The Rise of Spiritual and New Age Music in Global Communities

New Age music and song is finding its way into our hearts and minds as we get ever closer to a better understanding of the genre and its intention to imbue the listener with peace, tranquillity and relaxation.

Defining New Age Music

Some define new age music and song as spiritual and it is often used for meditation and in yoga and during massage therapy. In most instances, new age music is used to help combat stress and anxiety creating a more peaceful and harmonious atmosphere in homes and sometimes, in offices.

Mike Oldfield's album Tubular Bells was one of the first albums to actually be spoken about in the genre New Age Music and Enya (Sheperd Moons) has since been one of the forerunners of vocal new age music and an artist that is still widely acclaimed in this genre. Others in this genre worth listening to are Deva Premal and Miten, Tori Amos and Alpha Wave although they each have their own distinctive voice.

Why is New Age Music becoming Popular?

The reason New Age music is increasing in popularity is that they rely on repetitive melodies and are modal, often including a drone bass and a host of non western acoustic instruments like lutes, harps, hammered dulcimer, spike fiddle, drums, vertical flute and double reed instruments.

Many of the vocal versions of new age music stem from lyrics based on mantras, chants, legends and mythology which also ties in to the influence that new age gaming is having on our entertainment choices.

Many new age musicians impress on their audiences that their music is supported by their spiritual beliefs and in this world, many in their audiences are only too eager to embrace the spiritual beliefs along with the music as it uplifts and sustains them in peace and harmony.

What is New Age Music?

The term 'New Age' music stems from a lack of definition by retailers in this sector of classical, instrumental, chill out and ambient music and can often include well defined music such as flamenco guitar and composers like Vangelis, Jean Michel Jarre and Sandeep Khurana, Yanni and Mike Oldfield.

A sub category of New Age music is Spiritual music and within this category lays whale sounds, chants, meditation, healing and relaxation. Artists enjoying great popularity within this sub category include Krishna Das, Deval Premal and Miten and Snatam Kaur.

Where did New Age Music come from?

In the late sixties and early seventies a number of musicians released works based on electronics using synthesizers and other electric instruments. It was an experimental phase but one which laid the foundations for what we now recognise as New Age music genres.

While the definitive descriptive label is yet to be found for many of the sub categories of New Age music another term coined is 'contemporary instrumental' music.

Adding Vocals to New Age Music

Initially new age music and compositions could be as long as half an hour and purely instrumental which is why they suited massage treatments and meditation. Now, new age music has embraced voice as an instrument and the length of the compositions is much shorter and sometimes arranged in albums covering a particular topic eg: Dave Premal and Miten's tribute to the survivors the Japanese earth quake earlier this year - In the Light of Love

The genre itself is still relatively new but gaining in impetus as our collective desire to shrug off material avarice and a more spiritual mindset increases in audiences across the world.


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Jane van Velsen writes articles for a wide variety of clients including Deva Premal Miten who are in the Arts and Entertainment category. Her other topics cover social media, marketing, networking, food, restaurants, managment, public relations, travel, tourism, finance, banking, women's interest, psychology. Her novel 'Dawn' is available on Amazon.