By the time I made aRose, I had undergone a personal transformation. I often say this album bloomed from “the indescribable oneness of all things” that I discovered after a period of healing. aRose is probably my most spiritual record. It was a radical departure from my earlier work. For the first time, I brought my own voice and vocals of friends to the forefront, weaving in devotional singing, chants, and an almost ceremonial vibe. The music carries the feeling of many voices and energies. Honestly, when I was composing, it sometimes felt like the songs were being channeled through me by other beings. I know that sounds mystical, but that’s the space I was in – a vessel for something greater. I had learned that music could be a tool for healing, and I approached aRose with that intention.

One vivid example is the song “K’Khana.” I describe “K’Khana” as “the voice of the medicine” itself. And I mean that literally – it’s like the ayahuasca spirit was singing through that track. It has these deep, resonant vocals provided by my friend Rigzin, and when I listen it’s as if the plant is speaking. That track, and the album as a whole, presented a new kind of sacred music for me: what some have called “divine downtempo” – electronic, yet with a soulful, prayerful core. The public response blew my mind. Almost overnight, my sunrise sets went from niche to absolutely packed, because aRose connected with people on a heart level. The songs became the soundtrack to some beautiful collective experiences – think hundreds of us greeting the sun, dancing and sometimes crying tears of release. It was humbling and affirming to see the music used in yoga classes, healing sessions, and just personal moments of peace for listeners.

I collaborated with many talented friends on vocals and instrumentals, which added to that feeling of a chorus of voices. For instance, “The Reflection” features the enchanting vocals of Sasha Rose, Dakini Star and e.Ma, creating an amazing vibe that fans have told me they find highly addictive. There’s also “Clarification of Meaning,” where I brought in my friend Souleye to lay down a verse – blending conscious hip-hop with ethereal downtempo. A fusion that, at the time, was pretty unique. And then a song like “Lace” a gentle “soft banger.” Through all these tracks runs a thread of introspective devotion and a nod to the medicine that changed my life. 

aRose ended up becoming my most popular album up to that point, and it really catapulted my career to another level. But more important than any numbers or charts was the sense of community it fostered. The music was reflecting the spirit of the Neotribal, transformational festival scene we were part of – a movement toward healing, unity, and awakening. When I think of aRose, I think of sunrise at Burning Man, of shared smiles and hugs at the end of an all-night set, of people painting murals or doing yoga to these tunes. It’s an album born from love and meant to inspire love. Even now, years later, I meet people who say “aRose changed my life”  and I believe them, because it changed my life, too. It affirmed for me that music with intention can truly uplift and even transform those who experience it.

TRACK LISTING:

• 1. Kloud Kings 04:52

• 2. Clarification of Meaning (featuring Souleye) 04:32

• 3. Touch 03:59

• 4. The Reflection (featuring Sasha Rose, Dakini Star & e.Ma) 02:58

• 5. The B'otchie 05:31

• 6. K'khana (featuring Rigzin) 06:17

• 7. Jega 08:46

• 8. Aœda 03:08

• 9. The Alienist 06:25

• 10. For My Corpse 06:14

• 11. Lace 03:47

• 12. B'anebarre 03:31

• 13. Melt into the Sun 04:51

• 14. Inutea 05:51

• 15. Desert Flower 06:22