There is nothing wrong with having preconceptions. In a way they are intuitive predictions of how someone will be, based on the experiences we’ve had before. Oftentimes they prove to be right. So we stick to them.
I love it, when my preconceptions are proven to be wrong. It reminds me of how much is possible. Of how little I know. When I meet people who do not fit in any regular drawer, they have my full attention.
I felt that way when I encountered the band Rhye. Within the first seconds of the first song came this deep connection. I felt a map unfolding inside of me, pointing to unknown territory. Hic sunt leones. There was this mystical, yet strangely familiar voice. No stigma to it, no attributes to be found. The voice of an unheard bird.
When I looked for the band members on the internet, there was no one to be found. No foto, no names. They played all their concerts in the dark.
I had this picture of the singer in my mind – a very masculine, short-haired girl, both fragile and strong, both raw and delicate.
Now I found that the band split up and the singer released his solo-album today – a very feminine, short-haired boy, both fragile and strong, both raw and delicate. His name is Milosh and his music is past all preconceptions.
PS. Why this video? It is perfect in its imperfection. The unpretentiousness. The unsureness. The frontal honesty.