Stop! In the Name of Love

The Conquest of Happiness is a 2-songs EPx10 inspired by Bertrand Russell’s 1930 masterpiece—a philosophical field guide for ordinary people trying to build a life that feels real, meaningful, and free. This EP is an homage to Bertrand Russel, and a soundtrack for anyone who’s trying to stay awake, stay kind, stay curious, and stay human… Think of it as a humble and grateful love letter to curiosity, emotional honesty, and the kind of philosophy that makes you sit up straighter and breathe easier… with humor, compassion, and just enough sASS :)

WHAT IS THE CONQUEST OF HAPPINESS?
Bertrand Russell wrote this book  because he saw ordinary people suffering unnecessarily—not from tragedy, but from habits of mind, toxic social pressures, and self-inflicted misery. He argued that happiness isn’t a mystery. It’s not a miracle. It’s a skill. And he gave us a map. This EP is my humble attempt at translating that map into music.

SIDE A : “THE UNHAPPINESS DANCE”
A song (x5) songs inspired by the forces that drain joy and distort the mind, i.e. the reasons why people tend to feel unhappy—namely, the emotional chaos, the self-sabotage, and the absurdity of modern misery.
Russell’s #unhappiness list, simplified:
1. Competition: Always comparing yourself to others. 
2. Boredom / Excitement Extremism: Swinging between “numb” and “thrilled” without ever landing in contentment. 
3. Fatigue: Overwork, stress, and no margin for joy. 
4. Envy: Measuring your worth by what others have. 
5. Guilt & Moral Self-Torment:  Beating yourself up for being human. 
6. Fear of Public Opinion: Living your life under imagined surveillance.

SIDE B : “THE CONQUEST OF HAPPINESS”
A song (x5) about what actually creates lasting well-being, what makes people truly happy. These songs waltz through the antidotes: curiosity, connection, creativity, pleasure, laughter, kindness, courage, and the everyday magic that makes life feel like life.
Russell’s #happiness list, simplified:
1. Zest: Being genuinely interested in life. 
2. Affection: Love given and love received. 
3. Meaningful Work: Not necessarily glamorous, but engaging. 
4. Wide Interests: Multiple passions, not one obsession. 
5. Effort & Resilience: The willingness to grow, to try, to adapt. 
6. Impersonal Interests: Joy in things outside the self (nature, ideas, art). 
7. A Sense of Purpose: Living for something larger than ego.

WHY THIS MATTERS NOW?
Because we’re living in a time of distraction, polarization, loneliness, and algorithmic noise that quietly eats away at our sense of self… Because people are anxious, burnt out, overstimulated, overwhelmed, and under-nourished in the soul. And because Russell’s wisdom—nearly 100 years old—feels like it was written yesterday, for the world we’re in right now.

☰☰☰
NOTE: Lyrics matter, and I’d gladly share mine upon request, as always. But Soundcloud description length is limited, and for this EP, I wanted to tell you more about Bertrand instead of sharing lyrics, because he is a gift to humanity… and, in a world gone unhappy bananas, I hope he may help inspire you to find your path(s) to #happy, too. Look him up <3


Side A [01] EP Bertrand - The Unhappiness Dance - GROWsutra Jazzy BURLESQUE

leaving on a jet plane- john denver (cover with courtney💗)

Sing the Joyful Mysteries of the Holy Rosary. Beautiful and powerful. 

Stop! In the Name of Love

Lisa Ekdahl

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