Willow Smith & Jahnavi ON: The Law Of Vibration EXPLAINED (Raise Your Frequency) | Jay Shetty | Transcription

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Introduction

Intro (00:00)

I think the real difference is bringing that ancient vibration to it that isn't just coming from me. It's coming from generations and generations of deeply spiritual individuals who have carried this on. And I think, you know, feeling that is the biggest difference for me, because it's not just me coming up with something. Hey everyone, welcome back to On Purpose, the number one health podcast in the world. Thanks to each and every single one of you. I'm so grateful that you come back every single week to listen, learn and grow. And today is a very special episode for a million reasons. I'm going to start with a couple to get going with. This is the first time that Radha and I are going to do an interview together. So this is fun and there's a special, special reason for why we're doing it together. Because today we're interviewing two of our dearest friends, incredibly talented, the most creative, who have launched a brand new EP called Rise, which we cannot wait for you to hear. It is none other than Willow and Johnnavy Harrison. Thank you for having us. Thank you. This is exciting. We're so grateful to be with both of you and I'm like a vibe. Sounds like a plan. But I'm so excited to have you both here. We're both so excited to have you here and just excited to just have this whole energy here, which we have anyway all day long. Yes, yes. And so why not bring it into an interview? So, Radhi is going to go with the first question actually. I am going to get my first job. That's Radhi. J. Shetty Vibon. Okay, so Willow and Johnnavy.

Music Collaboration And Personal Growth

The first time we made music together (01:51)

Tell me about the first time you guys made your music together. Oh, well that would be surrender. Yeah. I just have to put it out there. I was super nervous the first time we got in the studio together because, you know, listening to your music and seeing you doing kirton, it was a level of like channeling that I had never seen another musician have. So I was just like wanting to be worthy like so badly to be able to make music with you. So that was my, that was my initial emotion when we first started making music together. I was probably feeling the same way. It was actually such a magical experience. And just as it worked out, I was only in LA for about, I think like eight, nine days. And we only managed to actually get together in the studio the night before I was flying out. So we knew we had like six hours or so or actually we had as much time as we wanted, but we could only meet in the evening. So we were like, okay, there's only so long we're going to go for. And, but there was just such a special energy actually we had met up and we had practiced something and I was nervous too because I find the studio can be a lot of pressure and especially when there's not like a idea that's already set. Exactly. We didn't have a finished composition or anything, but I think both of us were just feeling excited to work together and we were like, let's just see what happens. Let's just have fun with this. And if it's not anything, we'll just have had a fun experience and we can work on it another time and we got so absorbed in it. And it just was flowing and, and I remember that, you know, it was around midnight when we finished. We were like, okay, let's listen to the whole thing now. And we were just standing there and Willow was like, we were like, we're like, we're delirious at this point. Yeah, we were, we were tired, but we were, we were just, and then we came out of the studio and we were like, what was that? What just happened? That was so beautiful and that it was just so natural. Yeah. So, um, and it's very rare that I have those kind of like synergistic. Is that a word? Yeah. And experiences with other artists because artists are so, um, I know I'm very opinionated and I have, uh, very outlandish ideas and sometimes the push and pull of that can be kind of uncomfortable. But for me and John Avie, it was like second nature from the start. Yeah. It felt like old friends and a, and a, and even though we're so different in many ways, we, there was just this feeling of ease and understanding, which is, it's like, that's what you always hope for in collaboration with other artists. So yeah, we were like, we have to do this again. Yeah. I love that. The reason it's so special as well is that Radia and I both absolutely adore you individually in your own music. So like we would be in a car, we'd be playing and listening to you. We'll, uh, we just be listening to your music. And then I've known John Avie now for 15 years. And so I've always been attracted to her music and, and the way she creates and how devotional it is. And so for us to see you both together is just, it's, it's so fulfilling. So I want to ask you both and we're going to uncover all the layers as we go along. But I also just before you start, I also just want to thank you both. Yes. For bringing us together. Round of applause. You guys were meant to meet either way, like whether it was through us or whether it was through another way, there was a hundred percent, like you guys were meant to meet. This was meant to happen. And, um, everybody needed this in their life. So I think it was just happened to be us, but it would have been somewhere, somehow it would have happened. Cause you guys. But I, but I think you, you need to take credit. Some credit because it's because of what you, if you don't want to take God, big is. But I think you're both, you're, you're, you're, you're both such special people that you, you attract such wonderful souls all around you. And you're always, I think it's probably going to happen throughout your lives that you're making these beautiful connections. So yeah, we were, we were both, we always talk about that. We're so grateful that you've introduced us. It's just selfish really. Cause I really wanted some like new music. We are just going to bring together. No, we thank you. You guys are both really sweet. We love you for that. And we're, we're loving seeing both of your collaboration and friendship and our friendship or blossoming because of this devotional connect that we all have. And I want to ask you, what did you, what have you both learned from each other in this process?

What have we learned from each other in this process? (06:35)

And it can be musical or non-musical. It can be anywhere you want to go with it. A lot of things. Yeah. I'll, yeah. I'll, I'll say I feel I've learned so much from Willow. I think one of the, one of the very obvious things about the process of working together was our different, just different like pace and way of approaching creative work. And Willow's obviously had so much more experience as a recording artist, as a composer. You know, you've recorded so much and composed your own written, your own songs. And for me, even though I have recorded music, it's still, it's still something I get very nervous about. Cause most of what I do is, is sort of live meditation experiences. So we hadn't worked together that much apart from that one song. So I didn't really know Willow's sort of style and pace. Especially with production. Yeah. And the first day I was like, I was taken aback. I was like, wow. Willow's so confident about, you know, what she's looking for in the sound and also fast pace. And I, I tend to be quite slow, too slow sometimes. Like people are always wanting me to make decisions faster. So although it was like, by the end of it, I was like, wow, this has really pushed me creatively in such a wonderful way. Initially I was like, you know, I know I was, I was trying to like, not in a bad way, not in a scary way, but it was just like, you know, and you, you just like, oh, okay, I'm going to be growing here. I'm going to learn something here. Yeah. Yeah. It took me up a gear. But I love that. You know, I, I was sharing with someone the other day that Willow's approach is so, I feel it's the ideal artistic approach, which is, which is to be, yeah, it's, it's to be curious and not overly controlling of the, of the end result. Like it's really to discover for the studio to be a space of exploration rather than like, I want to have this specific thing and it can't be anything other than that. It's a very playful and curious approach. And I think I contend to be more focused on like, okay, but it has to be just like this. So yeah, but by the end of it, I just felt like, wow, I'm ready to be just more fearless and, and creating and more open to what I could discover. That's just one thing. There's many more, but I love that. I think, you know, I would even almost say like the inverse, like I, I felt in times that I was over shooting and like kind of getting lost in the, but what about this? And we could do this and maybe it's this. And like, I felt like John Avi was really instrumental in like kind of bringing, grounding me and being like, okay, what's the intention behind this? Like I know you like that sound, but why are we using that sound? You know what I mean? Like what's the, where does that sound go in the song? What is that sound going to say? Like what's the intention of this? So hurt like your intentionality with everything, you might think that it's sometimes a hindrance, but I think it's a blessing because, you know, you know in your heart of hearts what every single instrument and every single lyric means to you. And you're not just throwing things at the wall. Like let's see if this sticks and maybe this, you know what I mean? And I think those two approaches, they just complete each other in a really nice way as they stay opposites attract. And I think that this was a case of that.

Bringing people closer to themselves (10:14)

Yeah. What do you guys feel, both of you together and individually, what was your intention for the music that you were creating together? I always want my music to bring people closer to themselves, make them feel like they're learning something or there's a thought that's being planted that grows over time. And listening to John of E's music, that's exactly how I felt. And then seeing it live, it was like, okay, how can I just bottle this? Just like I just want to have this. Obviously, that's the beautiful nature of it because you can't bottle it and you can't just have it. That's why it's beautiful. But you know, I think that going into it, that was my, and I had never made a devotional album before. So I was even extra excited to explore that different part of me and what I could do with this new, you know, with this new path in my life. I think also just speaking from having heard you do it, I'm just hearing you talk about it when we're all having lunch or when we're hanging out and just, I feel like your intention was so pure for it. From the moment that you first heard devotional music, I remember the first time it was we were doing a session and then I was like, oh crap, I can't sing. And then, Radi can sing, but she chooses not to. And then we were like, oh, let's play John of E on our phone. And then that's the first time we all meditated in that way. And then there's Willow on the floor. I know, I was like, oh my God. Like just fully with your heart open, like ready to receive. And that's the one thing about you, like, and actually on that note, when you were even thinking about doing this album, I feel like from what John Rhee has told me and even experiencing from you, you wanted to get things so right. So whether it was your pronunciation or whether it was like, oh, what is this word actually me? Like, oh, how is this word used? Like you really want to understand the depth. You're not just trying to say. And that journey, yeah, I want it to continue and I want to keep nourishing that because just through this music, I've found such a deep love for just the Bakti tradition in general. And I'm just so excited to just dive deeper into that and learn more and just just broaden my horizon in that devotional sense. Which is so beautiful. Like you want depth. You don't just want, you know, just like, oh, this sounds really good. Exactly. You know, you really wanted to understand it and feel it in you so that other people can feel it. And I think that makes a difference. Both of you feel it so deeply and you've experienced it in different ways. So you're trying to share that experience with other people. But you can only share an experience that you've had yourself. And so I think you really feel that through both of your music and through your words and it comes from your heart. So, but I mean, from your turn. No, I think that definitely that was our desire to try to capture the essence of what that is this experience with mantra with sacred sound and share it in a way that makes it that little bit more accessible for people who haven't experienced it before. So that's manifest in the form of, you know, these song like the typical mantra session might be like half an hour, an hour and you're singing the same thing over and over again. That might be very daunting for someone who's never experienced that before. So one of our mantra tracks is two minutes long. And some of our songs are, you know, touching on stories or themes from the Bhakti tradition, but they're more in a kind of typical song format with, you know, a couple verses of bridge like that. So it's something familiar, but it's conveying something of this deep authentic tradition. And so I think it's very natural that when something profoundly affects your life and touches your heart and is offers a space of shelter and upliftment, you want to share it with other people. So that's what we want to just give it as a gift, you know, if we can. And I really treasure the fact that we both had that same intention and it makes working on anything just a complete joy because you feel so aligned and you know. And that trust was really there. Like we both knew our intentions and so, you know, trying to do things over long distance because of COVID and, you know, having to make decisions maybe without one another because of time differences. And, you know, that trust was always there because we knew that our intentions were the same. Yeah. Which is also probably why what you were saying before about how your differences actually didn't make a difference in a negative way because you both have such a deep-rooted intention. But even if, and we're saying it, but even if there was something like, oh gosh, like, but as soon as you take yourself back to the intention, you guys were like, oh.

Honoring their deep-rooted Illness (15:07)

And there were a couple of those things. Yeah. Of course. Naturally. Yeah. Which could bring feuds to people but because of how deep-rooted everything was for you, it kind of just didn't hit that strongly. Yeah. We just we just had to talk it through. I remember we had a long phone call because we were trying to do we were trying to do creative things over over long distance and there were other artists that were involved and you know, we just had to call each other and just be like, man, like, yeah, this is really hard. And that was that was really healing for both of us, I feel. Just to be able to express that to one another and to be able to like kind of come back and be like, this is why we're doing this. Let's not stress about something in a material sense because that's not why we're doing it anyway. So that was a good combo. Yeah. Yeah. That was wonderful. And even in terms of the musicality of what we were doing, like, you know, Willow was taking the role of producer and I know it takes me a lot to sort of sometimes break out of the box of the sound of what I what I do, which is often rooted quite in the traditional origins of the Kirtan tradition. So I remember we were playing with different sounds and with, you know, kind of bass sounds and electronic sounds and and Willow was getting so excited on the little sampler and I was just sitting behind her like, okay, let's see what this goes. But I always, you know, initially I was like, okay, let's see. But then I really felt a sense of trust because I knew, as we've said, that we were both aiming for people to have this heart connection with the music. So I was like, I'm going to see where Willow takes it and I trust, you know, we're both aiming for the same space. And that's a beautiful thing. And there were a lot of things that at first seemed to you to be like, oh, that sound is a little deep. That's a deep bass. And I'm like, but trust me, people are going to hear this and go, oh, it's going to hit right in their chest. And like, you hear it and then you're like, oh, wow, like, I see, I see this. And I feel that. Exactly. And it's such a like how you guys aim communicating now. You can just see there's no ego involved in it. It's like, you're like, yeah, you were right. And you're like, yeah, you were right. And just the communication.

Collaborating during COVID and Lockdown (17:23)

And I imagine it's so difficult, even in relationships, it's sometimes difficult. Even if you know someone for such a long time, you're sometimes scared of saying something that you think might hurt their feelings. But you know, you guys have built such an honest, you've built a foundation on honesty and integrity. And so it's easy for you guys to communicate because you know where that person's coming from. 100%. I think it's a really important part of the story that you guys created this during COVID, during lockdown, being in different parts of the world for a big part of this work. Coming together for a very short part of it. Yeah. It's like you created a really collaborative piece at a time when the music's needed most, at a time when it's actually difficult to be collaborative and creative. Definitely. Like the way the relationship you guys built, just to anyone who's listening or watching right now, it's fun to watch you both just go back and forth. But to think about the fact that you've actually done this at a time when you weren't always in the same room. I think that's a really important thing to honor. And what I'm intrigued by now is to understand from both of you and to hear from both of you about your own journey. So we'll start with you in terms of, tell us about your own journey. You've been sharing so much more about mental health, anxiety, your own healing, always through your music, but also through your words. Tell us about your journey towards wanting to do more, even more healing devotional music that you felt is going to help people this year because this collaboration you both created this year was truly wanting to help people with the pain that everyone's been going through. So tell us a bit about your journey to that over the last decade.

Nyraiscs evolution. (18:54)

Ooh. It's a lot. I mean, I don't want to go into my whole life story, but I mean, is that what I'm... We're listening. Should I do that or should I? Wherever your heart wants to go. We'll be all the way. Whatever you genuinely feel like sharing from the heart. Totally. So my first interest in the lifestyle of just integrity and spirituality and meditation, I was introduced to that at a very young age. My mother had a bunch of beautiful art pieces and books about Hindu gods and goddesses. And I would just sit on the floor of her meditation room and just look at these beautiful photos and read about the sentiments of these gods and goddesses. From a very young age, I was so encapsulated by that and so inspired by that. And fast forward to me doing all the way with my hair stuff and being a pop star and having to realize that that's not the content that I wanted to put out into the world. That's not really the person that I wanted to be. And that was a really difficult decision to make. What made you realize that? I would go out and I would be with peers like kids my age and I would just be stopped and constantly, "Oh, that's the girl from with my hair. Oh, can you do that?" And I just saw my other friends being able to live and being able to have experiences and being able to make mistakes and not have the whole world know what's going on with them. And so that kind of made me think, "Is this really truly the life that I want to be living? Like I want to actually live. I don't just want to be a caricature for the world to look at." So that took a lot of courage to just say, "You know what? I'm not going to continue. There were a lot of people who had invested in me. There were projects that were already paid for, scripts that were already written that I had to go back on. I'm surprised that I didn't get sued. It was a crazy time." But through that, I was like, "Okay. Now that I'm free of this lifestyle that I don't want to live, now what's the lifestyle I want to live?" And so I was so confused. I kind of went into just a spiral of just like depression, desperation. I was self-harming. I was hanging out with people that were just wrong for me. And that lasted for about two to three years. And then I started realizing this is psychotic, literally. I have to stop doing this. This is not the person I want to be either. So I was like, "Okay. I hadn't been recording music during that time." So I was really in the dark. No creative outlet. No. You weren't doing anything creative? No. I was really just in the darkness, I should say. And so then I started kind of coming out of my shell and trying to get back into the studio, which felt so weird and daunting because I was like, "What do I make? Am I going to go back and just be like, "What am I going to do?" You know what I mean? So the first song that I had put out was, it was called "Sugar and Spice." You could probably find it somewhere. But it was a radio head loop. And I remember just listening to that and going, "I think you're going to be a little punk. I think I can continue." That little spark of inspiration was just like, "Ooh, ooh, I think I'm coming back." And so ever since then I've just been kind of digging more into that. And as I've gone deeper just over that time of just trying different types of music out, learning how to play the guitar, I just really realized that I just want to be in service. The only thing that makes having this lifestyle worth it, and for me to feel like I have a purpose at all and to not fall back into that dark spiral was making music that I felt would inspire people and that I felt would be in service to others. And that's really the only reason why I feel like I got out of that dark place because people would come to me and tell me that they were in that same dark space that I was and that my voice brought them out of that. And that would just bring me so much joy and just make me feel like I had a purpose. Like there's a reason why I have all of these resources and why people are looking at me and why I'm in the tabloids and all of this. And so it just gave me a reason. And this is just expanding on that reason. And I'm just so excited to continue to expand that reason and to grow that reason and to help that reason spread to others. Woo. Thank you for sharing that. Thank you so much. That is beautiful. That's phenomenal. It's amazing how you came to that conclusion for yourself, that service was where you wanted to be. And that's at the heart of the virtual music. Like that is it. So it's incredible to hear you explain just the natural challenges. The challenges that come with your experience of life and the kind of back and forth and the recognition of both that I don't want to be this, but I also don't want to be. Exactly. That's thank you so much for sharing that. Or before the age of 20. I know. Oh yeah. We'll adjust in 20. It's a crazy life. It's a crazy life, y'all. I love it. And Jada, when I hear from you because so as I was saying before, Jada and I have known each other for 15 years, probably known Jada for like 10.

Jade Avys journey to share kirtan music. (24:44)

Since 2012ish. I know I heard Jada V, 2010 or something. So good 10 years. Yeah, known each other for a black. That was a fan girl. Yeah. The first time we met, Radi was like, this is a tattoo I got inspired by. It's fine. And she was like, oh, okay. I love that. She was like, that's not what you're meant to do. But you know, Jada, you grew up in the Bucky tradition. And so this music has been a part of your life forever. And it's been a part of your soul. But also it was different being someone who's a consumer of it or hearing it, but then to actually creating and sharing it. Like that journey must have been really interesting. Can you share that with us, that transition of growing up listening to it, but then actually being someone who's sharing this tradition and culture so widely? Yeah, yeah. Well, I grew up being involved in it all the time, every day, really. We would do, I attended a school at the temple that was very near to my house. So the school was, we did regular academic subjects, but we also studied the bug with Gita and we did chanting together before we started our school day. So that was very normal, but it was collective. It was, I wasn't singing on my own or anything. And also my dad was very well known as a singer of Kirtan all over Europe and other countries of the world back in the cassette tape days. The cassettes used to be everywhere. So as I got older, I mean, he was like, he is a hero to me, but we loved his singing. And I felt, I mean, I always loved music, but as I got older people would be like, oh, do you sing like your dad and like, like singing? You must know nothing about that. So, nothing coming you guys. So I think I was, I was quite shy as a very shy and introverted and I also felt this pressure that people are like wanting to see if I'm also going to be like my dad. And so I just, I was too shy to, I didn't really know that, I knew I could sing because I sang, you know, in my bedroom in the shower. But I didn't know, I remember actually, I went to regular school for a few years and the first, in my first year of regular school, and this is something we share as well, like a bit of unusual schooling experiences. But I was so shy and I was, it was because growing up with this tradition, I knew that, okay, I'm a little bit different from other kids and I've grown from the age of four talking about life and death and the body being like a coat that you take off and put on a new body. Like these kind of concepts, reincarnation and karma and kids don't talk about that kind of stuff. So I was really, really shy and the school play was, the end of year's school play was the Wizard of Oz and my teacher cast me as the cowardly lion because I think she knew that it would help me to, you know, she could see that I was shy but it would be good for me to play a role that would kind of bring me out of myself. So I remember I had to sing a song on my own on the stage and like, you know, swing my tail around me. And it was the smell where I was like, oh my God, I'm singing in front of you. I'm in front of people and it's actually, it's nice, you know, but that was it for many years and it wasn't until I was 19, 20 around your age that I started to lead Kirtan. People were kind of, just friends were just encouraging me and I found that it was something that I felt more and more connected with. But it is because it's such a deep tradition and it's a form of prayer, a form of worship. It is kind of a thing where you have to navigate your ego because it's not a performance genre of music. It's a prayer and an offering. So for many years, I didn't really identify with being a person to sort of go out in the world and like share this with lots of people. It was just something I did within my community. But by a circumstance goes, you know, sometimes destiny finds you and you try and push something away. Many times I think, you know, Jay and I've had probably many conversations over the years where I've been like, I just don't know if this is what I meant to do or like, yeah, I do this, you know, that kind of thing where you keep trying to turn away from something but it kept coming back to me, it kept knocking on my door. It was just in that book that was kept on trying to go, no music. No music. And it was like, yes. You know, like when you have to write on a form, you know, occupation and I would always stop and be like, what do I write there? You know, am I, because I was a, I wrote, I did art, I was a dancer, but I didn't want to write musician or artist or writer. I just didn't know what to write because I didn't fully identify with being able to say this is what I am. So yeah, it came, it came bit by bit. And I think one of the big catalysts for me with feeling confident to try to accept the role of embracing my creativity and engaging it in service of spreading this type of music more is the fact that yoga, meditation, mindfulness, those things over the last 10 years became so much more mainstream than they ever were. And when I was a child, I never would have imagined that would be the case. I thought that that was just the strange way that I grew up, you know, and that like kids used to ask me like, so why don't you, you know, like, why are you vegetarian and what do you, why do you have a name like that and stuff like that? I know. But now it's like, no, this is pretty, it's pretty normal, especially in LA. So yeah, it's, it's been a, it's been a journey, but I'm so grateful to be doing this now. It brings me so much fulfillment. Yeah, we're grateful to you too for sticking it through and continuing on and we're never going to let you quit. I want to quit. Yeah. The music is going to keep coming back. But we love that. Yeah, we love that.

Finding time for meditation and yoga (31:33)

Both of you, for everyone who's listening and watching, I think there's such a pressure these days for young people, especially to find their purpose or discover what they want to do for the rest of their lives. And you can see in both of the way you were experiencing, it's kind of not been like that. It's kind of been much more of this meandering path than kind of getting lost and then re-finding and then feeling stuck and then questioning everything and then finding it. And this almost like magical approach to like, I found my purpose or I found my, you know, calling. Exactly. It doesn't work like that. And it's nice to see two people who are creating an artistic, but it's kind of coming over time. It's such a process, it's such a journey and there's so many internal obstacles that need to be looked at and that need to be worked on until you can step into your calling, until you can step into your purpose fully. Ooh, and God knows I'm still trying to step in. Yes. I'm still trying to step in. Yeah. What would you say are both of your, I don't know, daily things that you do in your lives that help enrich you or uplift you, what are the things that you've started to do? Yeah. And I think on a daily basis, because I feel like they're the things that really make, you know, a difference if you're doing something regularly. It's a good idea. Yeah. That's a good idea. Yeah. I've worked a few of you, no, no, no. I haven't, but thank you. Please, please continue. Well, I find that daily meditation, daily, I practice mantra meditation daily, and that is something that I really hold on to. I imagine, you know, if you take life to be like a river, that is, the current is flowing very fast. In some of these sacred rivers in India where people, they take a dip, you know, as a purifying kind of act, they have these metal chains that are in the water that you hold onto when you go in to make sure you don't get swept away. So I see the mantra meditation as sort of like this chain to hold on to in the rushing current of life. And it really, even though it's not, it's not easy, I know Willow has, you know, a yoga practice. You've been cultivating for a long time to do anything daily. It's not an easy thing. And you don't always feel like doing it. And sometimes you do it robotically. And then you're like, Oh, you know, I got to come back to, you know, the deeper reason of why I'm doing this. But to just keep that commitment, it develops a relationship with sacred space within, it develops a relationship with the divine that really is, it's a lifesaver. It's, it's, it's, um, it gives me inspiration. It gives me sense of connection. And it's a meditation that the particular mantra that I, that I recite daily, the meditation is on how can I be of service and a prayer for service. Please allow me to be of service in this life. So I love how Willow was describing that, that, that service. It brings you out of that space. Cause every day we have to push against our tendency to be self absorbed. It's like at every moment we tend to be caught in our head thinking about our own worries and things like that and, and to turn that around to how can I serve? It's, it's such a dramatic, you know, state change. And so for me that helps. It helps then, you know, whether I'm doing one thing or another, just to keep connecting with that core reason of why, of what is, yeah, what is the purpose of my existence to serve? It makes things, it makes things a lot more simpler and joyful. Yeah, I am just going to piggyback off of what, what Johnnie said. Yes, I've been cultivating a yoga practice for about, I want to say two years, a year and a half ago. Oh, we see those, yeah. Yeah, yeah. Yeah. I want to say two years or a year and a half. And you know, another thing, aside from meditation that I try to do daily, sometimes it doesn't happen. I read every day, right now I'm reading Inner Engineering by Sadhguru, so that's something that I've been putting my time into every day. So whether it's, you know, literature, yoga or meditation, one of those things is happening every day. So I'm just like Johnnie said, I truly believe that, that consistency and that repetition is what's needed in order to get into a state where it is second nature, where you don't have to think about it anymore, where it's habitual. Exactly. And that's, that's where I'm trying to be. That's where I'm striving to. I think what you both are doing, keeping it consistent, that's probably how, you know, you've realized what the benefits are, that living a life without it, or that feels more unnatural than, than doing the practice. Oh, I was thinking about how, you know, both of your practices are things which people have been doing for years, such an ancient thing that people have been doing. But what's incredible about your music is that it's, I think it's shown so many people who are probably unfamiliar with meditation, unfamiliar with yoga or see it as something that's so unfamiliar, that, you know, meditation music or mental music is for everybody, like it's such a universal thing, that so many different types of people can connect to it, just by your different backgrounds, that you two have connected to it in such a different way. And how you're sharing it, it's, yeah, it's beautiful to see how different meditation music and devotional music can actually be and how many different types of people it can, it can connect. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I'm glad you put that base on it so I can turn it up in the car. Yeah. That's why I knew it. Yeah. That's why I knew it. I knew it. I, I love it the first time I heard it, I was telling JadaVie, I was just like, you've, it's just all the music, what you've made is it's like that perfect combination between being timeless and pure, but then being current and relevant.

Creating the 1st Deva/Willow Collaboration (37:24)

And you've created in my, in my opinion, whatever it's worth, like it sounds like a no genre, like it's, it's new, it's different, it's, it's not, you can't just go, oh yeah, that's that kind of music. I wouldn't even put it under meditation. Oh, it's, it's, it's beyond that. And I think that, you know, credit to both of your artistry to be able to expand that much. What's different about creating devotional music for both of you and JadaVie for you to, to stretch out of your comfort zone from a music place of now creating this new genre that you have together. So for, for Willow, for you more like what's, what's different about creating devotional music for you, from your perspective and, and then JadaVie from yours, like almost going the other way and like, oh, now we're creating something a bit newer to what I'm used to. Yeah. Yeah. Um, you know, my lyrics that, you know, in the Willow album and in Art of Pithakiss, my first album, um, you know, I talk a lot about duality. I talk a lot about spirit. I talk a lot about, you know, cycles. I have a song that's called cycles on, on my first album. The language is very modern. And what I love about Sanskrit is that it, it's deeper than language. Um, and I think the, the real difference is bringing that, um, ancient vibration to it that isn't just coming from me. It's coming from generations and generations of, of deeply spiritual individuals, um, who have carried this on. And I think, you know, feeling that is, is the biggest difference for me. Cause it's not just me coming up with something. Wow. Power. That's really powerful. Yeah. That's incredible to think of it like that. That's so well articulate. That's beautiful. Thank you. Oh, oh. You accept me. Oh my God. Yeah. Wow. Wow. I've, I've just been, I've been hit by your, by your articulation of that. That's so beautiful. Yeah. I think it's so interesting because I think for me, it was almost, I wouldn't say the opposite because naturally we're trying to retain the, the purity of devotional space. And like with, with recording, we set up a little altar, like in this, in the studio, it's, it's really nice to have that feel to be a sacred space to making it. Yeah. Yeah. But, um, with this EP, um, cause most of the time I'm singing mantra, which I, which obviously those words are not mine. I'm putting my heart, my prayer into it, but I'm also trusting the power of that, uh, ancient vibration, that timeless vibration to touch the heart of another. And then, and for that reason, I don't, I don't take credit when someone has, you know, a powerful experience with it. It's like, oh yeah, that's, that's what it does. That's what it does to me too. So I'm just trying to, you know, be, facilitate this experience. But with this, uh, album, I definitely was stretching myself because I think just before we came together, I was, I'd been recently feeling a lot more inspired to, to write lyrics in English that convey some of these ideas and, and themes, which was daunting for me. Cause it's not something I, it's something I hardly ever do, let alone record. I, I have tons of voice notes in my phone, which will never see the light of day, you know, ideas that I've had. But it was so cool. Cause I didn't think we would actually work on those things. But when I showed some of them to Willow, she was so encouraging and excited about it. And I was sort of like, well, what do you think? Like you add your lyrics into, she was like, no, I, I love this. I think we should go for it. I was like, really? And then so to, to actually bring some of those ideas to life, um, for me, that was a beautiful experience of being able to come outside of the space of, okay, this is just mantra, it's not me, but here's this, here's this, you know, ancient sound vibration to actually hear some words that I wrote, which convey how I want to, you know, take a snapshot of this, um, this sentiment, for instance, of surrender or, um, what's another, how I have experienced it or what, or, or what's meaningful to me or to us, you know, and, and for me, that was a really, uh, that was extremely powerful. And I came away being like, whoa, I didn't know I could do that. So it was, yeah, I'm so grateful for that. Yeah. It was, it was, it was beautiful. Yeah, I could feel, I could feel that, that sense of hesitancy. That's why I was like, yeah. I was like, let's go full-flex. Are you sure? She's like, let's do it. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I was like, you, you go know the, the greatness of you today.

How significant other experiences have bolstered my faith growth. (42:28)

That's the, uh, both of you live real lives in the real world. You know, you, you go through your challenges every single day and people who listen to this are going through their own challenges. What's been something that's been really beautiful or powerful for both of you individually, that you feel has helped you discover answers at tough times or find new directions at tough times. What is it that both of you have turned to in your own life, whether it be musical or not, that, that you think that almost, what is it that people can do to express themselves more because it feels like so many of our feelings do get bottled up and, and do just get thought about inside. What has been powerful for you individually? I mean, it might, it might be a little unorthodox. But I actually really, really enjoy looking at myself in the mirror and explaining like, telling, like having a conversation with myself basically. Like when I'm, when I'm having tough emotions that I feel like I don't want to express to other people or I feel like embarrassed or whatever it is. I always try to like just look at myself and be like, no, you're valid. Like explain the full depth of everything that you're feeling and then look at yourself and like explain back to yourself. Why, why those emotions, not why those emotions are okay, but accepting yourself in a certain way. And you know, sometimes when the FaceTime doesn't work and people don't answer their phone, you can talk to yourself. Yeah. And it does work. It does work for me. It does. I love that. That's so good. Yeah. I've never heard anyone do that in the mirror. Yeah. I'm going to take journaling to another level. Yeah. And then speaking yourself, which I think a lot of the times we are battling with our own self rather than with other people. And so actually like looking at yourself in the mirror and, and speaking to yourself, it's so powerful. It gets deep. The tears start flowing and then you start looking at yourself. Look at the vibe of me. Exactly. And you're like, dang, like I see you, like you're, we're together in this. Like we got each other. I love that. Yeah. That's awesome. I hope everyone tries that out this week. Yeah. Anyone who's listening or watching tried out. I'm being serious. It's a good. I feel weird saying it because people, you know, are like, that's ridiculous. But I've done it. No. And it has stopped the tears. Wow. Great. Yeah. I was thinking as you were speaking that for me, writing has always been a powerful one. And it's funny because I, I think of the page being like a mirror. And I think many people find writing to, to be like that. Yeah. And I remember some difficult points in my life where I didn't write for a very long time for probably two years. I didn't write anything on a page because I was afraid of what would come out and what I would see. I felt just this complete block, you know, and then to release that to start. I always feel such a relief when I put a pen on the paper and start to write. And I was introduced to the practice of free writing some, some years ago. There's a famous book called The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron. And this practice of morning pages is something that many people have found a lot of, yeah, just incredible experiences from. So I started to do that. And I still turn to that when I, I mean, I tried to do it regularly, but it's also one of those things you go through phases, you know, but for me, yeah. So writing is always a huge, huge help. I mean, stating the obvious, I think, you know, kirtan meditation music, of course. But my other huge one, which I think Willow and I share is to connect with nature. Just to walk. I mean, I think I try and go for a walk in nature every day. And without fail, it's like a balm. It's uplifting. It brings me back to myself. It sparks ideas and creativity. It's just like the road and the page that my two friends that really helped me so much. I love that. Yeah, I love that. That's so awesome. And I guess that's what's inspired a lot of your work. I know, John, if you're doing your BBC ports for thought sessions, you talk a lot about the environment and climate change. And that where do you see that intersection between like art and the environment or climate change or expression and that? Is there a synergy there or is it just something that you feel is a different part of you where your care comes from? I think it's absolutely intertwined. I mean, nature is the most beautiful art that we can witness and observe. I'm so inspired by the natural world. And my mom is a really avid gardener and lover of wild plants and herbs. And she sort of brought us up like that to observe and learn about all the properties of plants and trees around us. So I'm kind of obsessed with plants and flowers and people could laugh at me. But it's like, I'm always looking. I'm inspired by the textures, by the shapes, by the different aromas. Yeah, everything. And so nature inspires me creatively, immensely. And in terms of caring for nature, I think like a person, the more you know a person, the more you care. So the more we observe and connect and feel a sense of relationship with nature, that care, it's like, why wouldn't I care? It's a beautiful exchange. It nourishes me. Absolutely. There's a mutual exchange of nourishment going on. And I think also with the particular type of creativity and art, you know, the questions that I'm asking or that we're asking about service, about divinity, these kinds of things, they bring us also closer to our deepest essence, which I believe is meant to be in harmony with nature. So the more that you're coming into that space, again, it just becomes a very natural connection to feel. And so yeah, I'm kind of a nature addict. And I know like when I visited Willow and her home, you know, there's such a beautiful view of the ocean and it's like, it's just a part of you, right?

But you always come here and my helper is where you belong. (48:54)

Yeah, 100% I have to. I think a significant decline in my mental health would happen if I were to live in a city. Yeah. Or, I mean, I do live in a city, but if I were to live like amongst buildings, exactly. Like, I need to wake up and see trees. I need to. Just one tree. Exactly. At least one. At least one. I need it's, I'm a nature addict. What can I say? Just like you. And that's definitely one of the biggest healing agents in my life. 100%. Yeah. Willow, we've been talking about this for the past couple of days about how you see this connection between spirituality and science and physics and spirituality. Yes. You know. And you've always been very much talking about like science and physics and like, but then you're also really interested in spirituality. Tell us about how you started to see so early in your life the connection and synergy between the two. Yes. Because I think so often they talked about so separately or they're seen as like divisive or disconnected. Exactly. Yeah. I think one of the biggest, the biggest moments in my life that made me really move towards this marriage of spirituality and science was, you know, I had been reading a lot of spiritual literature. I had been reading a lot of O Show, a lot of, I read this one book called Oneness and that book changed my life forever. And just the idea of vibration and that everything is vibration really hit me because I am a musician and music is like the biggest love of my life. And then learning about string theory was just opened my mind into such a place that it was like these two things are the same. Like people think that they're separate and in some ways they are, but in the fundament they're just two sides of the same coin. And so that inspired me to just dive really deep into the physical world and just how things work and that's how I just got into physics and started studying physics. And you know, I haven't been studying more of the spiritual lane recently. It's hard, it's hard, I will say, to study them deeply at the same time. But I study them separately deeply and I go back and forth and then try to figure out how to bring them together in some way. But in my life, I'm constantly relating my spiritual experiences with all of the scientific things that I've read or just being in physics class and telling my physics teacher like, "Oh, you should read this book." And he's like, "Okay, I'm a physics teacher, I'm not a metaphysics teacher." So I just want to continue to just get more intelligent and more intelligent while also losing my ego. I think is where I'm trying to go, which is kind of counterintuitive. But I think it is possible. And intelligence and service. Exactly. And so that's really just, I have lots of goals. But that's one of them. Save the world. Exactly. And lots of goals. But they all give me joy and really just my curiosity for both makes life just exciting. Those two things just make my life feel exciting to me. Yeah. I actually think that paradox is what makes it exciting. Yeah. If your pursuit was only to become intelligent, you'd get bored. Exactly. And if your pursuit was only to remove ego, it wouldn't be as exciting as you'd be quite tough. Exactly. And the other thing that I think is really important is that you can't do anything. And often the path that can only be walked when you do both paths to reach to really get it right. So I love that. I love that. What were you going to ask? I wasn't. I want to add something. That's also why I really admire you, Jay, because you, while also having been a monk for five years, three years, you are also one of the most intelligent people I know. And that's so inspiring to see that you can do both. And that both can be done. It just inspires me to do it. It just inspires me to try to actually, to try to actually put that into my own life. And I'm just so happy that you're in my life so that I can see you grow and constantly learn from you. And that's really amazing to me. Oh, you're the sweetest.

I love that I can finally show off my abs and writing my intelligence. (53:57)

I'm getting all emotional now. Now we're just an all-be-crumb. Yeah. No, I love that. I really appreciate it. No, I'm your fan. I'm your fan. No, I was like Willow's 40-year-old grandma inside her talking. I know. I know.

Concluding Discussion

Not gonna lie my cheeks hurt from all the smiles (54:11)

I love it. No, I really appreciate that from you. It's, you know, I think we both have a lot more in common than we know too. Totally. We're kind of discovering it recently. I love that. Yeah. Yeah. I've learned a lot. And that's why, yeah, I think what we all were talking about yesterday is, and I think why we all like being around each other is, and why everyone who's listening or watching, I'm hoping that this is encouraging you to connect with like-hearted people, connect with and collaborate with people that you're close to because when you can be yourself and you don't have to apologize by asking for permission to say something or expressing who you are and you welcome them. I think that's the kind of community that we're all looking for. 100%. Is it right to say, "Sadhusanga"? Is that it? Yeah. Yeah. Is that it? Yeah. Well, then it out. Faking out the Sanskrit. Yeah. So, Sadhi's anger for those who don't know, Willow's now going to give the definition. Is it going to give us a thought? No, I love you. It is basically your spiritual family, you know, the like-minded individuals around you that facilitate your growth towards pure love for God. And that is- that's fire in mind. Yeah. I've got a drink like drop. Exactly. Yes, yes.

Fill in the Blank (55:30)

I love it. All right. So, we end every On Purpose episode with a fill in the blank and a final five. So, fill in the blank is as it is. We'll read out a sentence for both of you and you both will fill in the blank. We've got different ones for both of you. I'm going to have them too. Okay. Thank you. And then we're going to do a final five. I love filling the blank and you do Willow Aldo Johnaby. Okay. Making music is about unlocking people's hearts. Peace is found. When my actions are in alignment with my values and my heart. Mm. I love that. I want my listeners to- I want my listeners to break down and dance with the love of God. That's what I want. I love that. Like that massive dance party we had before COVID. Yes. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. That's more COVID. Okay. Music allows me to- Fly. Mm. I love that. Vulnerability allows me to- Be strong. The word rise is about- Moving up, going into my heart and like we said in the song, don't hide from the questions within that rise within. Oh, she loved one. That is really good though. It's like, yeah, questions arise inside and we just try and- Yeah. We'll just try and push them down. Yeah, I love that. I wish I knew ten years ago that- Ooh. Ooh. Other people's opinions don't matter. Hey. Ooh. Okay, January 2020 has allowed me to- Mm. Wow. I'm like- Yeah. Visioning 2020 has allowed me to create and create as I haven't before in the past. Well, will our creativity is about? creativity is about expressing oneself entirely. Mm. What the- Collaboration is about? Listening. Yes. Amazing. Yes, John and me. Yes. From that question. I feel cute when. This one obviously got on. From Jay's list of questions. I feel cute when Premas come in onto me. Yeah, I'm loving God. John, you feel cute when? I feel cute when I'm around Radi. Yeah. You don't have to participate. You're cute. I think I did it really well.

Final Five (58:25)

Go on, ask- Okay, so these are the final five. That was very good by the way. Fantastic. You guys, final five. So these have to be answered in one word or one sentence, "maxima." And they're the same questions for both of you. So I'll ask the question and then both of you can go in any order. Well, maybe you guys can be like a buzz or a beep to answer first. Buzz or a beep? Yeah, so like he'll ask the question and whoever's got the answer. Buzz beep. Oh, okay. All right. I don't get- All right. I think we've got it too. Yeah, all right. You better not know what's going to be a bit competitive. Okay, okay. What is the biggest lesson that you've learned this year? We'll put sound effect in. We'll put a sound effect in to make you more. Um. Detachment. Mm. Beautiful. The power of community. Mm. Love that. Okay. The second question is, "Oh, this is one of my favorite questions I ask on the show." So what do you know to be absolutely true but a lot of people may disagree with you on? Oh. And what is it that you're so confident about and so sure about in your life but a lot of people may disagree and they may not- Oh. They may not necessarily understand. Self-love is the most important love. Mm. Nice. But I don't know if anyone would disagree. I'd say connection with spirit and the divine is essential for a purposeful life. Mm. Yes. Mm. Yeah. I can see people disagree. Yeah, I could. Yes. Yes. Yeah. The third question is, "If you could set one law that everyone had to follow in the world, what would it be?" Wow. If you got to create your law, that everyone in the world had to follow what would it be? I know. I'm like, "I need this to be good." Mm. I'm going to give two different- because this is too important to me to just say in one way. Yes. You can take John of these two. It's either- it's either treat people the way you want to be treated or treat people with the utmost respect at all times, no matter what. I feel like that would help a lot of the wars and a lot of the inequality that goes on. Yeah. Thank you. Wonderful answer. I want Willow's laws, but also- Yeah. I was thinking a lot- I don't know how this would actually be manifest or policed, but a law about being truthful and honest. Can you imagine if everyone had to be truthful? It had to be integrity to one's word. What a place the world would look like with- along with Willow's laws of love and respect. It's like that movie. Did you see that Ricky Gervais movie where they actually did that? It was like a movie where- Oh, where everyone- The man who invented lies. Yeah, yeah, yeah. That was a funny movie. I remember that Jim Carrey won. Liar, liar. Liar, liar. Yeah. Totally. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. So two more questions left. Fourth question is, what is your personal favorite song on the EP and why? So you can be over one sentence. What is my personal favorite song on the EP and why? I'd have to say born to give just because the instrumentation, it's like when do you ever hear a guitar solo on top of a mantra that's being repeated? We're saying satcheet ananda, like over an electric guitar solo while satcheet ananda is being repeated. I just was like, I'd never heard anything like that. So I was like, I really love this moment. I think that would be my favorite song. I love that. That's cool. That's a cool reason. Yeah. Honestly, I actually do love them all equally, but Gajendra, for LetGo, is one of my favorites because I love the story that it's connected to, which is from the Bucky tradition. And this theme of surrender is so meaningful to me, but to express it in English lyrics. And yeah, I just love it. And I love this bridge. A lot of people have been posting themselves singing. Yeah. Yes. I just love that. I was telling Willow that a couple, like a few weeks before we met up, I watched Hamilton when it went streaming online. And I was so inspired by the lyrics and the way that the music was composed and constructed. And I think that was in my head a little bit when I wrote this. So yeah, I love that song. Hello. Lastly, the most important one. Both of you do an impression of each other from your experience in the studio. 100%. You're like perfection, perfection. I feel like that would be such a vibe. Yeah, yeah, that's me. And then when I'm on the keyboard trying to find the sound, John and B's like, "Okay. I could see that maybe. I could see that." And I'm like, "Okay, she doesn't like this. Let's move up." My favorite, Willow, is that it's differently. Yeah, yeah. That really hits different. Yesterday, when we were talking about the Bhagavad Gita, I was like, "I kept on saying that." That is different. That is different. It's great, Steve. I love it. This is so lovely.

Promotion Of Willow & Jonybs Ep

Willow & Jonybs Ep (01:04:23)

Willow and John and B got to the Rizy people. Put the link everywhere. Please, please, please go and check it out. It will transform your heart, open it, and fill it with so much joy. Yeah. Oh, I will. Go and join. It will transform your heart, open it, and fill it with so much joy. Yes! Don't know. We really want you to go check it out. And thank you so much for listening today. Thank you so much. I'm already going to follow Willow and John and B on Instagram and tag us when you share it. Tag them when you share it because we want to hear you guys singing along. We want to see you finding your peace, finding your calm. And so, please, please, please tag them when you share it because they'll be looking out. We'll be looking out. And we're so grateful again to have you here on purpose. Thank you so much. Thank you. Big thank you to Radi for doing this for me today. Thanks for having me on this fire. Yes. Made the cut. Made the cut. Make her a regular. Hey, everyone. Happy Shanty and welcome to my YouTube channel. Every week I'm sharing three videos that are going to help you feel more fulfilled, feel more happy and more successful. Make sure you subscribe to this channel so that you can find out about the videos as soon as they launch. Press the like button and leave a comment and let's keep making wisdom go viral together.