intimacy and music

//Intimacy//

In today's world, where big cities dominate our landscapes, people live in close quarters, often side by side. Our lives are shaped by institutions—daycares, schools, workplaces—and much of our free time is spent in various clubs, be they sports or cultural. But what is intimacy? How does it intersect with music, and where can we find it?

Intimacy is frequently mistaken for privacy, as it often occurs in private spaces. However, intimacy has a close relationship with proximity, whether physical or psychological. It touches the heart, soul, spirit, or body of an individual.

In lives that unfold primarily in public spaces, finding intimacy isn't always straightforward. Where do we experience it? In the bathroom, at home? Intimacy can also be a state of mind, a simple gesture from one person to another, a thought, feeling, or idea within someone's head.

A modern-day reflex to seek intimacy is through screens and earplugs, as if avoiding real human interaction creates some kind of protective bubble. Our phones and screens have become alternatives to private spaces in a densely populated world. The quality and safety of this virtual privacy are topics that could fill endless pages.

Creating and listening to music can foster intimate moments. Intimacy can be a solo experience or shared with others. A quintessential example is a lullaby—a parent or close person singing or humming to a baby, creating a crucial intimate moment akin to storytelling on the couch. This interaction expresses the bond between two people.

Another example is listening to music through headphones. The isolation from the outside world creates a virtual private space with the sound source close to the ear. This moment can be shared, for instance, when two people listen to the same music.

When it comes to live music, the search for intimacy can be more complex. Does it depend on the venue? The number of listeners? The physical distance between musician and audience? What can make a performance intimate?

While these aspects certainly influence the character of a performance or concert, I've concluded that the most decisive factor is the way an artist addresses their audience. This interaction creates a unique bond, shaping an intimate and memorable experience.