Music

Music is an experience – an experience of unity and reflection on a global scale. It is such an experience that that the NEXUS Lab on Music brings to the NEXUS Community.
Overview

Philanthropy in the contemporary context is often perceived as simply an act of giving (e.g. a wealth holder financially helping the poor). Though most notions of the act of philanthropy include such an aspect, its core meaning can easily be missed. The word comes from the Greek philanthrōpos, meaning love of humanity. In modern English, philanthropy is defined by the Oxford English Dictionary as “the desire to promote the welfare of others.” Desire is indeed an important aspect: it may be more appropriate to understand the word philanthropy as a state of mind and heart rather than simply an activity. 

Music can be understood in a similar manner. While the technical act of performing is central to it, music cannot merely be reduced to technical craftsmanship alone. Its true power derives from how it invites lone individuals into a sense of community — one where faith, love, and passion are shared in a safe space. At this time, when fear and estrangement between communities is often instigated by violence and destruction, reunification and healing are global cultural imperatives. Though we may not always be aware of how we are being traumatized or assaulted, we may nevertheless urgently feel the need for a space and an outlet for healing and reflection.

OUR LEADERSHIP TEAM 

Mikuak rai

Mikuak rai

NEXUS Music Lab Co-Chair
Mikuak Rai is Co-Chair of the NEXUS Lab on Music and also a co-founder of Invest in Yourself @ NEXUS (IY@N). A self-described ‘creative catalyst’, Mikuak’s passion centers on the intersection of creative arts, planetary culture and transformative consciousness; he believes that every individual is, inherently, an artist who possesses something meaningful to express and contribute toward making the world a better place.

show more

As co-founder of Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit One Common Unity, Inc., Mikuak brings 15+ years of direct experience in organizational development, arts education engagement, youth work and event production. In 2017, Mikuak was selected to be a member of the URI (United Religions Initiative) Multiregion Leadership Council. He is also a founding member of the Global Council for Calendar Awareness (GCCA), an international collective pursuing a campaign entitled “Calendar Referendum 2020 and Declaration of Universal World Peace” (http://13months28days.info).

show less

Christen Lien

Christen Lien

NEXUS Music Lab Co-Chair
Christen Lien’s provocative compositions, hypnotic performance style, and entrepreneurial business approach all reflect her passion for challenging the status quo. Through her art she seeks to support her fans to process the complex and oftentimes dark emotions that oppress individual potential and hold back collective power. Entertainers, activists, scholars and entrepreneurial leaders have responded enthusiastically to Christen’s 

show more

work and she is often invited to present her music, story and ideas to events and productions looking to compliment narratives of determination and fortitude. [showmore]In 2016 she will released ELPIS, a 12-track instrumental album with accompanying visual artwork and written storytelling that explores the dark side of Hope. Lien incorporates the use of guitar effect processors and looping pedals with her instruments (which also include viola, bass guitar, harmonica, Moog synthesizer, drums and kalimba), creating hybrid, melodic music and haunting, evocative performance art.

show less

Abby O'Neill

Abby O'Neill

NEXUS Music Lab Co-Chair
Abby O’Neill has worked in the music business for over 20 years in LA, NY, and now D.C, where she oversees strategy for NPR Music and is a key member of the Senior Leadership committee. She graduated from Emerson College with a BA Music Production & Business, worked in the hip-hop community, and executed marketing campaigns for prominent indie and major labels. Post-college, she had positions at various labels including Dreamworks, Rawkus Records,

show more

JCOR Records, and subsequently ran a management company specializing in producer and writer representation. During those years, she cultivated relationships with artists and executives, furnished a co-publishing venture with EA Sports, was an A&R on over 20 of their titles, and secured hundreds of deals for her clients in music, film, television, advertising and video games. She developed and managed producer duo, The Outfit, who have composed over 600 episodes of television, won 8 BMI Awards, and have worked on myriad blockbuster films. Abby was an Account Executive in Music for Film/TV at Universal Music Publishing, helped establish the Guild of Music Supervisors and was also a SVP of Business Development & A&R for Format Entertainment (Avengers, Pitch Perfect, Straight Outta Compton, Empire, etc).

show less

Music is a non-violent medium that lives in time; its power and sophistication enables it to exhibit not only such aspects as form and content, but also meaning, sympathy, empathy, happiness, sincerity, consideration, joyfulness, faith, anticipation, attention, patience, affection, learning, and understanding. If you reflect upon these words in relationship to those with which we discussed philanthropy, you will find that there is much in common between them. Music is a state of mind and heart, that, through performance, becomes action. Music can be philanthropy.

Unlike many other forms of art, music is special in its frequent requirement of collaboration for its realization. Whether that collaboration is between musicians and audiences, or with the space itself, constant adjustment, with awareness and care, is crucial for sound to become music and not mere noise. Through music, we can both project and reflect personal stories and feelings, and find ways to harmonize and become one with our surroundings, rather than being limited to those personal stories and feelings to project and reflect only the ego of a single individual.

The NEXUS Lab on Music can be informed by such a notion of music: that is, one grounded in collaboration, awareness, guidance, care, reflection, feeling, harmonization, and synthesis. These aspects of music are central to change one’s perspective about oneself or one’s relationship to the world. For an artist to live responsibly and produce work that reflects society, experience is key.

 

 

       Actions: 

  • Salon discussion series around the impact of music
  • Inclusion of musical acts at all NEXUS Summits
  • Organize, put on and host musical programming for NEXUS USA Summit and NEXUS Global Summit
  • Meetings and call series with musicians committed to using music to promote community/healing

Upcoming Events:

To see what Music Salons, programming and other events are upcoming, visit our Event’s Page. Please note, that you must be a member to access the full event calendar.

Not a member? Membership is based on your acceptance and attendance to a multi-day event. Click here to see our next upcoming Summits.

Learn More