CONTACT VNON: vnonmusic@gmail.com

Listen to Gabe Rosales - VItal Nonsense Here

About VNON

Vital Nonsense (VNON) was founded by professional musician, academic and advocate, Gabe Rosales, in 2009. The foundational structure for the movement was conceived at the North Fork, California Vipassana meditation center in the mind of Rosales during a 10-day silent meditation retreat in 2010.

VNON creates, sponsors, and promotes musical, rehabilitative, and educational events and programs centered around joining diverse communities for humanitarian aid, children’s charities, rehabilitation, and artistic and educational opportunities for those in need. VNON applies for grant’s, public and private, and accepts donations from public and private entities.

Specific objectives and purpose of this organization:

• creating original music of different genres, joining a variety of musicians for common good;

• fundraising through music sales, live musical performances, and outreach, to provide resources for those in need and/or to make monetary donations to humanitarian charities, nationally and internationally;

• provide arts supplies, musical instruments, and educational opportunities for those who cannot advocate for themselves;

• provide and/or support existing educational opportunities and rehabilitative programs for those who cannot advocate for themselves;

• to sponsor, host and/or participate in events and activities that support rehabilitative programming, education, and causes that mirror VNON’s mission.

VNON Nonprofit Board

vnon’s beneficiary organizations:

2009-vnon support- Children international 

2011-vnon support- save the children

2010-vnon Fundraiser- C.A.S.A. Court appointed special advocates 

2014-vnon Fundraiser- International Rescue committee (i.r.c.)  

2016-Laguna Beach Fundraiser- Children of war foundation

2016-vnon Fundraiser- love a community 

2019-vnon fundraiser- Freedom on the inside

2019-vnon support- smart recovery   

COLlaborations:

UC irvine Institute for Clinical and Translational Science (ICTS)

Campus-Community Research Incubator Program (CCRI):

Capacity building with UC Irvine’s PrisonPandemic oral archive of incarcerated people in california during the covid-19 pandemic

S.U.N. Philosophy 

The band promotes a S.U.N. philosophy which stands for Scientific, Universal, and Non-sectarian. This concept is derived from vipassana meditation as originally taught by Buddha in India over 2500 years ago.

I. Science is the element of human understanding through quantitative and qualitative information, years of research, and objective analysis, but it also represents the Buddhist teaching of a "beginners cup" mentality. We do not have all the answers to the questions of the universe, but we are humble enough to acknowledge that fact and we continue to search for answers based on evidence. To progress, we must continue to build on current research, and welcome new ways of viewing ourselves and the world when new valid research is presented.

II. The S.U.N. philosophy is universal because it applies to every human experiencing this life on the planet and our processing of information.

III. S.U.N. is non-sectarian because we as a species are sharing this planet with all other life as we are not separate, but a part of the natural world. Believing that demographics of people are an “other,” stifles potential, growth and understanding. In our evolving existence, we need balance to create a sustainable world.

We must use logic and reason to come out of our chaotic habit patterns but use our humanity and passion to create meaningful relationships and creative expression. This S.U.N. philosophy acknowledges a fundamental issue with humanity in our inability to observe our feelings and emotions objectively and our fear of the unknown. S.U.N. bases nothing on blind faith or dogmatic rituals which often times is rooted in our human tendency to fear the impermanent nature of our universe. S.U.N. is based on personal responsibility and the internalized knowledge that we as a species share a "common origin," and are all connected. It is also based on the experiential knowledge and the universal truth that all things are impermanent for our species.

VNON the band covers many styles of music from jazz fusion to death metal to not only showcase the raw talent and versatility of the VNON musicians, but to also join differing demographics of music lovers with the goal of humanitarian outreach. Gabe Rosales' 1st solo album entitled “Vital Nonsense” (VNON) was the launch pad for this concept and band. The movement members differ from performance to performance, but the originators include creator Gabe Rosales (lead vocals, guitar and bass), Jeff Suburu (guitars), Mike Madariaga (guitars), Todd McCool (guitars), Brian Roberts (keys), Anesha Rose (vocals), Peter Freeman (bass), Jimi Etherington (vocals), Jon Knox (drums), Max Vega (drums and percussion), Jason Toney (drums), Divine Styler (vocals), Calafia Zulu King Lastman (vocals).

Origins of “Vital Nonsense” THE CONCEPT

The name "Vital Nonsense" spawned from a chapter in an Eastern philosophy and quantum mechanics book entitled, “The Dancing Wu Li Masters,” by Gary Zukav. -

"The importance of nonsense can hardly be overstated. The more clearly we experience something as 'nonsense', the more clearly we are experiencing the boundaries of of our own self imposed cognitive structures. 'Nonsense' is that which does not fit into the pre-arranged patterns which we have super imposed on reality. There is no such thing as 'nonsense' apart from the judgmental intellect that calls it that."

"True artists and true physicists know that nonsense is only that which, viewed from our present point of view, is unintelligible. Nonsense is nonsense only when we have not found the point of view from which it makes sense. Those scientists who establish the established lines of thought, however, are those who do not fear to venture boldly into nonsense, into that which any fool could have told them it is clearly not so. This is the mark of the creative mind, in fact, this IS the creative process."

VNON Live for a Syrian Refugee Benefit Concert where all proceeds went to International Rescue Committee (IRC)

VNON performance & campaign gallery