Dimitri Ehrlich, a music journalist, explores how music becomes a vehicle for sacred expression. In the introduction, the author discusses popular music as a conveyer of consciousness, a source of meaning, and a healing balm that gives pleasure and relief .He interviews prominent singers and songwriters including pop folk musician Jeff Buckley, soul singer Al Green, reggae musician Ziggy Marley, heavy metal rock-and-roll composer Iggy Pop, and rapper PM Dawn.
The most articulate musicians have been influenced by Buddhism. Leonard Cohen, Philip Glass, and Allen Ginsberg all speak positively about the link between meditation and creativity. Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, the world's leading Sufi singer, muses over the voice as an indicator not only of character but also of spirit. Inside the Music by Dimitri Ehrlich reveals the sacred dimensions of composing, songwriting, and performance with variety, clarity, and spunk.