As a classically trained musician and storied music producer, the lush landscapes of Ram Dass’ music have always pulled in listeners. On ‘Siddhartha’, he presents a collection of purely instrumental tracks to bathe you in a sea of profound calm. You can feel the movement of sound and silence as if the instruments are breathing. Ram Dass guides us on a healing instrumental journey through these beautiful classical compositions. Ram Dass plays piano, flute, clarinet and guitar.
On “The Prelude for Siddhartha”, he is accompanied by the beautiful cello of Shannon Hayden, whose strings pull through the piece with a crystalline sweetness. This musical meditation evokes an emotional healing that you experience through every note.
What inspired you to create these new Classical pieces?
I grew up with Classical music— both of my parents are classical musicians and I was immersed in that world from before I was born. My mom was even playing viola in a ballet while she was pregnant with me. So, music without words was what I have always naturally been drawn to. Even today, when I first hear a song on the radio, I’m not paying attention to the lyrics, I’m hearing the overall musicality of the piece. In trying to express the feelings around my son’s life and passing and all of my experiences, I decided one day to sit down and improvise whatever I was feeling at that moment: sadness, peace, gratitude, and so much more. What came out is what ended up as this piece called Prelude for Siddhartha.
How did you become interested in producing classical music?
Over the pandemic, I had the opportunity to produce the score for a feature film called AWAKEN. I have always loved movie scores and the emotionality that music for visual media brings. That film gave me the chance to dive deeper into how powerful a medium scoring is and how you can tell a story so well through instrumental music. It’s something that I intend to keep creating.
You are a musician, multi-instrumentalist, composer, singer-songwriter and producer. Is there one part of your career that you enjoy the most? Which one makes you feel the most fulfilled professionally and personally?
Honestly, it’s the diversity of my career that keeps me excited and creative. I like that part of my life is dedicated to producing music for other people, part of it is making my own music, part is touring and performing… At least at this point in my life, I feel the most drive when I have opportunities in different aspects of music. Maybe as I get older I’ll simplify, but for now, every part of my career seems to have a positive influence on the other parts.
Do you plan to continue exploring different genres of music? Any new musical adventures that are still in your bucket list?
Absolutely. I honestly keep finding myself between genres and imagine that I’ll keep creating new things that I can’t even imagine at the moment. I would like to make a record that is just really great pop/rock though- something with a lot more levity, something that is just really fun to make and perform.
You have a new album coming soon “The Unimaginable”, can you tell us what this album means to you as a producer?
Self-production is always a challenge. Delivering a vulnerable performance that registers with your listener is a huge challenge. Doing both at the same time is like splitting an arrow in archery. As I’m producing my own material, I have to change my perspective in how I listen to the material, both hearing it as an artist and as a producer; hearing it as my own material and as if it were being sung by someone else. I’m really happy that when I listen back to the record, it resonates for me both musically and emotionally as a producer, and authentically as an artist. It was music that I needed to make on an existential level and it feels like I said what I needed to say.
What is your dream as a musician / producer?
I think at this point, my dreams and goals are less about the objective and more about process. I just hope that I can keep making music that stirs my soul, stay healthy, and work with people that feel good to me.