Natalie Rose LeBrecht - Mandarava Rose (2019)

Mandarava Rose, Natalie Rose LeBrecht’s first album since 2010, is the culmination of a decade spent focused on meditation and explorations of inner space. In 2016, she began studying hypnosis and started mentally traveling to what she calls “extraordinary interdimensional spheres”, which she felt compelled to channel through her music. Balancing a full-time job with manifesting a new creative vision meant waking up before the crack of dawn to practice the piano and work on compositions. It took her over a year working in this way to bring Mandarava Rose to life. To help broaden the music, LeBrecht brought on two instrumental collaborators: David Lackner, who co-created the woodwind arrangements, performed them on the recordings, and helped participate in the mixing process; and Martin Bisi who co-produced, co-recorded, engineered and co-mixed the album.

The finished work has drawn comparisons to the likes of Philip Glass, the Twin Peaks soundtrack, and Alice Coltrane. LeBrecht was deeply inspired by Alice Coltrane’s music, and even dedicates the opening track, “Rishi Stars”, to Turiyasangitananda - Coltrane’s spiritual name. However, the album as a whole is ultimately unique and authentic; it’s a feminine soul-bearing work of sonic art. When asked how she felt about her new music, LeBrecht said, “having a day job that funded the production of this album gave me an immense freedom from concern during the creative process. The result is that I made something genuine and uncompromising, and I have an aspiration that it will open the hearts of those who connect with it.”

Described as an “enigmatic chanteuse” by the Huffington Post and a “one-person subculture” by music journalist Douglas Wolk, Natalie Rose LeBrecht has been creating solo music of an interior nature since her childhood. Although she is primarily a self-taught musician, she spent a couple of years working for and studying under the legendary composer, LaMonte Young. LeBrecht has shared bills with Devendra Banhart, Animal Collective, Sharon Van Etten, and Dirty Projectors to name just a few. She is the recipient of a Roulette Jerome Foundation Commission.



Track List:
01. Rishi Stars (05:44)
02. Rosebud & Lotus (10:43)
03. In the Beginning (06:15)
04. Lost (03:17)
05. Autonomy Dream (09:49)
06. Rivers (09:03)
07. Ocean of Ah (05:39)
08. Hear Today (03:52)

All compositions and lyrics by Natalie Rose LeBrecht, copyright 2018
Produced by NRL, Martin Bisi & David Lackner
Woodwind arrangements by DL and NRL
Mastered by Fred Kevorkian
Performances by:
NRL - acoustic and electric pianos, organ, vocals
David Lackner - flute, saxophones, bells, synth
Album cover art by Daniel Subkoff & NRL

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