New Age is a genre of music that emerged in the 1970s and gained popularity in the 1980s and 1990s. It is characterized by its calming and meditative qualities, often incorporating electronic instrumentation and nature-inspired themes. The genre is highly eclectic and draws influences from various cultural and religious traditions, including Native American, Indian, Celtic music and medieval Gregorian chant.
New Age music is sometimes associated with spirituality and personal growth, and has been used for relaxation, meditation, yoga, and other therapeutic purposes. Currently, New Age music continues to be produced and enjoyed by many listeners around the world.
Some popular New Age musicians include Enya, Yanni, Kitaro, Enigma, Secret Garden, George Winston, Andreas Vollenweider, David Arkenstone, David Lanz, and the Benedictine Monks of Santo Domingo de Silos.
The genre has also been recognized by the music industry, with the Grammy Awards having a category for New Age music.
While New Age music is a broad genre, there are a number of subgenres that sometimes fall under its umbrella. Some common subcategories of New Age music may include: Ambient, easy listening world music, Neoclassical, Chill-out, Space music, Electronic/New Instrumental, Meditation music and Nature-inspired soundscapes. These subgenres are often characterized by their specific sound and instrumentation, as well as the intended mood or atmosphere they create.
Independent labels played a major role in the development of New Age. Windham Hill Records was a successful independent record label that specialized in instrumental acoustic music. It was founded in 1976 by William Ackerman and Anne Robinson (who became his wife soon thereafter). The label’s early releases featured instrumental and acoustic music, and it became closely associated with the New Age music genre in the 1980s.
Windham Hill Records was unique in its approach to recording and production. The label’s artists were typically acoustic instrumentalists who recorded in natural settings, such as barns and churches, to achieve a more organic and authentic sound. Many of its releases also featured ambient sounds, such as wind and birdsong, to create a calming and relaxing atmosphere.
Windham Hill Records was highly successful in the 1980s and early 1990s, with many of its releases reaching gold and platinum status. The label’s roster included notable musicians such as George Winston, Alex de Grassi, and Liz Story, among others.
Two of the leading New Age labels that emerged in the 1980s were Oreade Music and Narada Productions. Oreade Music was founded in the Netherlands in 1983 and was known for its ethereal, meditative new age music. Narada Productions, which was founded in the United States in 1983, released a roster of influential artists in the genre, including Kitaro, Yanni, and David Arkenstone. Both labels helped to popularize New Age music and contributed to the growth and expansion of the genre throughout the 1980s and 1990s.
Sounds True and Higher Octave Music are both record labels that specialize in New Age and personal growth music. Sounds True, which was founded in 1985, is based in Colorado and features a roster of musicians and spiritual teachers who create music and spoken-word recordings intended to promote well-being and personal growth. Higher Octave Music, which was founded in 1988 and later acquired by EMI Music in 2000, is now defunct but was known for its roster of New Age and world music artists, including Yanni, Tangerine Dream, and Deep Forest, among others. Both labels contributed to the growth and expansion of New Age music in the 1990s and 2000s.
Other notable New Age labels that emerged during this time include Private Music, Hearts of Space Records, Global Pacific, Sona Gaia, Halpern Sounds, Catero, Earthsong, and Invincible.
An unexpected crossover hit was Chant, a collection of Gregorian chant pieces sung by the Benedictine monks of Santo Domingo de Silos in Spain. It was reissued by Angel Records in 1994, with a strong emphasis on its ability to counteract the stresses of modern life. Chant became the top-selling album of Gregorian chant ever released. It reached the third position on the Billboard 200 music chart and obtained double platinum certification, indicating two million units sold in the United States and four million copies worldwide.
(headline image: Enya – Photo by Simon Fowler)