We were lucky to catch up with David-Paul Norman recently and have shared our conversation below.
David-Paul, so many exciting things to discuss, we can’t wait. Thanks for joining us and we appreciate you sharing your wisdom with our readers. So, maybe we can start by discussing optimism and where your optimism comes from?
It started with learning from my grandfather. He had a lot of tragedy and trauma in his life and always maintained an optimistic attitude. I had some serious health issues as a kid and he always said I was going to be OK. He was right.
After he passed through the veil, I found a copy of Norman Vincent-Peale’s book, The Power of Positive Thinking, in his book collection and I read it. I decided I had nothing to lose and began deliberatrly implementing the ideas he expressed in his book.
Over time, through experimentation, I realized that both the desired and undesired outcomes are simply possibilities, each just as likely to manifest; I decided to focus on the positive outcomes after having had so much success in bringing about the negative ones in the past. I have to say it’s been working. Each success I have gives me more evidence that optimism brings about positive results so it has become a feedback loop.
I’ve seen this with my clients as well. I give them many exercises to develop a positive, successful, and abundant mindset and I’ve seen them transform their performances and lives as a result.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
Both my music releases as Bubblegum X and my voice teaching are focused on raising people’s consciousness for their own empowerment.
I created Bubblegum X as a response to what was a very dark time in human history in the year 2020.
I was inspired by the Dada-ists of the WWI period who created nonsensical art and music as a reaction to the war, death, disease, and destruction of the early 20th century. I had to create something whimsical and bubblegum came to mind. It was my favorite candy/toy as a kid and you could say it still is. What is more whimsical than someone blowing and popping giant pink plastic bubbles? Not much, I can tell you!
The X part of Bubblegum X represents experiment, the X factor, or ingredient X because it is definitely not bubblegum music in the usual sense. I incorporate classical music elements into my EDM and have a story to tell, even in instrumental tracks. Much of the messaging in my mm music and merch is about how powerful you are and using your imagination to create.
As a voice teacher, I spent quite a bit of time learning about different teaching techniques and methods including brain entrainment, NLP, and visualization. I encourage my clients to use all of these tools to accelerate their learning and development as an artist and person. In fact, I have a self-guided visualization and mindset course that I give to all of my clients whether they sign up for a 10 week intensive or take a lesson every few months.
I teach online and in-person in North Hollywood. If people take a 10 week intensive, we meet twice a week for 45 minutes each time and they get a third lesson over the weekend through email or messaging to supplement what they did at our sessions. 10 weeks is about all you need to lay the foundation. After that, they usually cut back to once or twice a month. I want my clients to develop the tools to teach themselves and problem-solve so they don’t need me. They can only take the 10 week intensive twice.
I am all about self-empowerment. I always pass along a bit of wisdom that one of my most influential teachers, Mark Janas, once told me. He said he didn’t teach me a thing. I was teaching myself. He was guiding me to experiences that would help me do that. I always tell my clients this same thing at least once over the time they work with me.
Every human has the Divine within them. Every one of us has limitless potential and we chose which potential to realize and if I can help people rediscover their power, I am happy to do that.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
1. Living from the end: I used to get hung up on the steps involved in accomplishing a goal. This was a sure-fire way to make unnecessary and, oftentimes frustrating, work for myself. I could aways come up with another step in the plan. Now I imagine the finished work and allow the path to it to unfold. This allowing approach instead of efforting has made my life so much easier and enjoyable and has yielded far greater results than when I was putting forth ridiculous effort. Results are what matter most to me, not the work itself.
2. Psychology: Learning how people learn and experience life has, I think, made me a more effective teacher and composer. I experiment with different approaches until I find what works best for my clients. I have a pretty good instinct now, but sometimes the first few sessions involve my learning about my clients and what they respond to best.
3. Spirituality and quantum theory: I like to see behind what is right in front of me. The dress is both blue and gold depending on how you look at it. The earth is both spherical and a plane depending on your perspective: both perspectives are equally valid based on the information and experiences that person has encountered. In addition, both perspectives can change with new information and experiences. We are all an expression of the Divine. We are all an individual expression of God, The Universe, or whatever your name for all-that-is is. Learning about such esoteric topics has made it much easier to forgive, let the past go, and see infinite possibilities in each client and person I encounter. I would never tell a client that it was impossible for them to realize their dreams, no matter how big they seem, because that dream they desire to experience is entirely possible.
Bubbleegum X’s music spreads this message, too. The first track I ever released, “Wake Up and Imagine” has the lyrics, “You came to this planet. You forgot who you were. You forgot you were a child of God. You forgot you could create. Now, wake up! If you’re bored, create a new dimension and go there.” I also sell mugs that say, “You are a god” and “You are a goddess” We have immense power.
Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?
When I feel overwhelmed, and it happens very infrequently now, I first have to acknowledge that I am feeling overwhelmed or anxious, experience the emotion, and let it pass before anything. If I resist the emotion of anger, frustration, or whatever, it will persist and make it harder to move on from the current circumstances.
Then, I return my attention to the end and remind myself that whatever I am going through doesn’t matter because the end result already exists and I have to focus on that desired result. I also remind myself that the current circumstances don’t mean what I imagine they mean. I am the I one who gives an event meaning.
Contact Info:
- Website: bubblegum-x.com
- Instagram: @bubblegumxmusic
- Twitter: @bubblegumxmusic
- Youtube: @bubblegumxmusic
Image Credits
Headshots by Holly Fain
