This journal entry was inspired by being in attendance of the Houston Blues Society Gala to honor blues legends Trudy Lynn, Diunna Greenleaf, and Tweed Smith. I felt so blessed to be in the room with such great talent, black queen mothers ruling the music they spent decades mastering, and being honored for it. Their voices dripped with so much wisdom, love, and hope. I’ve heard blues music before, but this is the first time I’ve felt it this deeply. It was because of these extraordinary women.
At the time, blues was a genre that 222.9 The Mothership had yet to venture into. In being here, I realized why. While I was familiar with blues songs I liked, I was not yet ready to embrace such a vulnerable music, as my blues in life had been many. I had yet to pluck that super-religious root that called this music “them low down dirty blues.” The conviction set in so deeply, I immediately began jotting down production notes right there at the table. This was a mistake I wasted no time correcting. In the Orisa life, blues music aligns with Yemoja’s essence of emotional healing and balance…and what is her color? Blue.
Blue is aligned with the throat chakra in the metaphysical world. It is the portal in our bodies that speaks to creative identity, self-expression, and the right to speak and be heard. In its imbalanced state, the throat chakra creates lies, forced silence, and repression of true emotions.
Blues as a color represents tranquility when balanced, depression when imbalanced.
Blues as a music genre, allows the expressions spoken and heard… to be felt. Born in the Mississippi Delta, the blues emerged as a throat chakra balance in oppressed and heartbroken people in that region. Musicians found a release in their own organic tune, and still creates its own good times. From there, the blues rooted deeply in the deep south’s Bourbon and Beale Streets, then took its own tour around the world.
Blues is a gumbo genre, although named after a primary color. It infuses gospel, jazz, rock, call and response, and spirituals from slave time. It has its own signature melodies, like a blue-washed photograph, ever changing its subject.
Blues guitars seem to weep the blues we all have, but can’t quite reach. Their chords strike places within that may be uncomfortable, and its croons are free of pretense. It boldly creates its groove in some of the most raw places of living; desire, heartbreak, betrayal, deep emotion, and sexuality. The blues drinks like Bourbon when you only drank cold iced tea! The blues breaks down the ego where other genres over engorge it. Blues invokes feelings and gives us a comfortable space to feel them…and even dance. This genre sounds a scent of fried fish, beer, and those pockets in the world where one can relax and be, knowing we’ve all been there. It makes being in your feelings a good thing. The blues paints a unique beautiful portrait of human experience.
With that said,222.9 The Mothership presents, The Spirit of the Blues. It is a blues music segment that will run on Moondays from 4pm to 6pm. At 5pm, The Splash Educational segment with High Priestess Afiya Matthews will run about 15 minutes, then the music resumes. I will begin with my blues favorites, along with 3 blues queens Tweed Smith, Diunna Greenleaf, and the musical ancestor Koko Taylor. I am mimicking the vulnerability of the blues genre in allowing this segment to grow from the little I know, and the openess to learn. Beam Up!
Ase in Love,
iiiYansaje T. Muse
The Blaq Madonna of the Airwaves
P. S. In a later article, we will also discuss the connection to blues music with the orisa Esu. The Robert Johnson story whispers a clue. Does the movie “Crossroads” ring a bell?