Nakho and Medicine for the People.

Last year at the annual Lucidity Festival they performed a truly amazing set.
This was the fest time I saw the band in person and only recently had I been introduced to them.
I was vaguly familiar with Nahko from the epic music video, Aloha Ke Akua, which is filled with nature images of divine spirit.

Nahko transcends the bridge of spiritual music and mainstream.

This type of music fuels your soul like a hug from a good friend. If you like his music then you resonate with it on a soul level and feel connected at a core level to this tribe.

Love the tribe or loath it, you are connected. In whatever form you show up in, you are connected. The tribe may appear like a washed up 60s hippie band, or wearing the latest counter culture trends. Such as a woven beanie or the popular long haired man bun(s). The crystals and feather earrings with a scarf and fedora. Or maybe your tribe-ness is less expressed from your outward style appearance, and instead it emerges from your inward being radiating love and light.

However you show up, if you stayed and loved Nahko, you know you are part of this tribe.

I could feel that at Nahkos 2014 Lucidity performance.
It didn't matter if half the crowd was on some kind of drug induced trip or if you were life high, the crowd was connected.
I could tangibly feel this. We were connect on the same level, same field. We were riding the same wave on the same high that is Nahko's music.

 The words, lyrics and melodies bring up the awareness of community connection. Themes of interconnected ness to nature and striving to improve the environment ecologically. socially, and politically, arise from each cord.

 If you have yet to hear a note I highly suggest taking a listen, a breath in and open up into the nurtured soul music of Nahko.

 It completely sums up the spiritual counterculture of today who isn't into the hype or bs. They aren't the airy fairy hopeful duds who sit on their ass and meditate the day away. The ones that listen to Nahko actually give a sh*t and do something about it. They change the world while Nahko opens our hearts and reflects back what's in our soul. If you feel it you know.
You're in the tribe.

As Nahko doesn't skirt around the issues, his story is deep and raw with a fine finishing of freedom within spirit.

Being amongst a spiritual community I have revered, encouraged and blogged about accomplishments of others because they have inspired me. I promote and blog through this site out of my heart because I love to share with others what gets me up. What helps me to feel good about myself, determined and confident. This is one of my labors of love. Much like a musician with their music. 
Just like a musician you can do your dream as a hobbyist or a budding professional. Though when you go into the professional realm, people will do things for fame or to further their career that may not match up with their true essence of their love for that passion. This can happen with almost a guarantee every time in the music industry. Well all parts of the media industry for that matter. And I have seen friends and acquaintances sacrifice some of their purity to get ahead. That can hinger their creation and or themselves. I can go on and on about the negative, manipulative, dirty, and un-godly energy swirling around the entertainment industry, but I won't cuz you get it. Its really hard as an artist to stay pure to your heart creation while still paying your bills and eating. Also once successful one can have the same struggle to keep their creation in the highest light energy field from praying mantises who want to put their own energy spin on what the creation should be like.

A Conscious Artist is about staying true to you no matter what. As that is what connects and grows an audience. Being a true Conscious Artist is not just about having inspirational lyrics set to music people will actually listen to. A Conscious Artist has the following. 

A real connection to their audience. 
Vulnerability.
Authenticity.
Adds value to their fan's lives.
Walks their talk.
Humility.

These artists are not only found outside the mainstream. My honorary TRUE CONSCIOUS ARTIST AWARD goes to the MTV Documented, Tabloid Scrutinized, Disney Star, DEMI LOVATO.
I have been singing her song from hearing it on a top 40 station for months without knowing who she is. I found out, and I like! 

From growing up in the spotlight with Barney, Disney channel shows and movies, Demi caved under the pressure system of hollywood. The pressure to perform, stay skinny and be a role model (or false prophet). Well now she has earned her role model status by admitting and openly talking about her struggles, with bullying, anorexia, bulimia, depression and cutting. She went on talk shows and even had an MTV Documentary about her personal issues showcased to her fans and the world in hopes that speaking out could give a voice and a chance for others to get better. 
This is truly an inspirational artist to be so forthcoming with things most people would try to avoid talking about, especially in the public eye. 

Within the conscious community I have seen most people wanting to only talk about the positive. In any community really we want to portray ourselves like we have it all together. "How are you doing today?" "Great" - we say after we had an existential breakdown in our car about the purpose of our life, before we saw that person at our local health food store. That leaves no room for a real connection, community, or help. It leaves the most compelling thing about you tucked away in the corner collecting dust or worse mold! And we're allergic to mold! Conforming to the mold and fitting into one. It's just not for us! 

It's a little counter conscious to say but it's true. Revealing these types of things, pain, discomfort, and distorters actually doesn't harm you, it helps you. Revealing is to put in the light. When things are looked at long enough in the light and at the right angle, they can become clear. You can come to a clear understanding of why you went though that, why you have been kept clear of certain people, why you feel a certain way, it's all ok. That is exactly Demi's message. For revealing her secretes hasn't harmed her, its helped her, in recovery, connecting to her fans that feel similar and ultimately furthering her career. In the right light, the dark can become bright. So say what might be scary to say. It can save you and your career. 

So with your creations, people, please, don't sugar coat it! Don't let someone else change your vision or misrepresent your work, or under represent it! Be you, be bold, be brave! Don't cave!

My fav Demi song "Together."