"That happens every time I get behind a guitar, regardless of what I'm saying, 'cause music is freedom and being free is the closest I've ever felt to being spiritual"

In this quote, Ben Harper eloquently expresses the profound connection in between music and individual liberty, in addition to the spiritual experience it can conjure up in an individual. Harper suggests that whenever he plays the guitar, he experiences a feeling of liberation, regardless of the message or lyrics he is conveying. This implies that the act of playing music goes beyond the material of the music itself, offering a form of expression that goes beyond words and meaning. It speaks with the universal language of music, a medium that permits the artist to interact and link on a much deeper, more psychological level.

Harper's reference of music as "liberty" underscores the unbounded nature of musical expression. Unlike other kinds of interaction that might be limited by language, cultural context, or societal standards, music can bypass these barriers, permitting both the developer and the listener to experience a sense of release from constraints. This flexibility is not only artistic but also deeply individual, offering an outlet for emotions and thoughts that might otherwise remain unexpressed.

Furthermore, Harper equates the feeling of being free with spirituality, recommending that the liberation he experiences through music is the closest he's concerned a spiritual encounter. This contrast highlights a common theme in conversations about art and spirituality: the idea that producing or experiencing art can cause transcendental or transformative experiences. The idea of spirituality here does not necessarily indicate religious undertones however rather an elevated state of being, where one feels linked to something greater than oneself.

In general, Harper's quote wonderfully encapsulates the power of music as a tool for individual freedom and spiritual exploration. His words show the concept that in the act of development, one can find a sense of function, connection, and freedom that resonates deeply on both psychological and spiritual levels.