Ayyam-i-Ha is finally approaching! But with a pandemic still raging in so many countries and travel slowed or completely halted for so many, this Ayyam-i-Ha is sure to look a lot different for so many families.

We typically travel as a family to spend time with family during this holiday. That option isn’t there for us this year…. and we began thinking of the millions of Baha’is around the world who would also be experiencing this holiday in isolation in order to keep themselves and their loved ones healthy.

To bring a little more warmth the holiday this year, we are launching our largest sale of physical media ever on 9 Star Media.

We are offering 30% off all CD’s, DVD’s Blu-Rays, and Audio Book CD Sets.

Not only that, but

we will gift wrap and ship them to your family or friends directly!

Thats right! Take advantage of this offer to get your friends, family and loved ones Baha’i inspired media for Ayyam-i-Ha. Shipped Directly to them, already gift wrapped, with a message from you!

FOR MULTIPLE RECIPIENTS & ADDRESSES, PLEASE MAKE MULTIPLE ORDERS.

Don’t do physical media? Want to send downloads? CLICK HERE for PHYSICAL GIFT CARDS that we will mail to your loved ones. For INSTANT DOWNLOAD GIFTS, click HERE to purchase a downloadable gift card which allows you to instantly send your family download credits.

HOW TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS OFFER:

Visit our store and look for the 30% off indicator beside the product option. Uncheck the ‘Digital Download’ option and select the physical product you wish to purchase and click ‘Add To Cart’.

In the checkout process, please add the shipping address where you want your gift shipped to in the ‘SHIPPING METHOD’ section. At the bottom of the checkout page, and insert the name of the person and any short message you want us to print and include in the comments box at the bottom of the checkout page and then click ‘CONFIRM ORDER’.

IMPORTANT: If you dont include the name of who the gift should go to, and the message we should send to them on the package, we will ship WITHOUT GIFTWRAP.

Thats it! We will process your orders and send out via USPS straight to your loved ones.

This sale is huge.. but will end at the start of the Baha’i Fast… so don’t delay!

NOTE: Gift wrapping paper is going to be a random color and pattern choice as it depends on stock levels.

The post HAPPY AYYAM-I-HA! Our Biggest Physical Media Sale Ever! first appeared on 9 Star Media.

NOTE: THIS PAGE WILL BE UPDATED AS FREQUENTLY AS WE GET NEW ACTIVITIES IN. PLEASE CHECK BACK OFTEN.

As a result of the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic, a multitude of communities around the world find themselves quarantined, isolating the sick and practicing extreme social distancing. Aside from upsetting the lives of so many of our fellow countrymen, these changes are transforming the ways in which we socialize and connect with our communities.

These ongoing challenges are giving rise to Baha’is finding new and innovative ways to safely engage with their community, celebrate holy days and meet together virtually. We have seen and experienced many new online activities including group devotionals, web based children class gatherings and a host of artists offering free online concerts. These creative solutions go a long way to help our communities continue to do the work of the Cause even when separated by an ongoing health crisis.

Hopefully some of the links below will serve you, your family and your community during these trying times.

NOTE: THIS IS AN EVER UPDATING LIST… AS SUCH, CHECK BACK REGULARLY FOR THE LATEST RESOURCES FOR YOUR FAMILY AND COMMUNITY. IF YOU KNOW OF AN ACTIVITY WE HAVEN’T INCLUDED, PLEASE EMAIL US VIA OUR CONTACT FORM HERE: https://9starmedia.com/contact

ONLINE DEVOTIONALS

ONLINE CHILDREN’S CLASSES & ACTIVITIES

ONLINE BAHA’I CLASSES & COURSES OF STUDY

Here are a list of courses and classes you can take online to accelerate your deepening activities.

THE WILMETTE INSTITUTE – LIVE – Offering FREE LIVE courses for JrYouth, Youth and Adults during the quarantine

THE WILMETTE INSTITUTE – Offering a range of Baha’i Study Courses

THE CRIMSON ACADEMY – A Collection of Free Study courses on the writings

STUDY THE FAITH – A Website to help you learn

how to study the writings

SOME INSPIRATION FROM AROUND THE WORLD

Here are some stories of Baha’is around the world who are continuing the work of the cause despite the challenges that a global health crisis presents.

Hope and support in Italy during a global health crisis – The Baha’is of Italy

RISING TO THE OCCASION IN A GLOBAL CRISIS: – Bahai World News Service

PAST EVENTS THAT YOU CAN WATCH AGAIN

The post Resources for Online Baha’i Activities (During The Coronavirus Quarantine) first appeared on 9 Star Media.

Our offices are located in an area where they have ordered citizens to “shelter in place” to help halt the spread of the Coronavirus. Out of an abundance of caution for the safety and health of our staff, their families and the postal workers who deliver your packages, we have temporarily disabled all physical CD and DVD sales from our site.

DIGITAL DOWNLOADS ARE STILL AVAILABLE

This measure will allow our staff to stay home with their families and handle online tasks for us remotely. Though this may be an inconvenience for some of our customers, it is a necessary step we are taking to ensure that we don’t contribute to anyone getting infected from social interaction that isn’t urgent or required. This includes our staff, our post office workers, and of course you. Thank you for your understanding and continued support

The post COVID-19 (CONRONAVIRUS) SITE UPDATE first appeared on 9 Star Media.

Many of you use the devotional music from our site as a way to center your thoughts and find peace and focus. Others use them to enrich their community celebrations and family activites. At a time like this, those activites, through they look quite different, are more important than ever.

We want to relieve some of the financial strain purchasing media at a time like this can be… so we are offering our largest discount ever from now through the beginning of Ridvan… 25% off your purchases site-wide*! (* no discounts on gift certificates) Use the discount code as many times as you wish!

 Just use this code at checkout:

NAWRUZ-177BE 

Please share this discount code and use it to your hearts content. Not only will you be enriching your devotional, meditational, and community activities, but you will also be supporting the many Baha’i musicians and creators who pour their hearts and souls into creating these incredible resources.

The post OUR GIFT TO YOU – OUR BIGGEST SALE EVER! first appeared on 9 Star Media.

Happy Naw-Ruz! 

As Baha’is around the world celebrate the beginning of this new year, we find the world wrapt in battle against an invisible enemy. The number of localities and communities engaging in quarantines, isolation of the sick, and practicing social distancing is staggering. These measures are crucial and necessary for maintaining the health and preventing infection of our society’s most fragile members. As a result of these drastic changes to the ways in which we socialize and our communities activities may look very different for quite some time.

That said, these ongoing challenges are giving rise to Baha’is finding new and innovative ways to safely engage with their community and celebrate and meet together virtually. We have seen and experienced many new online activities including group devotionals, web based children class gatherings and a host of artists offering free online concerts. These creative solutions to serve mankind remind us of this exhortation of Abdu’l-Baha. The believers should…

“…engender that tenderness which cometh from Heaven, and bestow love in the spirit upon all humankind. With every soul must they deal according to the Divine counsellings and admonitions; to all must they show forth kindness and good faith; to all must they wish well. They must sacrifice themselves for their friends, and wish good fortune to their foes. They must comfort the ill-natured, and treat their oppressors with loving-kindness. They must be as refreshing water to the thirsty, and to the sick, a swift remedy, a healing balm to those in pain and a solace to every burdened heart. They must be a guiding light to those who have gone astray, a sure leader for the lost. They must be seeing eyes to the blind, hearing ears to the deaf, and to the dead eternal life, and to the despondent joy forever.” ~ Abdu’l-Baha

During this period of celebration, we encourage you to take time to be of service to your friends, family and community. That service could be as simple as making a phone call, reaching out to check on somebody, or dropping off supplies. It will look different for everyone depending on their capacity, personal health, and the latest health guidance form medical agencies… in times like these it seems that we must continually search for ways to minister to the needs of our communities.

Wishing you and your families a joyous Naw-Ruz.

The post Joyous Naw-Ruz Greetings! first appeared on 9 Star Media.

We spent the last several weeks pondering how we could share the gift of music with as many Baha’is around the world as we could this Ayyám-i-Há. At first we thought of simply sharing a big discount code through our newsletter and social media… but that wasnt good enough. We went back to the drawing board and are thrilled to share 9 Star Media’s HUGE BAHA’I INSPIRED MEDIA GIVEAWAY!

When you enter this giveaway, you will not only help us spread the word to the world that our service exists, but you’ll be entered for a chance to win one of five $100 gift certificates for use on 9StarMedia.com. In addition, everyone who enters the giveaway will receive a discount code good for 20% off all orders of $50 or more for use this Ayyam-i-Ha! Don’t hesitate, enter now, and the more you share, the more chances you have to win!

CLICK HERE TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY!

Wanna just check out the site or buy some instant gift cards for friends and family now? CLICK HERE

What is 9StarMedia.com?

9 Star Media is the world’s largest source for quality Baha’i Inspired Media. We scour the web to bring the best or community has to offer together in one place. Preview 90 seconds of every track, download instantly or order physical CD or DVDs and have them shipped directly to your doorstep.

The post Enter Our Huge Baha’i Inspired Music Giveaway! first appeared on 9 Star Media.

‘Talisman’ is a devotional album unlike any other. The words, taken directly from the writings of the Faith combine with Leonor’s rich voice and folkloric music to create a devotional experience that is both soul stirring while simultaneously making us need to move our feet!

For those who aren’t familiar with Leonor Dely, she is a jewel in the Columbian music community. Her incredible voice and passion for traditional columbian rhythms has won her high praise. She was invited to perform for the dedication of the Chilean Temple and shared her music with the masses. Her family, who are all successful musicians in their own right, accompany her in all her musical endeavors…

This timeless world-music album, which includes the masterful production work of JB Eckl, Shango Dely, Francisco “Pancho” Tomaselli and KC Porter, is a cultural treasure for our community. Though the words are primarily in Spanish, the spirit translates. It’s rousing delivery of the writings make it a powerful tool capable of touching the hearts of Spanish & English speaking seekers alike.

For any true music lover or for those looking to enrich their devotions or any upcoming Bicentenary celebrations, this devotional album is an answer to your prayers. Available for immediate download or as a physical CD… or order both for one special price. Click here to take a listen and order your copies today:

The post A Devotional Album Unlike Any Other – “Talisman” by Leonor Dely & Millero Congo first appeared on 9 Star Media.

“Approach to a Sacred Place is a magical, exquisitely beautiful film. I can think of very few films like it where not only is an artist’s craft, his métier, his process, his material engagement explored with such poetic clarity but more than that, his soul. The film manages to open facets of Otto Roger’s art that reveal his deep connection to and the source inspiration he finds in the teachings of Bahá’u’lláh and the Bahá’í Faith. This is no small feat. Rather than reducing his art to an illustration of these ideals, this powerful film brings the viewer in, makes the audience feel as though they are a part of an intimate conversation, that they too have a share in the evocative and redolent spiritual teachings that have such an obvious and direct impact on the spirit of one of Canada’s most treasured abstract painters. I have watched this film several times. From the extraordinary cinematography to the sonorous, plaintive soundtrack by Jack Lenz, this is one of the finest art films on a Canadian artist that I have ever seen. That it also manages to move beyond aesthetics into the realm of faith is a testament to the brilliant vision of its producers. I cannot recommend it in strong enough language.”

Sky Glabush – Associate Professor
Department of Visual Arts (Studio) – Western University
London, Ontario, Canada

“It behoveth the craftsmen of the world at each moment to offer a thousand tokens of gratitude at the Sacred Threshold, and to exert their highest endeavour and diligently pursue their professions so that their efforts may produce that which will manifest the greatest beauty and perfection before the eyes of all men.” (“Selections from the Writings of `Abdu’l-Bahá”, sec. 127, p. 145)

Otto Donald Rogers is a gem. He is both an incredibly devoted member of the Baha’i Faith as well as one of the finest abstract modernist painters and sculptors. He is regarded by art critics around the world as one of the great Canadian painters. His style, which is modernist in nature, “is an inspired exploration of landscape and abstraction” and seems to be  influenced by the outstretching prairies which surrounded his childhood home in Saskatchewan Canada. His work however takes on another, more significant layer of depth, when one realizes that his greatest source of inspiration in creating his work is his Faith in Baha’u’llah.

`Abdu’l-Bahá said…: “All Art is a gift of the Holy Spirit. . . . When the Light of the Sun of Truth inspires the mind of a painter, he produces marvellous pictures. These gifts are fulfilling their highest purpose, when showing forth the praise of God.” (Lady Blomfield, “The Chosen Highway” (Wilmette: Bahá’í Publishing Trust, 1954), p. 167)

Though his name may be new to many of the Baha’is, his work is known around the world. Numerous articles about him and his work have appeared in the leading publications of the art world. Otto is bold in his interviews and doesn’t shy away from mentioning the Faith. The beauty is that his inclusion of the Faith is organic. As the influence of the Faith is woven inextricably through his work it is also woven through his speech about his process, art, and life in general. Every article which attempts to explore the depths of his work will invariably touch on the Faith as that is central to Otto’s creation.

In one article the interviewer commented that:

“Rogers’s paintings emphasize value contrast over subject matter. . . . He stands apart from much Canadian abstract art, in which colourists working with a high-keyed palette so often held the lion’s share of critical attention. This preoccupation with shifts in values reflects Rogers’s love of light. It is tempting to credit that love merely to the vast, sunlit expanse of the prairies he was raised on. But light has a special meaning for him beyond that. He associates it with knowledge and wisdom, in part because of his Baha’i faith. Baha’ullah, founder of the faith, once said, “My name is light and I come from the province of light,” and for Rogers, “the two great factors in creation [are] unity and light.”” (source: CanadianArt.ca)

‘Approach to a Sacred Place’ is an in-depth exploration of his work and process… but more significantly it is his personal testimony to the influence the Faith plays in his every brush stroke. Filmed on location in Haifa Israel (where he was serving at the time) Otto shares his experience, thought process, and creative spark which has led to the creation of such stunning works of modern art. This documentary also features commentary and interviews with thought leaders in the field of art as well as friends who had the pleasure of serving with him. What a joy to be able to catch a glimpse into the work and life of an artist who’s dedication to the Faith has transformed both his personal life and is continuing to influence those around him through his paintings.

Featuring an original score by Jack Lenz, and finally available for the first time in many years, ‘Approach to a Sacred Place’ is a must-have for all lovers of art and inspiration and is a critical film for all Baha’i libraries where it can continue to inspire generations to come. Available on DVD or as an Instant Digital Download.

CLICK BELOW TO PREVIEW THIS FILM AND GET YOUR COPY TODAY

The post Approach to a Sacred Place: The Art of Otto Donald Rogers first appeared on 9 Star Media.

On March 26th 2016 The Universal House of Justice released a letter to the Baha’is of the world reminding the community of the Greatest Name of the significance of these tablets to the spiritual progress of the world:

“The Divine Plan, that sublime series o f letters addressed by Abdu’l-Baha to the Baha’is of North America between 26 March 1916 and 8 March 1917, constitutes one of the mighty Charters o f His Father’s Faith. Set forth in those fourteen Tablets, Shoghi Effendi explains, is “the mightiest Plan ever generated through the creative power o f the Most Great Name.” It is “impelled by forces beyond our power to predict or appraise” and “claims as the theatre for its operation territories spread over five continents and the islands of the seven seas.” Within it are held “the seeds of the world’s spiritual revival and ultimate redemption.”

In the Tablets of the Divine Plan Abdu’l-Baha not only provided the broad vision necessary to carry out the responsibilities entrusted by Baha’u’llah to His loved ones, but He also outlined spiritual concepts and practical strategies necessary for success. In His exhortations to teach and to travel to teach; to arise personally or deputize others; to move to all parts o f the world and open countries and territories, each meticulously named; to learn the relevant languages and translate and disseminate the Sacred Texts; to train the teachers o f the Faith and especially youth; to teach the masses and, particularly, indigenous peoples; to be firm in the Covenant and protect the Faith; and to sow seeds and cultivate them in a process of organic growth, we find hallmarks of the entire series of Plans—each a specific stage of the Divine Plan shaped by the Head o f the Faith— that will continue to unfold throughout the Formative Age.”

– The Universal House of Justice, To The Baha’is of the World, March 26th 2016

01 - Intro 02 - Tablet to the Bahá'ís of the Northeastern States - March 26, 1916 03 - Tablet to the Bahá'ís of the Southern States - March 27, 1916 04 - Tablet to the Bahá'ís of the Central States - March 29, 1916 05 - Tablet to the Bahá'ís of the Western States - April 1, 1916

To commemorate this momentous anniversary we would like to share the first four Tablets that Abdu’l-Baha revealed to the Baha’is of North America. Enter your email below to receive your FREE download link to this tablet from the audio book.

Thank you!
CLICK HERE TO BEGIN YOUR DOWNLOAD

If you enjoyed these Tablets, please click below and download the entire ‘Tablets of the Divine Plan’ Audio book or order a CD. If nothing else… leave us a comment below! Enjoy.

The post The 100th Anniversary of The Tablets of the Divine Plan first appeared on 9 Star Media.

9 Star:  Please tell us a bit about yourself and about how music plays a role in your life.

I was born in the US, raised in Kenya and my parents are from Iran. Growing up, I was surrounded by music. My father loved listening to jazz and classical music and my mother was a piano teacher. She played the most beautiful classical pieces on the piano. Music is, and always has been, one of the greatest joys of my life and being able to share my music with others is a blessing beyond description.

9 Star: How would you describe your music?

My music expresses the diverse cultures I’ve been exposed to growing up. I would describe my music as a mixture of New Age, Pop, and World music with influences from classical Western, African, Middle Eastern and Chinese traditions.

9 Star: What inspires you to create?

I believe that God inspires me to create. God is the Creator, and when we are engaged in the creative process we are manifesting that Name of God. Sometimes I hear a melody and simply must drop whatever I am doing and run to the piano in order to capture it! For me it is the most moving form of prayer — allowing the inspiration to flow through me and to bring me closer to God.

9 Star: What influenced you to make this record? Does the album have a central theme or message that you want to explore?

One of my previous albums, “Fire and Gold”, was on the theme of tests and difficulties. After completing that CD I was reflecting upon the need for detachment when going through the tests of life. So I started composing pieces based on passages from the Writings relating to this idea. But the more I read the Writings and reflected the more I realized that our tests are actually the greatest opportunities for us to grow spiritually. Ultimately the album was given the title “Infinite Bounty” to express the idea that all aspects of life, including its challenges, are gifts from the ocean of God’s bounty. So in this sense the album documents my own thinking and learning about the themes of tests, detachment and bounty.

9 Star: How long have you been in China? How has it influenced your musical creation or recording process?

My husband and I moved to Beijing in 1998 and have settled here ever since. Before that we lived in Hong Kong for 3 years and before that we were in California finishing up our education. Living in China has been an extraordinary learning experience in every way, but I would need a book to describe it all! One of the gifts of living in China has been the opportunity to work with extremely talented musicians that I would never have met otherwise. For example, one of the songs on ‘Infinite Bounty’ is a duet with my dear and talented friend, Cheng Lin, who is one of the most gifted singers I know. In addition, four members of the China National Symphony recorded strings for two of the pieces on ‘Infinite Bounty’.

9 Star: Please tell us a bit about your creation process.

Often when I sit at the piano, the urge to create is a powerful one. If I haven’t composed in awhile, the urge to create is even greater. I usually hear a melody and play a few chords on the piano to see how it will flow. Once I feel the direction of the song, I look for an appropriate quotation and begin to sing it as I play the piano. Im trying to see how the music can flow around the words as the Writings are always the primary focus of each of my pieces.

9 Star: Are you more of a collaborative creator.. or someone who looks within to find the creation?

Initially I work on my own, but once I have created a demo version of a song, I will work with a producer to arrange the song and craft the instrumentation and vision for the piece. If I am composing a duet, I will usually collaborate with the other musician from the start. It’s important to me that everyone involved is happy with the song and agrees with the direction and vision for the piece. There is a lot of consultation that takes place from the very beginning to the final stages of mixing. Many minds are definitely better than one as I love hearing the creative ideas of others throughout the process.

9 Star: Do you meditate? If so, did meditation influence your creative process?

Meditation is an important aspect of creativity, but I believe meditation comes in many different forms. Meditation, for me, can be just sitting at the piano and singing my prayers in the morning. It’s usually after I’ve sung a few pieces that my soul feels ready to create. It is difficult to describe what happens during that creative process. Something magical takes place, like a seed that has just been planted but yet starts to blossom immediately. It is often a rapid process of unleashing what’s in the soul and the moment it comes out… well, that feeling really can’t be equaled by anything else. For me that is a form of prayer. Those are the times I feel the most deeply connected to my Creator.

9 Star: I know there were several songs which featured artists from around the world.. how did you work with them? Did you get together virtually (Skype etc.) to consult?

My favorite pieces on the album are those that were recorded as duets with other musicians. I had an idea of who I wanted to collaborate with from the beginning of the album creation process. I was lucky that Nasim Ma’ani, who records with me on the Arabic/English duet, lives in Beijing so it was easy for us to work on that piece together in person. I also had the blessing of recording a duet with Cheng Lin on ‘We Must Look Higher’. I had asked her to record her erhu (A traditional Chinese 2 stringed violin) on the song, but she felt inspired to sing instead! Ali Youssefi and I have collaborated before and I love his style. He lives in Serbia and he was able to record his vocals there, and we were able to consult back and forth over the internet. Fiona Doomun-Rouhani and I collaborated on our first album in 1997 (‘Melodies of the Nightingale’). We have always wanted to record more together so I was so excited that she was able to find a great studio in California to record her vocals. Siria Rutstein and I have also sung before and I have always loved the tone of her voice. She was passing through Beijing visiting her parents so I seized the opportunity to record with her (I had sent her the song to practice before she arrived so that she could walk into the studio as soon as she arrived). And the youngest musician on the album (my daughter, Amelia!) sings with me almost every day. I was thrilled that she agreed to sing on this album as I have always wanted to professionally record a song with her. Most of the communication with these artists took place by email, Facebook chat, Whatsapp, etc. With the available technology these days and a great producer who can put it all together, so much can be accomplished from afar. Thank God for modern technology!

 9 Star: You have made about a half dozen albums before Infinite Bounty, how does this one differ and stand out from the rest?

This album has more collaborations than any of the others. It is also unique in that the CD comes with a small hard cover book adorned with beautiful, ocean-themed photographs against which the passages from the Writings are printed (the CD is housed in the back cover of the book). Thus the project was really two projects in one: to produce a music CD and to create a beautiful book of meditations for use at devotional meetings, Feasts, as well as for private reflection. I wanted the book to be a work of art in itself and a way for people to be able to reflect on the Writings while listening to the music.

9 Star: Tell us about your producer and production team.

I have had the good fortune of working with several talented producers in the past but before starting on this album I felt it was time to work with a new team to bring to the music a new dynamic. I prayed that I would find someone suitable for the project and was surprised and thrilled when a few days later I met “by chance” a producer at a friend’s concert. The whole thing happened in a most mysterious way and it was a huge confirmation that urgent prayers are always answered.

9 Star: You were able to record a full live string section for this record.. What was that like?

Much to my surprise we were able to have the quartet from the China National Symphony Orchestra record on 2 of my pieces. These musicians are of the highest caliber in China (concert master, principal cellist, principal violist). The first violinist had prepared the notation and printed the score. The other musicians in the quartet had not seen the music until the moment they sat down to perform it in the studio. They had not practiced the songs beforehand at all and once they recorded the pieces they played flawlessly… no mistakes whatsoever! They recorded it once again just in case we needed an extra take and the second time was just as perfect as the first! This experience was awe inspiring. I am so pleased that the string sections they recorded are on two songs ‘Behold Me’, which is a duet with my daughter, and a piece entitled ‘Detached From All Save Thee’. The opportunity to record these amazing musicians was definitely one of the unexpected treats in the making of this album.

9 Star: The secular world has a rich musical landscape.. but there are invariably influences that are sorely lacking.. how does your music fill that void?

When people I meet ask me what kind of music I compose and record, I tell them that there is a lot of noise and distractions in the world and that the goal of my music is to bring calm to the soul and a sense of peace to someone’s day. My instrumental piano album (‘Glimmerings’) has been playing on radio/TV all around the world and the emails I receive from people tell me how much they appreciate the beauty in the melodies and tranquility it brings to their lives. Many others write and share how listening to the Writings of Baha’u’llah and ‘Abdu’l-Baha set to music provides spiritual substance and solace to their hearts and souls. And one of the most touching compliments is from parents who tell me that their children have memorized all the prayers and Holy Writings on my CDs and have grown up with these Divine Words. Hearing these type of stories brings me the greatest joy.

9 Star: When you create music are you focusing more on the Baha’i community or outwardly?

I am mindful of making sure that the album is not boxed in or categorized even though there is a tendency to do so. I hope that my Baha’i friends will want to share it as a gift with their friends who are searching or open to receiving music that is of a more devotional nature. By bringing diversity to the music (there are Pop, New Age and Middle Eastern genres on the album) I hope that the larger community would be open to hearing it. I have considered tapping into the Christian market to see where it leads me.

9 Star: What affect would you like to see your music have on the listener? What would you like them to walk away with?

I hope that the music helps the listener draw closer to God, to feel more at peace with themselves. In our lives we all have tests and difficulties, and we all have challenges. The Holy Writings are the medicine that heals us, and provide the guidance and strength to forge ahead. I hope that by listening to the Words of Baha’u’llah set to music, souls will be touched by His Spirit and be uplifted and inspired when facing challenges in their lives.

9 Star: In a world, seemingly filled with so much darkness, what keeps you inspired?

Knowing that the world is going through its stage of turbulent adolescence helps me focus on the fact that it is a process leading to maturity. Having faith and centering my life around service allows me to concentrate on what I can do to contribute to the betterment of the world. In the moments that I feel more challenged to stay positive, I turn to music and composing music is the greatest healer. I channel the negative influences through my music and am always so moved by the inspiration that comes.

9 Star: What are three major things you learned in the process of creating this album that you could share with other aspiring musicians to help them overcome the same hurdles?

a. It’s easy to get carried away with perfecting a song and not knowing when to let go. It’s like a painting that one keeps working on improving. How do you know when it’s finished? Setting goals and deadlines helped me keep on track in order to finish the album in a timely manner. I was tempted to keep working on the songs so it was good practice to work on detachment instead.

b. Consultation has been a key to the success of making great music. I have worked with some incredible producers and musicians and being able to consult in a unified manner with the ultimate goal of creating beautiful music has always helped the process.

c. Being detached from the outcome of a song. Sometimes I have had a vision for a song but in the process of working on it, it changed quite a bit. Being detached from the outcome has helped me embrace some great ideas I would have otherwise missed. ‘Sweeten Their Souls’ is a great example. I had never thought of changing it up but the producer had the idea of making it into a band song. If I had held on to what I originally had in mind for the song, this piece would not have come to fruition in the way that it did and I love it!

9 Star: You have created something truly unique with “Infinite Bounty”. Could you tell us about the other albums have you produced and what are their themes?

The first album I produced was ‘Melodies of the Nightingale’ in 1997, which consists of Hidden Words and prayers. ‘Melodies of the Nightingale for the family’ followed a few years later with quotations and prayers for parents, children, pregnant mothers and infants.

‘Fire and Gold’, my third album, was released in 2007 and it set to music passages from the Writings about tests and difficulties, blending eastern and western musical styles. ‘Birds of Love’, released in 2009, is on the theme of love and marriage and comes with an elegant book of gold silk fabric with quotations about love from various poets, Holy Writings and cultural traditions. For 10 years my husband encouraged me to make an instrumental piano album. Finally in 2012 ‘Glimmerings’ was released and has been playing on the radio in many countries around the world. My sixth album, ‘Edge of Forever’, reflects a wider range of my musical influences with original lyrics. It is a collection of songs in diverse styles such as Latin, World, New Age, Pop, Middle Eastern and a little rock. The music depicts the soul’s desire to transcend the limits of the material world and to soar in the spiritual realm.

9 Star: Thank you for taking the time to do this interview… and for continually sharing your gift with the world. It is truly inspiring and uplifting.

You can read more about Elika on her blog: http://www.elikamahony.com

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The post Infinite Bounty: An Interview With Elika Mahony first appeared on 9 Star Media.