Here’s a strange story:
So Beast, please be still just recorded our album last weekend. And in one of the songs I take two cellphones, have them call eachother, and then put each of them on speaker phone. When one or the other picks up sound, it feedbacks in really cool ways and in the same pitch as whatever sound is going on in the room.
It’s a cool effect, and I like that we are using the phones; I think that we might theme the album around how cellphones are killing honey bees. At least, that’s what I am rooting for.
So last night, Amber tells me that her sister had a dream that she was making out with Kurt Cobain. When she started into the story I was already kind of feeling the shivers cause just Monday I had stayed up til two in the morning watching old interviews and live performances of Nirvana with a sudden refascination. Amber says that she too suddenly got an inkling to download an interview with them herself early on in the week.
I can rationalize that though – we live in Seattle, Sasha just got a job at Subpop, and we just recorded an album in the former grunge capital. The Kurt vibe is in the air and of course our generation x subconscious is going to latch onto the former rock god.
But here’s the werid part: Sasha is having this dream, and her and Cobain are french-kissing and I guess he suddenly pulls away from her and says: “Tell Amber not to use the telephones. Tell her to take them out of the recording.”
I got totally quiet when Amber was telling me the story. She thought I had fallen asleep but I was really thinking: WTF?! Mind you, when Sasha told this to Amber she had NO IDEA what the hell that meant and thought Amber would just think she was being weird.
What are the fucking chances? This must be a message!
Now I am a bit confused – should we really take the phones out? And if so, what are we meant to replace them with?
I like the cell phone noise too. But in our democratic decision process, I think Ghost Kurt Cobain gets at least 3 votes.
why dont you just ask kurt cobain what you’re supposed to do? set up a dream ritual or something to perform and repeat it until he responds. i wouldnt take this too lightly
maybe hes saying that youre in danger of “killing your honeybees” somehow if you follow this path
Yeah, last night after Amber told me I tried to lay in bed and focus on Kurdt, but no luck.
I’ll try again tonight …
well you need to do something first of all physical to help invoke him with other parts of your mind. also collect pictures, play music and have some kind of symbolic element too. the most obvious one would maybe be to have a cell phone you call him on?
remember that jam we did where you had a phone and you kept saying you were calling the ghost? do that.
you could even buy an old broken cell phone from the thrift store and then label it as sort of the “batphone” devoted to communicating with kurt only. paint it red or some special color that works for you. leave it on a makeshift altar when you’re not using it.
this shit will seriously work. trust me. you have to turn on all the channels though to get the communications to work correctly
oh and burn candles dedicated to him. maybe even carve a message into them. and leave some food and liquor on the altar as well.
if you dont get him directly, *somebody* will definitely pick up the other end of the phone…
just say some prayers and focus your intentions with it all though, if you catch my meaning
Garrett, I guarantee you this means nothing.
It’s just a coincidence.
Even in the extremely unlikely event that Kurt Cobain’s ghost is concerned with what your band sounds like, I don’t see why he would restrict himself to criticizing one aspect of the recording and not saying something like, I don’t know, why don’t you write some snappy tunes.
Don’t get me wrong, I understand wanting to ascribe meaning to every weird thing that happens, cuz life is so fucking boring, but seriously, someone ELSE’s dream? Cellphone feedback ’til we die.
Sorry for the aggressive skepticism. I wrote that in a state of drunken belligerence.
I can’t actually guarantee you it means nothing, I just strongly suspect it.
One thing to consider: What does Kurt Cobain know? Maybe his musical tastes are stuck in 1994. Maybe you wouldn’t actually want to follow his advice.
a human crouched terrific wonder…oblivious the spell he’s under…distracted by the nails he hid…released the final winning bid…and all the while so strong and brave…still leaning toward the love he craves…..amen.
This is to Sasha..
Dreams are a way to channel, it’s usually your subconcious trying to get your attention. And it probably chose Kurt because Kurt was a celebrity..he was an icon-symbol for a generation past and present. A legend in life and death.
Your subconcious-soul is more universal then you think. I personally don’t believe that the spirit that was trying to reach out to you was Kurt’s ghost himself..but pieces of Kurt, others and youself of course.
Kurt is a familar face..his essence lives in music..your subconcious wanted to get your attention with something familar to you.
The fact that your going in the music feild tells me that you share the same essence as that of Kurt..your also signing to sub-pop so your sharing the same life experiences as well.
Try looking at Kurt as more of a figurehead at this point..whats reaching out to you is a probably more so personal reflection of you. I’m going to assume that you admire Kurt? That you see pieces of yourself illuminate from Kurts lyrics-music..ect?
I’m going to assume your of course inspired by Kurt?…what is inspiration..is it a thought or feeling? Why do you make music? Are you inspired? Do you think Kurt was inspired? Do you ever feel you have a story to tell? Is the picture of the story unclear but you feel like it’s true?
Why do you want to make music? Is it that urge of burning inspiration within..?
Kurt pushed you away in a make-out session. Kissing is sexual-passionate act of love and affection..it’s also temptation. Pushing someone away is a sign of rejection.
Are you resisting temptation in anyway? (it doesn’t have to be sexual) Are you rejecting something true to you? Is there something in the way?
Cell Phones-an electronic means of communication. A way for people to connect. A symbol of security. Also a symbol of our current generation..
Are you resisting something passionate and true to yourself? do you feel as if theres something trying to reach out to you? Do you generally feel secure?
Do you have something against cell phones? Do you have something against society?..do you have something against mixed messages being sent to society?
Are the mixed messages fact or fiction? true or false? treason or reason?
What is it about mass global communication that leaves you uneasy..
what is it about the sound waves or whatever thats supposed to cause tumors? what is it about cell phones coming equiped with v-chips that leaves you wondering why I’m asking you this question?
What are you trying to communicate with your brilliant idea to hold up two cell phones to create feedback..sure it’s a cool noise. But does it mean anything? What exactly are you trying to project with that idea? If not just two pieces of electronics speaking to one another…….
what do the electronics say? what message do you really want to send?
Do you think being in a band does/will bring new-open-and like minded people to you? Who do you want to connect with?
To answer your question as what to replace with the cell phone idea (are you trying to encourage cell phone usage)
I’d say reach inside yourself..another good way of channeling is automatic writing-Kurt used this method often. Much like many poets/lyricist..I do it too..I don’t realize it half the time though. ;P
For this one I would sujest being alone and a quiet area. Focus on something in the corner of your eye-a random, object..ect. So basically space out. Write down the first thing that comes to mind..while stareing off into space..don’t think about it, don’t pause to analyze..just write it..even if it doesn’t make sense, even if the grammer and spelling is incorrect. Even if it seems like your own thoughts. Do this a few more times, don’t read it right away..go back to it later. Maybe the next day or week? Look at the different things you wrote..look for symbols..compare it to other poets and lyricists-compare it to Kurts writings too. See how it relates. See what it says and see how it relates to you..if it doesn’t strike a chord right away try back a month or two or year later. Keep going back to it to see if you can attach new meaning to it. You can try asking questions too..just get used to the idea that when someones reaching out to you..their channeling THROUGH you..think of yourself as a tool..which is why the thoughts seem like yours, spirits don’t have brains, so you think for them.
Why do you think theres a band called Tool? ;P
Why do you think I’m here?
Oh and to comment Josh..Kurt’s ghost might be stuck in 1994..but theres a lot that history can teach you..It’s 2007 but we all know his legacy continues to thrive.
I didn’t sign to Sub Pop, I work at Sub Pop.
I have had 3 Kurt related dreams, before I got the job and after.
I appreciate your attempt to analyze my dream, but it’s a little off.
But thank you, your comments were thoughtful.
This is a very interesting story and i would really like to know what other dreams Sasha had. I’m not one to put too much faith in the paranormal, however I am by no means a complete skeptic. I had a really odd encouter with what I think could’ve possibly been related to Kurt Cobain when I was seven-years-old. Since then I’ve been fascinated by the whole thing. Also, I’m pretty positive he killed himself, for the record. Truthfully, I read both sides and for the longest time I was sure that he was murdered. But recently I’ve discovered a number of things that are definite proof otherwise. Anyway, if you guys ever still look at this site, I would really appreciate an e-mail or something…just to let me know what happened that wasn’t posted (i.e. Sasha’s dreams, any other odd occurences). Perhaps then I can e-mail you back telling you about my story, which I don’t want to post because I’ll feel like more of a weirdo than I already do.