Musings no. 2 - Alkemie Road - Music as medicine

Hey friends, This one’s from me….Ashley. Dara shared her reflections under the new moon, and now I want to bring something of mine to this space: music.   For me, music has always been medicine. It’s not background noise — it’s a force that moves through the body, lifts the spirit, and fuels everything we create. When Dara and I are in the studio, music is part of the atmosphere. It’s what carries us through the process, whether we’re carving, soldering, or dreaming up the next piece.   Over the years, I’ve been building a Spotify channel called Alkemie Road. It’s thousands of songs from every generation, crossing genres and borders. African blues, the Grateful Dead, Duran Duran, The Cure, obscure tracks you might never stumble on — it’s all there. It’s a soundtrack for road trips, for long creative nights, for wandering the edges of memory and possibility.   What inspires me just as much as the sound is the style. Rock ’n’ roll fashion has always been inseparable from the music — it’s about freedom, rebellion, and soul. Some of my favorite inspirations come from vintage legends like East West Musical Instruments and Granny Takes a Trip, alongside those incredible Italian designers who made clothes feel like part of the band. These are the pieces that shaped generations, and they still ripple through everything we do today.   So if you’re on Spotify, come join me on Alkemie Road. Take a ride. Let the songs carry you the way they’ve carried me. It’s the perfect companion for the open highway, a walk through the city, or just sitting still and remembering who you are.   Turn it up loud, ✌🏼 Ashley