Disciple is the first solo release from Steve Roach/Byron Metcalf collaborator Mark Seelig, and delves deeply into a meditative/spiritual style based on classical Indian Ragas and their devotional aspects. Mark's Bansuri flute and overtone mantra chants blend with occasional female vocals, tamboura drones, percussion from Metcalf and analog synth drones from Roach, resulting in a powerfully engaging album supporting heart centered practice, deep meditation, yoga, etc.
Through the spiritual energy of the four long tracks, Mark manifests an expression of deeply felt gratitude for the gift of life, for friendship, and for peace. The various ragas, vocalists, and chants pull the listener away from external concerns into a serene mood of profound relaxation and devotional contemplation.
"I first started working on Disciple," Mark explains, "when I was staying in India. I was lucky to slip my recording gear – just a laptop, a portable audio interface, mics, etc. – past Indian customs unnoticed, and I layed down basic tracks with flute, mantra chants, and overtone singing. Then I recorded two female Indian vocalists and one Sarod player. I continued to work in Germany, where I live most of the time, and in the USA, additional details including Byron’s percussion and Steve’s soundworlds were added to create a subtle ambient background for my offering of meditative musical space."
The music on the album reflects Mark's 28 years of being a disciple, an initiated seeker. Years ago he received the spiritual name 'Amaresh,' meaning his life after initiation should be dedicated to the search for wisdom and the divine immortal core of the human soul. In that sense, Disciple tells the story of this search, and the experience that, as a disciple, we can easily get lost in the games of the world if we don't remind ourselves of our divine purpose and essence.
"To me," Mark confides, "this album is an expression of gratitude to all spirit beings; Disciple tries to fully honor and expand the bliss and ecstasy that lies at the core of the soul."
In depth interview at the link above.
Mark: The inspiration for this album actually arose out of my work with Byron Metcalf and Steve Roach. We had collaborated on two albums, ‘Wachuma’s Wave’ and ‘Mantram’, released 2003 and 2004 respectively. While these two albums feature an ambient shamanic style, Byron and Steve strongly encouraged and supported me to think about a solo album where I would fully move into the spiritual and devotional sounds of Indian flute music.
I first started working on ‘Disciple’ early 2003 when I was staying in India. I had been lucky to slip my recording gear past Indian customs unnoticed – just a laptop, a portable audio interface, mics etc. – and so I layed down some basic tracks with flute, mantra chants, and overtone singing. Then I recorded two female Indian vocalists and one Sarod player. I continued to work in Germany, where I live most of the time, and then left for the US to add additional details like Byron’s percussion and Steve’s soundworlds to have a subtle ambient background..