A Decade of Wonder: Vibrations of sound and mind

How can sound impact our minds and our cognition? We wanted to explore how vibrations could resonate within us and how they might affect our well-being in a physical, mental and spiritual way.

In 2023, we added spaces in The Fields where music helped people slow down. Dhyana’s programming encouraged introspection through meditation and dance offerings, centering us to ritual through music, vocalizations, Buddhist chants and sutras.

Enfold invited Wonderers to experience music in a way that grounds, lying down to submerge themselves in ambient soundscapes. The acoustics created by the courtyard’s simple architecture encourages deep listening in rare moments of calm. In 2024, MSCTY_Studio and a collection of artists guided listeners through a reflective and meditative journey of sound.

Among these performances was a live set from ambient musician Scanner based on field recordings made in The Fields during the rainy season. Producer Howie B performed “zero / infinite”, which was based on D.T. Suzuki’s concept of the dual nature of the self: both zero and infinite at once.

Innovations of sound have a place in practices like breathwork, meditation and grounding. While many of these rituals are performed in silence, that lack of sound can sometimes give way to internal noise and chaos. The resonance of a repeated mantra, chant or harmony provides a focal point, helping us center our consciousness.

Each year, we host a Japanese collective that explores different acoustic facets of Mind, Sound and Nature. In 2023 and 2024, these explorations centered on how sound influences our physical and emotional well-being.

Kiego Tanaka’s presentation of ‘Neuro Music’ stimulated the brainwave frequencies of meditation. In 2024, his performance took us on a sensory journey, merging natural sounds, field recordings and electronic textures, inviting listeners into altered states of awareness.

Kyoto-based sound artist and therapist Akira∞Ikeda’s resonant sound therapy invited us into a meditative soundscape created through different instruments. By amplifying solfeggio frequencies, the vibrations of his performance resonated in listeners’ bodies, creating a state of calm and relaxation.

Zen Buddhist monks are also a part of this collective, intermixing traditional practices with electronic sounds. Yogetsu Akasaka fused ancient practices with modern looping, adding a twist to traditional voice meditation. Known for his work with frequencies and chakras, Kanho Yakushiji combined live chanting with electronic music to guide Wonderers into their innermost selves.

As we listened to the world around us through the overlap of sound and nature, we started exploring how this could improve our well-being. We looked deeper into the roots of music for wellness, searching for influences and applications from scientific theory and ancient wisdom.

Evolving from previous soundscapes created together in Sonic Elements, Sonic Minds held its first inaugural sound camp in The Fields in 2024. Led by MSCTY_Studio’s Nick Luscombe, James Greer and collaborators like the Okinawa Institute of Sound and Technology (OIST), Black Turtle, and Hear & Found, the three-day event was a playful exploration of sound through biology, psychology, sociology and spirituality.

We brought together musicians, activists, scientists, monks and members of The Pineapple Eyes—our community of most engaged Wonderers over the years. We held live recordings, listening sessions, performance workshops, meditations, lectures and discussions.