For centuries, musicians have been inspired by metaphysical traditions like meditation, dreamwork, divination, and trance mediumship. Metaphysical practices and spirituality have contributed to all genres of American music, and by looking at the artists who apply these teachings, we can learn more about the relationship between metaphysics, music, and creative practices.

Matt Marble, director of the American Museum of Musicology, explores how American musicians have creatively sought communion with the numinous, from ancient Native American dream song to the occult foundations of hip-hop. Matt will discuss the basic principles underlying the three most prominent American metaphysical traditions, the spiritualist movement, New Thought philosophy, and the teachings of the Theosophical Society.

In this multimedia presentation including images and audio, Matt will present some artists who creatively engaged these teachings as well as some of the methods they’ve employed. This diverse exploration will include the psychic life of the first American pop band, the séances of the National Opera Club of America, the female metaphysicians who pioneered modern music therapy, the Luso-American pioneer of cosmic jazz, Theosophy’s radical influence on avant-garde composition, popular music, and guitar culture—and so much more.

Join us for this unique and inspired evening of music and the metaphysical philosophies that have contributed to our arts for centuries.

Biographical Information

Matt Marble is an artist, author, media producer and director of the American Museum of Paramusicology (“brilliant and humbling,” The Paris Review). Both creatively and through historical research, his work explores the inspired intersections of art and metaphysics and the intuitive disciplines they mutually employ. Matt is the author of Buddhist Bubblegum: Esotericism in the Creative Process of Arthur Russell (“groundbreaking work,” New York Times), published by Coolgrove Press (2020).

As an audio producer he hosts Secret Sound, exploring the metaphysical history of American music, and The Hidden Present, an interview series exploring intuitive discipline and spiritual imagination from diverse perspectives. His writing, research, media production, and personal archive constitute the American Museum of Paramusicology (AMP), through which he also publishes the monthly AMP Journal.

His work has recently been featured by Warp Records, Aquarium Drunkard, the California Festival/L.A. Philharmonic, and the Philosophical Research Society. Matt holds a B.A. in Speech & Hearing Sciences (Portland State University), a Ph.D. in Music Composition (Princeton University), and a black rattlesnake from his dreams.

To learn more about Matt, please visit: www.mattmarble.net.