Regular readers of this site will know that we are devoted fans of the Nashville Ambient Ensemble project – an impressive collective of musicians crafting immersive soundscapes. Electronic composer Michael Hix led the formation of the group and set the bedrock for the two albums they have released. We interviewed him here on the site back in 2021 for WOTT Music and again in 2024 when Carissa Stolting interviewed him for Radio Resistance. He’s thoughtful and insightful in his approach to music and the tools he uses; physically and mentally.
With all that context, we are extremely pleased to see the announcement of his newest endeavor and a new moniker for himself – Wonderful Aspiration of the Source. It’s a bit of a mouthful at first but the context is that Hix is a practicing Buddhist and this name speaks directly to that. On the project he says:
“Wonderful Aspiration of the Source is my lineage name in the Zen tradition I practice. This album came from a place of needing to simplify. Music stopped being a standalone pursuit and became part of my mindfulness. These songs are more from the heart.”
The first single from the forthcoming, self-titled, album is “Cadence” – one of ten compositions on the record that eschew the electronic and synthetic soundscapes of previous projects in exchange for a more sparse, guitar based, environment. While the vibe of “Cadence” is different from the prior works of Nashville Ambient Ensemble, the DNA between them is still clear and present. The mood is gentle, calm and meditative – a very intentional feeling given that the songs emerged from his daily ritual of mindfulness.
Wonderful Aspiration of the Source (the album) will be released on September 19th via Centripetal Force. You can pick up the double vinyl over on Bandcamp, as well as stream “Cadence” anywhere now.