Overtones
- Deric Hollings
- 4 days ago
- 5 min read
When earlier listening an electronic dance music (EDM) DJ set by K_Oxana, I heard the track “Overtones” (2020) by Frost. The sampled vocals of the song reportedly originate from an interview concerning British rapper of Nigerian descent Sneakbo, as he states:
I’ve done a lot in my life
It’s been ups and downs
You know that I’ve done big shows, I’ve done small shows
I’ve traveled so much
And I’ve learned a lot along the way
And I realized there’s more to life, so I don’t have no time
I don’t have a minute to waste
I fought, like, every second of my life; now, I’ve got to
Find a way to keep motivating people before it’s too late
When contemplating this message, two relatively brief psychoeducational lessons regarding Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) come to mind. Separately, each of these serves as an undertone (a quality underlying the surface of an utterance or action) of life.
Collectively, they serve as an overtone (a secondary effect, quality, or meaning) of one’s own existence. The first lesson involves the ABC model of REBT. Specifically, Sneakbo’s use of “got to” on the track serves as a flexible prescription for his own life.
Unlike an inflexible demand concerning what others should, must, or ought to do with their limited time in life (e.g., everyone absolutistically must motivate other people), Sneakbo uses a personal remedy (e.g., I recommendatorily should keep motivating people).
This is a helpful approach to life, as the rapper isn’t likely to self-disturb when advising himself about what he’d like to accomplish “before it’s too late,” in the event that he’s unsuccessful in his endeavor. Rather, he’d probably experience understandable distress (e.g., disappointment).
The second lesson relates to unconditional acceptance (UA) regarding REBT. Particularly, Sneakbo appears to understand that he has limited control and influence concerning a finite lifespan. He ostensibly takes this into account when reflecting upon his accomplishments.
Furthermore, using a healthy prescription, he says to himself, “I’ve got to find a way to keep motivating people before it’s too late.” This UA perspective isn’t tarnished with an unproductive condition whereby the rapper must succeed (e.g., either I motivate people, or I’m a loser).
Instead, Sneakbo seemingly realizes that he’d prefer to motivate people – yet it isn’t as though his self-worth would be impacted if unable to do so. Given these two relatively brief psychoeducational lessons, Sneakbo’s undertones contribute to his overtone worldview.
Now, I invite you to consider the undertones which you utilize that feed your overall overtones of life. Are you using healthy perspectives, as demonstrated in “Overtones”? If not, I may be able to help motivate you to do so before each of our time in this life comes to an uncertain end.
If you’re looking for a provider who tries to work to help you understand how thinking impacts physical, mental, emotional, and behavioral elements of your life, I invite you to reach out today by using the contact widget on my website.
As the world’s foremost EDM and hip hop-influenced REBT psychotherapist—promoting content related to EDM, I’m pleased to try to help people with an assortment of issues from anger (hostility, rage, and aggression) to relational issues, adjustment matters, trauma experience, justice involvement, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety and depression, and other mood or personality-related matters.
At Hollings Therapy, LLC, serving all of Texas, I aim to treat clients with dignity and respect while offering a multi-lensed approach to the practice of psychotherapy and life coaching. My mission includes: Prioritizing the cognitive and emotive needs of clients, an overall reduction in client suffering, and supporting sustainable growth for the clients I serve. Rather than simply trying to help you to feel better, I want to try to help you get better!
Deric Hollings, LPC, LCSW
References:
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