Musik Healer: Chuy Terrazas

Making history healing Houston

Photography by Violeta Alvarez

HOUSTON, Texas - Looking back to March 2020, I distinctly remember how uncomfortably swift the coronavirus invaded Houston and pushed pause on everything around us. At a time when I was really trying to wrap my head around the madness, one incredible leader in Houston emerged like a guardian angel.

"Uncertainty about the future can create fear. Obviously, there are things about the future that we don't control, but I love remembering that the best way to predict the future is to create it," says Chuy Terrazas.

Terrazas is well-known in the city's art and musik scene. You've seen him rockin' out on his saxophone with the legendary Los Skarnales, but that's just one of piles (and piles) of hats this man wears. He's a leader, mentor and beacon of light with so much knowledge to share.

Photo by Violeta Alvarez

"You are in the Now when you are actively creating, and all artists know the beautiful feeling of having everything outside of us disappear as we are consumed in a flow state, passionately embracing the moment," says Terrazas, "For me, that's really what it's all about and why I love making art and musik."

But when the freedom to create was replaced with social distancing and nearly every musik venue in town was forced to close its doors, Terrazas payed close attention to the trickle down affect. His empathic energy tapped into the fear and pain looming in the city. Immediately, he was ready to help Houston heal.

It wasn't long before I saw concert posters popping up on social media and a growing buzz for Houston's first Drive-In Concert at Minute Maid Park. Terrazas' historical creation had come to life: Metamorphosis Festival - Music Healing Houston.

"Friends from our musik, art, and healing communities connected to generate much-needed positive vibes and joy for Houstonians. During this COVID-19 shutdown, some of us have lost family members and friends. Some have marched together in solidarity for change. Some have suffered financially and emotionally. Metamorphosis Festival was created as a coming out of the cocoon," says Terrazas.

Speaking of cocoons, Terrazas says it makes him cringe when he hears people say they want things to go back to normal. His reasoning is something to think about the next time you find yourself doing the same.

"Does it make sense for a caterpillar to move to the chrysalis phase only to return to a caterpillar? I hope that is not the case for our world. We have been through too much so far in 2020 to simply go backwards. Let's choose, instead, to evolve. Grab those wings and fly," says Terrazas.

And that's exactly what he did when he organized the Metamorphosis Festival in the wake of a worldwide pandemic. It was a very natural process for Terrazas because he's so well connected and respected. Silver Eagle Distributors agreed with open arms to supply their Budweiser stage and loved the idea of creating something positive for Houston. Same was the case for the Houston Astros and Minute Maid Park. With baseball season on hold, they were grateful to see their space being used for something wonderful happening in the community.

Also in the mix, Dash Speer, who owns Limitless Light & Sound and Silent Disco Vibe. Terrazas and Speer had already teamed up to serve the community during the shutdown with live-streaming services. When talk of the festival arose, Speer's idea was to use his multi-channel Silent Disco Vibe headphones for a higher quality experience compared to FM transmitters (which are traditionally used at drive-in movies and concerts).

"Since we had three channels on the headphones (red, green, & blue), that lead to the next logical choice of having three performance stages," says Terrazas, "It was exciting to create something unique that may actually set a higher expectation for future live musik concerts."

Speer co-signed that very sentiment and was taken aback by the special evening they co-created.

"It was a magical experience. The love and support of a community of creatives brought it to life. It was uniquely Houston in every regard," says Speer, "It brings true peace to my heart because we don’t always know where to turn when times get tough."

Photo by Violeta Alvarez

The personal stories Terrazas shared made my heart smile too.

"I had a Mom tell me that she went with her little girl and it was her daughter's first concert. She was so thankful and said she hadn't seen her daughter smile so happily in a very long time. It was priceless!" says Terrazas, "Another friend shared that his brother was in hospice care with cancer and has been given a couple months to live. Managing his grieving parents, being strong for his brother, and being a good uncle had understandably taken an emotional toll. He called to say thank you for the opportunity the festival gave him to step away and experience joy and much-needed connection with friends."

More proof of the restoration that comes from embracing the journey even when times get tough, something Terrazas understands very well.

"I got to learn about the amazing healing power that music, laughter, and dance has on our brain and our body when my Mom died of Alzheimer's a couple of years ago," Terrazas shares, "It's all vibration, and we choose (consciously or unconsciously) to surround ourselves with high vibration or low. Love or fear. It's funny how we say "That's dope!" when we like something. Music literally has the power to increase dopamine in our brains. Now that's really dope!"

Photo by Violeta Alvarez

Terrazas is a huge believer in using your creativity to solve problems for yourself and others.

"What are you good at? Do that! Serve others passionately with your superpower, whatever it may be. Believe in yourself and trust that whatever talent you were gifted with is more important to the world than whatever weaknesses you may have," reminds Terrazas.

After digesting my conversation and replaying his sentiments, I felt a huge weight lifted. There's something about Terrazas' transparency that is so comforting.

"Imagine what you want your future to look like and jump into action to make it happen. It's so easy to get hung up, paralyzing ourselves by obsessing over our weaknesses. Imagine a bird being depressed thinking 'If only I could swim like those fish over there... then I'll finally be happy and successful.' Stop it! Go fly!," says Terrazas.

Chuy Terrazas is a true musik healer with a heart of gold. His thoughtful actions are a stunning example of shining bright through the darkness. I'm grateful for his genuine heart and continued blessings for the Bayou City during these unresolved times. Thanks to him, I have a growing conviction to rise and win.

Photo by Violeta Alvarez