Kafka Kaya.
If you are reading this, we assume that you are hoping to find out a little bit more about the context around Kafka Kaya. We feel honored and excited about the fact that you are interested in taking part in our journey! Make yourself at home - let's talk!
Well, obviously, I'll be the one doing the talking for now, but we hope to change that soon by finding dialogue partners who are willing to share their stories with our community... but that's, as they say, "Zukunftsmusik - music of the future".
Today, however, I would like to speak about songwriting, or rather: Kafka Kaya's songwriting. As you continue walking with us, you will notice that Kafka Kaya's lyrics are usually not very explicit. They leave room for interpretation and wonder while hoping to take our listeners' thoughts on a journey of their own.
They are a reflection of a current point of view, an observation of both inner and / or outer processes and an attempt to make sense of those processes.
The stream of thought that leads to the creative act of putting words together in a sonically interesting and aesthetical way can origin from a micro or a macro cosmos that is in some way connected with Kafka Kaya, and I guess a certain fascination with contradiction can't be denied. Also, Kafka Kaya probably won't be known for happy songs. It's the dealing with confusion, the effort to understand and the inevitable sadness that sometimes comes with watching the world around us that shines through most of Kafka Kaya's songs.
The new single we released today, Kyrie Eleison, is an attempt to understand how a human being at the lowest point in their life might turn to a higher power they don't believe in, and the quotes I'm about to read to you will tell you some more about that phenomenon.
First, I'm gonna throw some facts at you that the British newspaper The Guardian published in January 2018. They give some insight on why religious as well as non religious people pray and what those prayers are about.
Family tops the list of subjects of prayers, followed by thanking God, praying for healing and for friends. Way down on the list comes global issues such as poverty or disasters.
Among the non-religious, personal crisis or tragedy is the most common reason for praying, with one in four saying they pray to gain comfort or feel less lonely.
“Many people are driven to pray at some point in their lives, even if they are not religious. Praying spontaneously is about reaching out.” (Isabelle Hamley, chaplain to the archbishop of Canterbury)
(Article: Non-believers turn to prayer in a crisis, poll finds)
I found that rather interesting and decided to do some research in the field of modern psychology to find out more on the meaning of prayer for the human mind and soul. Psychology Today, an American magazine published every two months, featured an article by the psychiatrist William S. Breitbart in April 2015, from which I will quote:
"I have prayed and sometimes pray even though I am at least an agnostic. Who am I praying to? And why am I praying? And what am I praying for? Do I expect my prayers to be answered?
Well, one of the last times I prayed was a plea to God to take my son's diabetes from him and give it to me. Did I expect God to hear me? Or respond to my prayer? No.
My prayer was a hopeless act but not a useless act. It was an act of love. It was an act of connection to my son, to nature and the universe, an act connecting me to myself, my past and my future. It was a prayer meant for me to hear, exhorting me to bring to bear my love and courage and caring to deal with this uncertainty in my family's life, and take part in creating our future. The act of creating an uncertain future is hope. The act of creating an uncertain future is love. The act of creating an uncertain future is our debt to life." (William S. Breitbart M.D.)
(Article: The Future, Prayers, and Lies)
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