AMANI (Desert Dwellers) defies stereotypes of meditative music

Written by Parisa Eshrati

AMANI of Desert Dwellers created a two hour meditative soundscape that is both a beautiful listening experience and a companion piece for meditative journeys. 

Vajra Mind is a two hour meditative soundscape compiled by Amani Friend, one half of psy-dub duo Desert Dwellers. The 21-track compilation features unreleased and alternate versions of ambient releases from Desert Dwellers, Rara Avis, Bluetech, Liquid Bloom, Variant Field, and Shamans Dream, and AMANI has seamlessly blended each artist’s unique offering into one cohesive mix which acts as a companion piece to the collection.

Within the first few minutes of listening, one can tell that Vajra Mind is far more than just a compilation mix. Rather, it is a two hour journey that taps into the unconscious and allows you to find a place for mental expansion and creativity. Vajra Mind starts off with an inviting, soothing and airy sound and gently guides you into a darker realm. It flows naturally into a heavier headspace, which allows the listener to embrace both the light and darkness to find a harmonious place in your mindset. This notion is echoed in the vocals that are scattered throughout the first half of the mix that say, “When you awaken– remember light.”

There are also some sections that are a bit glitchier and more playful which bring a nice sense of liveliness, but for the most part this track sticks to organic sounds. There are some didgeridoos, sitars, and flutes featured throughout that really catapult this meditation into a higher resonance. Water is also a prominent theme, with samples of droplets or streaming currents acting as both transitional segments and background noise. The water effects make this journey feel like a liquid and harmonious experience from start to end.

Though the term “meditative soundscapes” might make people jump to the conclusion that it’s generic spa music, it is far from this stereotype as this music is filled with intention. Vajra Mind is a beautiful example of how medicinal music can be and the journey it can take us on. Of course, there are countless ways to meditate, whether it’s through Vedic hymns, silent prayer, Taoist qi gong, etc. It’s most certainly a trial and error process of finding what philosophy one resonantes with the most. Despite these personal preferences, I think this compilation can serve as an outlet for those those seeking to delve deep into the self through meditation and for those who are simply in quest of a melodious sonic experience.

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The original version of this post was featured on The Untz