It seems like the past three years, I’ve been covering music that’s spiritual or has elements in it that resonate with spiritual reverberations. I’ve done this mostly in the new age space, but have long since abandoned any true connection with what is now most surely an anachronistic and even quaint label. Now the field is wide open, like the aperture set to wide, letting the totality of the light in, no longer stopping it down in catchable frames of reference. I can find it almost everywhere if I can attune my inner ear to the possibility of it’s existence and while I’m still working out the metaphysics of Paris Hilton’s singing career, I am hearing and sensing a broader spectrum of information infusing itself in bands like the ethereal prog-rockers from Iceland, Sigur Ros, to the scorching afro-punk, spoken word screeds of Saul Williams.

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Yes, it’s that time again, where fifty-million of us stay glued to the TV for two nights a week for the next three months as a cast of karaoke singers serenade us in an upwardly vertical direction—it’s time for American Idol.

This season has the requisite blend of rockers and crooners, fly girls and teen angels, but what really stands out is how the youth of the show are really flexing their vocal chops and stage presence in extremely mature and worldly way. Teen singers, David Archuleta, Alaina Whitaker, Alexandrea Lushington, Asia’h Epperson and Danny Noriega display skills and presence well beyond their limited experience, though Archuleta did win Star Search when he was even younger. From a spiritual standpoint, these kids appear to be remarkably balanced, poised and grounded in their talent. In fact, Epperson’s father passed away just days before her audition. She appears undaunted by this life-changing event and claims to feel her father’s presence nearby as she performs. While I won’t go as far to say that American Idol is becoming a showcase for Indigo Children, it wouldn’t be a stretch to say that these are some old souls rocking the planetary stage.

It’s enough to keep me watching and admiring the talent and poise of tomorrow’s bright lights, today.

by Robert Phoenix
Robert Phoenix moves freely among a vast array of realities, but tends to focus-in on music and human evolution.