Page 51 - Seniorstoday March 2022 Issue

Oster and Tom Eaton are also in the race but
Los Angeles-based Opium Moon’s concept
album Night + Day has a very unique sound
blending voice, violin, Persian santoor,
fretless bass and percussion.
Likewise, Falu is pitted alongside artistes
123 Andres, 1 Tribe Collective, Pierce
Freelon and Lucky Diaz’s Family Jam
Band in the Best Children’s Album slot.
Obviously, the jury has a tough task ahead
in both these categories. Like every year,
there’s an abundance of brilliance this year,
Kej & Copeland are brilliant in Divine Tides but only one album can win.

New Age Music: A Beginner’s Guide

With the Ricky Kej-Stewart Copeland album Divine Tides being nominated for Best New
Age Album, it would be appropriate to know a bit about the genre. Here are five essential
points:
● Though there is no standard definition, New Age Music is aimed at creating a feeling of
relaxation and meditation. It can thus be used for stress management.
● It may be rooted in different genres and geographical regions, but is more recognised by
the ambient effect it creates than the specific sounds used.
● Instruments may be both acoustic, like piano, flutes and region-based and traditional,
or electronic like synthesisers and drum machines. Vocals, if used, are often in the form of
chants rather than based on poetry.
● New Age can also be confusing, as listeners and music marketers mix it up with smooth
jazz, lounge, chill-out or ambient music, and even some relaxing types of World Music.
● Artistes recommended for beginners include Yanni, Kitaro, Enya, Mike Oldfield and
Enigma. Many foreigners have used Indian sounds to create New Age, examples being
Karunesh, Deva Premal, Bhagvan Das, Krishna Das and Snatam KaurKhasla. Of course,
Kej’sWinds Of Samsara and Divine Tides are also perfect introductions.

SENIORS TODAY | ISSUE #33 | MARCH 2022 51