Pontea is a remarkable musician who channels her life’s energy into her voice and hands, crafting healing musical notes. In her latest release, Channeled (Live & Improvised at Meraki Cocoon), she has created a soothing soundscape through a live, improvised recording session at Meraki Cocoon.
This six-part EP showcases Pontea’s voice more as an instrument than a conventional singing voice. What stands out most about this album is its rawness—not in an unpolished sense, but in its freshness and authenticity. The fact that the music was entirely improvised and recorded live does not make it sound arbitrary; on the contrary, it makes it feel deeply human.
To be honest, if I hadn’t read that the album was improvised, I wouldn’t have assumed it was. The music is both controlled and free—it follows a natural melodic progression while remaining unbound by rigid structures. The result is an album that feels unfiltered and direct, it feels naked, as if there is nothing standing between the music and your soul. It reaches into your heart with its purest essence.
The EP was recorded with the help of Sina Jahanian. Pontea herself describes the release:
"Our intention was to capture the energy of live creativity exactly as it flowed, preserving the essence of what you might experience with me in an intimate, sacred ceremony."
The EP begins with Call of the Wind, a brief yet evocative piece that sets the tone for what’s to come. This one-minute track features nature sounds in the background, ornamented by the gentle voice of the native flute.
Healing My Senses follows, opening with the mesmerizing resonance of a handpan. Pontea’s voice joins the percussion in a rhythmic pattern that gradually transitions into words, blending texture and emotion seamlessly.
Depth of Beckoning continues this journey, introducing a grounding shamanic drum as its foundation. Pontea’s voice weaves around it, forming a short meditative bridge that leads into Baran—Persian for "rain." Here, she sings in Persian, introducing oriental harmonies that enhance the mysticism of the piece. This track is especially moving, as it captures both the sentimentality of the rain and the emotional release it symbolizes.
Next comes Sound Doodles, another short yet engaging interlude where rhythm and voice intertwine, preparing the listener for the closing track, Misbehave. In this final piece, the album comes full circle, once again featuring the magical tones of the handpan, this time enriched by Pontea’s expressive vocals.
Channeled is a sonic portal, an invitation into a deeply personal and transformative journey. Each track carries an unscripted purity, making it not only a musical experience but also a healing one.
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