Iasos (musician)
Encyclopedia
Iasos is a new age
musician living in California
. He is one of the earliest creators of the "New Age Music
" genre. The psychology department at Plymouth State College rated his Angelic Music album as being closest to the music heard by people who have had Near Death Experience
s. The Buddhist philosopher Alan Watts
has said "Iasos is doing the classical music of the New Age." Guitarist Lee Underwood
has said "Angelic Music...perhaps exemplif(ies) the best this genre has to offer."
released his first album, thus being an early pioneer in the "New Age Music" genre. in 1982, Iasos produced one of the first New Age videos, "Crystal Vista". In 1989, the psychology department of Plymouth State College in New Hampshire
conducted research with people who had had near death experience
s. The conclusion of the research was that Iasos' music received the highest rating for being most like the music people heard while in their near death state. Iasos has performed and lectured internationally, and his music is distributed worldwide. His music has been used by NASA
and the Laserium
laser light show.
New Age music
New Age music is music of various styles intended to create artistic inspiration, relaxation, and optimism. It is used by listeners for yoga, massage, meditation, and reading as a method of stress management or to create a peaceful atmosphere in their home or other environments, and is often...
musician living in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. He is one of the earliest creators of the "New Age Music
New Age music
New Age music is music of various styles intended to create artistic inspiration, relaxation, and optimism. It is used by listeners for yoga, massage, meditation, and reading as a method of stress management or to create a peaceful atmosphere in their home or other environments, and is often...
" genre. The psychology department at Plymouth State College rated his Angelic Music album as being closest to the music heard by people who have had Near Death Experience
Near death experience
A near-death experience refers to a broad range of personal experiences associated with impending death, encompassing multiple possible sensations including detachment from the body; feelings of levitation; extreme fear; total serenity, security, or warmth; the experience of absolute dissolution;...
s. The Buddhist philosopher Alan Watts
Alan Watts
Alan Wilson Watts was a British philosopher, writer, and speaker, best known as an interpreter and popularizer of Eastern philosophy for a Western audience. Born in Chislehurst, he moved to the United States in 1938 and began Zen training in New York...
has said "Iasos is doing the classical music of the New Age." Guitarist Lee Underwood
Lee Underwood
Lee Underwood is an American musician and writer notable for performing on lead guitar with Tim Buckley for most of Buckley's career. Underwood appeared on seven of the nine albums Buckley recorded during his brief life, and on several posthumous releases, including Live in London...
has said "Angelic Music...perhaps exemplif(ies) the best this genre has to offer."
Musical development
He began studying piano at age 8, with formal music education through high school. in 1967, he began to "hear" music, whch he referred to as "paradise music". He moved to California in 1968, to work on creating this music. In 1975, he released his first album, Inter-Dimensional Music Through Iasos, the same year his friend and colleague Steven HalpernSteven Halpern
-Early career:Halpern played trumpet and guitar in the New York City jazz scene of the 1960s, but became disenchanted with it and moved to California. There he began exploring the idea of creating music entirely for the purpose of relaxation, which he called "anti-frantic alternative" music...
released his first album, thus being an early pioneer in the "New Age Music" genre. in 1982, Iasos produced one of the first New Age videos, "Crystal Vista". In 1989, the psychology department of Plymouth State College in New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
conducted research with people who had had near death experience
Near death experience
A near-death experience refers to a broad range of personal experiences associated with impending death, encompassing multiple possible sensations including detachment from the body; feelings of levitation; extreme fear; total serenity, security, or warmth; the experience of absolute dissolution;...
s. The conclusion of the research was that Iasos' music received the highest rating for being most like the music people heard while in their near death state. Iasos has performed and lectured internationally, and his music is distributed worldwide. His music has been used by NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
and the Laserium
Ivan Dryer
Ivan Dryer is generally considered to be the father of the commercial laser light show industry. He is the founder of the world's first continuously running laser entertainment known as Laserium....
laser light show.
Partial discography
- Inter-Dimensional Music Through Iasos (LP) 1975
- Elixir 1983, Inter-Dimensional Music/Aquamarin Verlag (BMI: Galaxia Creations)
- Timeless Sound: Music for Deep Meditation 1996, Inter-Dimensional Music (U.S.), Aquamarin Verlag (Europe)
- Sacred Sonic Tools (book & CD) 1998; (Woodside, Ca) Bluestar Communications. ISBN 1885394306
- Angelic Music 1998, Bluestar Communications (U.S.), Aquamarin Verlag (Europe)