Set to release for Bosse Skoglund’s 80th birthday, Mantra Sessions sonic soundscapes are an experiment you want to hear.
Bosse Skoglund and Zilverzurf are world-renowned Swedish musicians who specialize in creating and producing amazing percussion and bass soundscapes. Though I was not familiar with them I am a fan of Zilverzurf’s daughter, singer-songwriter Lykke Li. What a fantastic sonic and spiritual delight it was to discover their music through the new album, Mantra Sessions.
Mantra Sessions, set for release around Skoglund’s 80th birthday, is a dense and colorful montage of vocal mantra, jazz guitar, tribal percussion, saxophone, slinky bass, and many other world instruments delivered through a dreamy lens of reverb and delay. I love that the vocal mantra is on the same level as all the instruments; it doesn’t dominate but serves as a mysterious looping element within the overall soundscape meant to permeate your subconscious. This is an experimental work overall, meant for a trance-like state of listening more than mass commercial appeal.
Each track takes you on a brief dive into its own secret world. For me, “Prosperity Dub” sets a grounded energy, yet surprises with touches and flourishes of horns. Saxophone and Rhodes keyboard have an exotic conversation on the track “Mantra for Peace.” “Disappear Dub” created the effect of helping me shut out outside distractions and draw my focus within. “Health & Happiness” is a beautiful and uplifting track to begin your day.
Enjoy each song as it draws you in to your own experiences in this fascinating collection.
Purchase Mantra Sessions here.
McKenna caught the “yoga bug” as a little girl, watching Lilias Folan on PBS. She leads an active life hiking, running, sometimes snowboarding, and once was a nationally-ranked equestrian. After years of working in the digital industry for clients in entertainment, publishing and fashion, she took a sabbatical to acquire her yoga teacher certification. A desire to help people heal soon followed. Also a successful musician and composer, McKenna shares cutting-edge music during yoga classes, recruiting musicians and DJs to perform with her. She owned and operated East Hollywood’s Chakra 5 Yoga studio throughout 2011, creating a vibrant community on and offline, but decided to shift to a mobile model. Now Chakra 5 brings yoga classes on site and by appointment to businesses, schools and organizations throughout greater Los Angeles. McKenna was certified in Hatha/Kundalini at Karuna Yoga, and has additional teacher training in Restorative Yoga with Master Teacher Judith Lasater. She teaches yoga at Chakra 5 classes and international retreats.