The 40 tracks included provide listeners over three hours of music that defies classification, Doucet says. This particular volume contains music from 2 GRAMMY® winners, 3 GRAMMY® nominees, numerous ZMR Award winners, and some of the best new music available from across the globe today. Since there is not one particular New Age sound, Doucet says, the Sounds of the Circle compilations are eclectic, yet carefully sequenced to take listeners on a relaxing sonic journey to discover new sounds and artists. Together, the tracks capture a broad scope of music from Electronica to Native American flute, from Solo Piano to lush New Age Instrumentals, from Ambient Space to Channeled Vocalizations, from Mountain Dulcimer to Chillout, from healing Harp to Indian World Fusion.
SFTC VI’s 40 participating artists and groups include Steven Halpern & Michael Diamond, Lia Scallon, Laura Sullivan, Ricky Kej, Ann Licater, Fiona Joy, Michael Hoppe’ & Harold Moses, Glenn Richard Treibitz, Merrill Collins & Michael Fitzpatrick, Craig Karolus, Pamela Jamian, Cosmo Frequency, Bryan Carrigan, Sherry Finzer & Darin Mahoney, Margie Balter, Peter Sterling, Vibeke Sonora, Danny Wright, Sensitive Heart, el’Aima, Jane Winther, Louis Colaiannia, RAVEN WOLF, Jeff Bova & Carole J. Hyder, Jerry Rockwell, Hennie Bekker, John Luttrell, Beloved Heartsong, Jennifer DeFrayne, Tron Syversen, Heidi Breyer, AOMusic, Anaya Music, Natascha Wilczek, Suzanne Doucet, Christaal, Cristian Paduano, Mala Ganguly & David Vito Gregoli, Wouter Kellerman and Arun Shenoy.
Many of the involved artists market their music for more than just entertainment, suggesting its use for relaxation, meditation, massage therapy, Feng Shui, and even as tools to enhance creativity, improve sleep, or to help individuals with ADD, ADHD and PTSD achieve a state of calmness and increased focus.
Each artist’s music is available for sale online, and many of their Visual Music videos can be seen on the Sounds From The Circle Channel on Youtube at http://bit.ly/1kreF13.
The annual compilations – available in both physical and digital formats – have become favorites among everyday music fans, professional radio programmers, and massage therapists who love the ability to play over three hours of relaxing music from just one CD. Each artist receives multiple copies to sell or give to their fans, and thousands more are distributed at various music conferences, Conscious Community events, and health/wellness expos (such as GATE, MIDEM, INATS) throughout the year.
Doucet, who is an artist, composer and leading consultant for the New Age market, maintains that the New Age music category is a healthy and growing international music niche. In late 2008, she harnessed the community-building opportunities on NING.com, founded the New Age Music Circle (newagemusik.ning.com), and watched the community steadily grow to include over 1600 people worldwide. Members enjoy sharing music, videos, event information, artwork and invitations to collaborate in various ways; one must be a member of the Circle to contribute to the annual compilations.