Steven Halpern is an American new-age musician. He is a Grammy Award nominee and is considered one of the founding fathers of new-age music.
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.[1] He began creating music that did not adhere to traditional Western tonality, but which instead consisted of static, minimalist pieces for electric piano inspired by Eastern music. He is a proponent of theories which emphasize the healing properties of music. He has been named by MTV as "the original new age artist",[2] beginning his new age performance career in 1969.[3]
His first album was Spectrum Suite, released in 1976 and which is considered to be one of the first true new-age music albums. He began an alternative marketing campaign in order to raise awareness about his music as the genre was not yet widely known. He focused at venues like health food stores, yoga conferences, and alternative retailers.[4] In Billboard Magazine, John Diliberto stated that this album and Halpern's independent marketing techniques "pioneered the market".[5] The inspiration for the album came partly from an experience Halpern had in the California Redwoods, as well as trance or altered states he felt were inspired by his moments there.[6]
Commercial success
In the following ten years, Halpern sold more than one million albums, which he released through his independent label, Halpern Sounds. In 1985, he signed with Gramavision and began releasing music through more mainstream labels.[7] Gramavision also licensed Halpern's prior albums for sale in more traditional retail sectors, as well as alternative ones.[8]
Halpern has recorded more than 50 albums. The most commercially successful of these was 2000's Deja-Blues, which reached #18 on the US Billboard Top New Age Albums chart.[9] Halpern's musical albums have been known to sell at a consistent rate for up to 25 years after their release,[10] and by 1996 he had sold more than two million albums.[11] In addition to being a recording artist, he is known as one of the founders of the new age music philosophy, which created the musical trends within the genre.[12] His aim was to replace more static noise providers like television or radio with sounds that he thought resonated better with the chakras (energy centres in the body, according to yogic philosophies).[13]
He is the author of two books: Tuning the Human Instrument and Sound Health. Halpern has provided readings from his books and lectures in accompaniment to his performances.[14] Halpern was an inaugural member of the Independent Music Awards' judging panel to support independent artists.[15]
Self-help recordings
Halpern has been involved in the recording of self-help audio cassettes since the 1970s. His techniques included the use of self-hypnosis and subliminal persuasion, to try to release the listener's mind more directly from the stress affecting it. Often one side of his recording was meant to be played at night before bed, and the other meant to be played in the background during one's daily activities. Voices inaudible to the regular ear are imbedded in the tape, attempting to suggest positive ideas to the mind.[16] Halpern has also designed recordings that are meant to be played for up to 8 continuous hours, to be used by people experiencing medical distress such as childbirth or surgery.[17]
Halpern's music was specifically utilized in the self-help recordings of John Bradshaw, a public figure in alternative addictions treatment through the 1970s and 1980s.[18] Part of his philosophy is that ambient noise coming from one's surroundings is psychologically and physically damaging. In his book Sound Health: The Music and Sounds that Make us Whole, he wrote that even at home, the combined levels of sound around us can harm the body.[19] In 2014 Halpern appeared in the documentary The Business of Disease, produced by Sonia Barrett. He shared his insights about the healing effect of sound and the negative effects of electrical outlets near our beds while we sleep.
Awards
In 1989 Halpern was awarded the Crystal Award at the first International New Age Music Conference.[11] In 2013 Halpern was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best New Age Album for his album Deep Alpha.[20]
Discography
1976 - Spectrum Suite (reissue of Christening For Listening (A Soundtrack for Every Body) (1975)
1977 - "I" A Cosmic Attunement a.k.a. Zodiac Suite
1978 - Peruvian Whistling Vessels
1978 - Ancient Echoes (with Georgia Kelly)
1978 - Eastern Peace
1978 - Starborn Suite
1979 - Hear to Eternity
1980 - Comfort Zone
1980 - Prelude
1981 - Rings of Saturn
1981 - Dawn
1981 - Eventide
1982 - Corridors of Time
1983 - Recollections (with Daniel Kobialka)
1984 - Connections (with Paul Horn)
1984 - Natural Light
1984 - Soft Focus
1985 - Threshold
1987 - Among Friends
1988 - Crystal Suite
1988 - Radiance
1989 - Jonah's Journey (reissue of Shared Visions (1986))
1989 - Gaia's Groove
1989 - Shifting Focus (reissue of Lifetide (1986))
1990 - Islands in Time
1991 - Effortless Relaxation
1991 - Enhancing Self-Esteem
1991 - Radiant Health and Well-Being
1991 - Higher Ground
1991 - Nurturing Your Inner Child
1991 - Radiant Health and Well-Being
1993 - Creating Love (reissue of Radiance (1989))
1993 - Enhancing Sensual Pleasure
1994 - Art of Sexual Ecstasy
1994 - Letting Go of Stress
1994 - Overcoming Substance Abuse
1994 - Recovering from Co-Dependency
1994 - Safe Driving
1994 - Starting the Day
1994 - Enhancing Intimacy (reissue of Enhancing Sensual Pleasure (1993))
1994 - Enhancing Massage
1994 - Enhancing Success
1994 - Inner Peace
1994 - Lullabies for Your Inner Child
1994 - Lullaby Suite
1994 - Self-Healing
1994 - Sleep Soundly
1994 - Gifts of the Angels
1995 - Trance-Zendance: Ambient Entracement
1996 - Accelerating Learning
1996 - Enhancing Creativity
1996 - Music for Your PC
1996 - Afro-Desia
1996 - In the Key of Healing
1996 - Relaxation Spontanee
1997 - Attracting Prosperity
1997 - Music for Lovers
1997 - Stop Smoking
1997 - Workstation Wellness
1997 - Achieving Your Ideal Weight
1998 - The Sacred Chorde, with Fabien Maman on modern monochord
1998 - Prophecies
1999 - Music for Accelerated Learning
1999 - Music for Sound Healing
1999 - Serenity Suite:Music & Nature
1999 - Divine Intervention
1999 - Sound Chi
2000 - Deja-Blues
2000 - Chants to Awaken the Buddhist Heart
2001 - Cruise Control
2001 - Chakra Suite
2002 - Transitions
2002 - Music for Massage
2002 - Perfect Alignment
2002 - Sound Medicine:Music for Healing
2002 - Into the Moment (with Master Charles Cannon aka M.C. Cannon)
2003 - Crystal Bowl Healing
2003 - Ocean Suite
2004 - Healing Songs of Earth & Sky
2005 - Tonal Alchemy
2006 - Music for Healing & Unwinding
2006 - Lake Suite
2006 - Music for Babies
2007 - Initiation Inside the Great Pyramid
2007 - Music for Lovers, Vol. 2
2007 - In the Om Zone
2007 - Drum Spirit
2007 - Peace of Mind
2009 - Relaxation Suite
2013 - Deep Alpha
2014 - Ambient Alchemy (with Michael Diamond)
Others
Creativity
Lifetide
Peak Performance
Radiance:Love Songs Without Words
Recovering from Alcoholism
Rhythms of Vision
Shared Vision
Soundwave 2000 Series
References
^Steven Halpern at Allmusic
^"Steven Halpern bio". MTV. Archived from the original on July 2, 2013. Retrieved April 30, 2013.
^Susan Smith Jones (2010). The Joy Factor: 10 Sacred Practices for Radiant Health. Conari Press. p. 74. ISBN . Retrieved April 30, 2013.
^Maria Armoudian (April 1, 1995). "Beyond Mainstream Marketing". Billboard Magazine. p. 64. Retrieved April 30, 2013.
^John Diliberto (March 22, 1997). "Beyond the Stars". Billboard Magazine. p. 44. Retrieved April 30, 2013.
^Jon Klimo (1998). Channeling: Investigations on Receiving Information from Paranormal Sources, Second Edition. North Atlantic Books. p. 379. ISBN .
^"Eclectic Musician". Billboard. October 25, 1986. p. N10. Retrieved April 30, 2013.
^Richardson, Derek (November 1986). "The Sounds of Sominex". Mother Jones. p. 60. Retrieved April 30, 2013.
^Billboard, Allmusic.com
^Timm, Betty (March 27, 1999). "Scanning the Retail Situation". Billboard. p. 58. Retrieved April 30, 2013.
^ abGay L. Williamson (1996). Golden Eggs: Spiritual Wisdom for Birthing Our Live. HCI. ISBN . Retrieved April 30, 2013.
^Marini, Stephen A. (2003). Sacred song in America: religion, music, and public culture. University of Illinois Press. p. 178. ISBN .
^Marini, p. 167
^"Steven Halpern". Deseret News. January 25, 1985. Retrieved April 30, 2013.
^"Past Judges". independentmusicawards.com. Independent Music Awards. Archived from the original on July 13, 2011.
^John Hanc (October 26, 1986). "The Power Of Positive Tape Playing". Newsday. Archived from the original on February 17, 2014. Retrieved April 30, 2013.
^Don Campbell (1991). Music: Physician for Times to Come : an Anthology. Quest Books. p. 161. ISBN .
^"11th Step". Lakeland Ledger. September 29, 1991. Retrieved April 30, 2013.
^"Noise can damage more than hearing, author says". Montreal Gazette. May 25, 1985. Retrieved April 30, 2013.
^"Grammys 2013: Complete list of nominees and winners". Los Angeles Times. February 10, 2013. Retrieved April 30, 2013.