Painting with Music

When I think of harmony, I think of amazing songs. Not just polished performances or catchy hooks, but songs that tap into something real, something that mirrors the beauty and mess of being human.

One of my most treasured albums is Kate Bush’s Aerial. In particular, the track An Architect’s Dream captures something truly special. It’s part of a longer interlinked song, and this bit describes an artist doing his work.

"Watching the painter painting

And all the time, the light is changing

And he keeps painting

That bit there, it was an accident

But he's so pleased

It's the best mistake he could make

And it's my favourite piece

It's just great"

Here’s the magic: Kate Bush is painting a picture through music of someone painting a picture. The whole song is layered—audio brush strokes describing visual brush strokes. And when you zoom out, the entire album (Aerial) is like this: a symphony of sounds, stories, and sensations that ripple into each other; this whole track is about 45 minutes in length. If you’ve never heard it, listen if you get the chance—it’s an absolute masterpiece.

What I love most is the reminder that harmony isn’t about everything polished. It’s about everything being in resonance. Sometimes one element takes centre stage, while others fall back, just like in a painting, where light, shadow, and composition are constantly shifting. Honestly, I drift away every time I hear it.

Art speaks to us in a language we can’t always articulate, in this instance Kate Bush singing like a pigeon at times...it just works 🐦trust me... but we know when it lands..the music..not the bird...

When we experience art or music, we feel when something is off, too. Not because it’s imperfect, but because it’s out of sync with the whole. That’s the beauty of harmony—it allows for movement, imbalance, and emphasis. It invites emotion, below the neck, intuitive intelligence, and the feminine.

We don’t always want everything to be perfect in the traditional sense...more pigeon cooing please! Sometimes it’s the more abstract, the unusual, or the unexpected that appeals to us most. As long as it resonates.

Life can be like that too, not traditionally perfect but everything ticking along in harmony with each other...planned or unexpected.

So

👉 What’s the best mistake you’ve ever made?

👉 What art forms—songs, dances, films, books, or moments of beauty—have inspired you most?

PS Bragging rights... I did see Kate Bush live at the Apollo in 2014, and yes, it was great, and yes, I cried about 10 times.