When I heard Elvis Presley, then I knew I had to do music. Music

Hear the voice of Ville Valo, who declared with reverence: “When I heard Elvis Presley, then I knew I had to do music. Music is my god, and is the only love that has never left me. It has always been there and is my best friend.” In these words burns the passion of one who found his soul’s altar not in temples of stone, but in the living fire of music. He speaks of a divine encounter, when the sound of Elvis Presley awakened in him a calling so deep that it became not merely a craft, but a faith, a devotion, a love that would remain unbroken through all seasons of life.

The ancients knew that the gods spoke not always through thunder or flame, but through beauty, rhythm, and song. The shepherd David soothed King Saul’s troubled spirit with his harp. The poets of Greece invoked the Muses, believing that every true song was a gift of heaven. In this way, Valo follows a sacred lineage, declaring that music is my god—not as an idol of vanity, but as the eternal companion, the unseen friend that whispers in joy and weeps in sorrow. For in every human life there are loves that come and go, but the love of music endures, faithful to all who seek its embrace.

Consider the story of Beethoven, struck deaf in the fullness of his genius. All earthly loves and comforts seemed torn from him; silence itself encircled him like a prison. Yet even then, music did not leave him. Though his ears could no longer hear the notes, he felt them burning within, flowing from his soul onto the page. Out of despair, he gave the world the Ninth Symphony, a hymn to joy, a triumph of spirit over darkness. Truly, as Valo declares, music can be the only love that does not abandon, the best friend who remains when all others depart.

Valo’s words also remind us of the power of inspiration. For it was not by chance that he turned to music, but through the voice of Elvis Presley. One artist became the spark that lit the flame in another. This is the holy chain of creation: one soul cries out, and another answers. Just as Homer’s verses ignited the poets of Rome, just as blues gave birth to rock and roll, so too did Elvis awaken Ville Valo to his path. Thus do we see that art is never solitary—it is a great river, fed by countless springs, flowing across generations.

There is also humility in his declaration. For though he calls music his god, he does not speak as a master who commands it, but as a servant who follows it. He confesses dependence, like one who leans on a friend in both light and shadow. This is the true posture of devotion: not arrogance, but gratitude. In saying that music has “always been there,” Valo reveals a truth many forget—that art, when embraced, becomes a companion to the soul, shaping our memories, strengthening our spirit, and reminding us of who we are.

To you who hear these words, take this as both comfort and command: find the love that never leaves you. For some, it may be music; for others, it may be art, wisdom, or service. Whatever it is, cherish it as your faithful friend. When the world grows silent, let that love speak. When others depart, let that love remain. And in your devotion, know that you too may become the spark for another, awakening their soul as Elvis awakened Valo’s.

Practical wisdom follows: nurture your chosen art or calling as you would a beloved companion. Do not neglect it in times of ease, nor abandon it in times of hardship. Return to it daily, for it will return to you. And never forget that in expressing your gift, you may become the voice that awakens another’s destiny. As Elvis stirred Valo, so may you stir the heart of one who listens.

Thus remember the eternal truth in Ville Valo’s words: music is a god, a love, a friend that never leaves. It is a companion in triumph and in sorrow, a flame that never dies. Honor it, nurture it, and let it guide your life. For those who give themselves to such a love will never walk alone.