Celebrate Yourself in Nature

Yoga, Meditation and laughter
Celebrating yourself in nature
A weekend of regenerating wellness in the nature of the Itria Valley.

Celebrating yourself in nature is a residential weekend dedicated to the regenerating wellness of Yoga, Meditations and Laughter, in the splendid natural scenery of the Itria Valley under the oaks of Par Tòt.

Two immersive days of regenerating practices in an environment that raises peace and harmony. A residential workshop has the charm and power of community, like a family, either small or large, celebrating every aspect of life together.

The journey will begin with a ritual, a Sufi “Karunesh” dance to open the heart and connect us deeply, working on the heart as an intelligent organ, an energetic and spiritual portal.

The first day will begin with Hatha Yoga, to find inner peace. You will learn some techniques for immediate well-being by improving posture, breathing, increasing flexibility and tone of your whole body. Then we will practice a visualization and exploration of the Chakras. Yoga Nidra will follow to let you experience deep relaxation, as to sleep like a baby!

Throughout the whole first day, you will be guided by the music of the American ambient musician, Michael Reiley. Michael will play the hang drum live during Hatha Yoga, he will give us a sound bath on the Chakras to activate specific frequencies during the Chakra yoga session, and for the Yoga Nidra practice he will accompany us with a relaxing concert of deep immersive ambient music to help us fall asleep.

The second day will be dedicated to Laughter Yoga and to the discovery of unconditional laughter, source of happiness and strength. You will find that laughing with or without a reason makes no difference to the brain, and that laughing is a medicine for everyone, with multiple benefits. Laughter Yoga is a very powerful practice that brings joy and fun. Even the most shy will not be able to stop laughing!

Sound Sangha

🧘🏽‍♀️ Hello everyone, I hope you are doing well. I am pleased to announce that I’m starting a weekly meditation group called sound sangha (“Sangha” is a Pali and Sanskrit word that means “community”). This will be an exclusive meet-up for Patrons. It will be a 45-minute session, with 20 minutes of meditation, followed by a group discussion around a topic of listening and mindfulness held on Zoom. 

🧡 You can become a Patron and join the community of Mindful Listeners here: http://patreon.com/michaelreiley.  🐚 The focus of the group will be on the intersection of meditation, sound, and listening. We’ll work with classic mindfulness-based meditation practices, as well as the work of Pauline Oliveros (Deep Listening), R. Murray Schafer (Soundscapes), Kay Gardener (Sounding the Inner Landscapes), Ajahn Amaro (Inner Listening), Thich Nhat Hahn, and Nada Yoga (just to name a few). 

🐘 Listening can be a wonderful tool to develop mindfulness, clarity, and calm in your life. No meditation experience is necessary! Depending on the experience level of the group, I will adjust the guided meditation accordingly.

🎶 In addition to our weekly meditation group, you’ll have access to download basically all the music I make. I upload at least one form of soundscape music track a week to download for your collection or stream on the Patreon website or app.

 🗓 The first meeting with be Friday, May 7 at 12 pm Eastern Time, and every Friday at noon thereafter. 

🙏🏻 Thanks so much for your support and love over the past year as my Patrons! I’m really excited for you some of you to meet each other and for us to grow as a community. Please share with anyone who might be interested.

Weimar Workshop / Bauhaus.fm

I had a wonderful time co-leading a two-week workshop with the sound studies students at Bauhaus-Universität Weimar in Germany. We had a deep and expressive time exploring Deep Listening, Field Recording, and Sonic Art with a very gifted and interesting group of students.

I also had the privilege to discuss my work on their radio station over at Bauhaus.fm on the show called “Every Dreaming Body is a Listener?!” with Brandon LaBelle. You can find a recording of the conversation on their website (in English).

Sensing In Festival

Listening Bodies was delighted to share a half-day workshop and a evening concert with the Sensing In Festival organized by Movement Artisans and the Axis Syllabus community in Berlin. In this workshop we synthesized some classic Deep Listening® exercises like Zina’s Rhythm Circle and the Tuning Meditation with some of our own inquiries like Monica’s Tuning the Ear as well as some new pieces involving the synesthesia of touch and hearing with live music by Michael. Check out more over at Listening Bodies.

Berlin Projects

Good morning or evening friends. Happy Thanksgiving to everyone in the US! I hope this day is filled with the feelings of gratitude and abundance for the collective interdependence of life. I am halfway through my three-month residency at GlogauAIR in Berlin and I just wanted to share some projects in my life for which I am grateful.


Spektrum Performance

When I arrived in Berlin, I performed at one of my favorite venues in Berlin: Spektrum. I gave a concert of my field recording landscapes sounds where I created a surrealists collage of environmental sounds from around the world during my travels. I also made a video of found footage from around the world wide web that I showed at the performance. I am very grateful to Aude Françoise from SCOPE, Ienke at Spektrum and DJ Solitue who presented a mix of former Liebig12 residents and for connecting me with Spektrum last year.



Scope Sessions

The second event I did was a talk on my work and process at Scope Sessions. I focused on my work synthesizing Deep Listening, meditation, Buddhist philosophies, field recording, and ambient music. I also played some samples of my work. It was very well received and help crystallize some things for me in my world. I am also very grateful to meet the host Tobias Raayoni Last.

Speaking at Scope

Speaking at SCOPE Sessions


Red Bull Session

Last week was very busy for me here in Berlin! I welcomed two close friends to town at the same time. My collaborator from Mixes from the Field, Sharon Renee Stewart was in town. We met some Deep Listening friends, did some walking and field recording. At the same time, my old buddy and music legend King Britt was in town. We hung out for three days, recorded an episode for my podcast, and recorded at Red Bull Studios Berlin. I’m super grateful to King for inviting me to the recording session with Hainbach, Christina Wheeler and Clara Hill where I got to play one of my favorite instruments, the Fender Rhodes piano! The sessions were magical and the sound at Red Bull was extraordinary. I can’t wait to hear the final mixes of this collaboration.

Sharon Recording at Templehof

Sharon recording at Templehof

The crew at Red Bull Studios


Listening Bodies Project

This time in Berlin has allowed me to deepen my working relationship with choreographer/dancer/movement researcher Monica Genitle. We organically came together to develop a teaching framework that combines my music and Deep Listening practices and her somatic body practices. We’ve done two classes here in Berlin. One at Lake Studios Berlin for dancers and one sound walk workshop at GlogauAIR and SomoS (we had a fairytale-like sound walk in the first snow of the season at night). We will do one more class exploring synesthesia and ASMR as listening body practice at Liebig12. And on Dec 10/11 we will offer a two-day workshop at Tatwerk in Berlin. We will have more exciting Listening Bodies news next week about our plans in 2019!

From the Listening Bodies Sound Walk

From the Listening Bodies Sound Walk along the Paul-Lincke-Ufer
ListeningBodies.com for more information…
Once again, thank you all for your support.

Have a safe and peaceful holiday.

<3 MRM

Summer of Listening

Happy summer everyone. Thanks for opening this email and at least skimming the first line 😉

I had an amazing time in Europe these past two months. I did a 3-week tour with William “Bilwa” Costa which took our Un/Natural Fields project to Germany, Estonia, Latvia, Austria and Poland with support from the Foundation for Contemporary Arts. After that, I did another set of shows with singer Katrine Faber in Germany and Denmark. I’m still waiting on some documentation to be posted, but I will share some live recordings and videos soon. I have plans to collaborate on more projects with both artists in 2019.

Faber McDermott performing at Spektrum in Berlin. Photo by Carl Krüger

I’ll be back in Berlin for a three-month residency at GlogauAIR working on and (finally) presenting a version of Echozoo this fall. Until then I’ll be in Philadelphia and I’m doing a series of workshops and concerts in the coming weeks centered around mindfulness and listening.
 


COURTS

Photo by Shawn Theodore, a fellow Artist in Residence

Before I get into the workshops, if you’re in Philadelphia this week, please check out the closing party for an amazing photo and sound installation I was honored to be a part of. I was an artist in residence at the Village of Arts and Humanities SPACES program. As part of that residency, I created music and sound design (along with the band Ill Doots) using people’s voices and basketball court field recordings from the Hartranft neighborhood in North Philadelphia exploring the culture of the past, present, and future of the courts for the show, Home Court: The Hartranft Basketball Court Revival. Check out the SPACES website for more info. The closing party is Wednesday, July 18, 6-8pm at The Village of Arts and Humanities gallery space.
 


Art of Listening Class

The Art of Listening
Springboard Studio
530 Carpenter Ln, Philadelphia, PA 19119
Sunday, July 22, 11 am – 4 pm
Suggested Donation/Danā $20
Event Info

A day-long class exploring meditative states of listening consciousness led by composer and dharma teacher Michael Reiley McDermott. Through listening, we can develop an intimate connection to our environment, each other and ourselves. In this day-long retreat, Michael will take us through listening exercises, periods of silent meditation, Dharma talks, performance scores of singing and sounding and a sound walk. The practices of Listening Consciousness are rooted in Theravada and Zen Buddhism, vipassana meditation, the Deep Listening techniques of Pauline Oliveros, Thich Nhat Hahn and the music and philosophy of John Cage.

No meditation or musical experience necessary. Beginners are welcome.


Healing Frequencies


Healing Frequencies
with Maraliz Campos and Michael Reiley McDermott
Magick City
37 Box St. Brooklyn, NY
August 4, 9pm-11:30
$15 / pre-show // $10 / door
Facebook Event | Tickets

A night of healing frequencies and intentional dialog about listening, time and consciousness. Maraliz Campos and Michael Reiley McDermott, sound practitioners/musicians, present a discussion and concert and sound journey across aural landscapes with filtered and reimagined field recordings from Michael’s recent travels and artist residencies in Thailand, Myanmar, India, Germany, Latvia, Iceland, United States and Brazil.

Part two is a meditative ambient journey from Paraguayan-American artist Maraliz with crystal/Himalayan bowls, rattles, original samples, synth, vocals, tuning forks, etc.


Listening Bodies


Listening Bodies
with Monica Gentile (Lake Studios Berlin) and Michael Reiley McDermott
Mascher Space Cooperative
155 Cecil B. Moore Ave. Philadelphia
August 11th, 11am – 3pm
$10 / Before August 1 // $15-20 / After August 1
Tickets | Facebook Event A workshop exploring states of consciousness and embodiment. Open to dancers, musicians, artists, yogis, and meditators.

Europe Summer Tour 2018

Hello from beautiful sunny Berlin. I just returned from Kaunas, Lithuania where I was in rehearsals with William “Bilwa” Costa for our upcoming tour, more on this below and this week’s overnight sleep concert at Lake Studio Berlin!

“Meditating on Sound” in Kaunas at Pirmi Šilainiai. Photo by Daina Dieva


Overnight Sleep Concert

This Saturday I’ll be playing an overnight concert of ambient music for sleeping, dreaming, being and becoming. The space at Lake Studios Berlin is perfect for a deep night’s sleep listening subconsciously to slowly evolving soundscapes. The space has high ceilings with long skylights that will allow natural night elements to paint the sky. Also, there’s a surround ceiling mounted sound system. It’s in the quiet Friedrichshagen neighborhood of East Berlin which is very tranquil. Please join me for a night of serene lullabies and inner exploration.

Please bring a pillow, blanket or sleeping bag. Lake Studios has plenty of tatami mats to sleep on. Arrive at 21h to secure a spot, have some tea and get to know the other concert goers. Music will start around 22h.

OVERNIGHT SLEEP CONCERT with MICHAEL MCDERMOTT
19 May at 21h to 20 May at 6h
Lake Studios Berlin
Scharnweberstrasse 27, 12587 Berlin, Germany
15-25€
Facebook Event


The Unheard Sea

While preparing sounds for this sleep concert, I got inspired to re-score a film by friend and collaborator Alex Bond. Alex did the live video projections for my first two sleep concerts. I love his work and think this new music goes well with his hazy visual dreamscape of oceanic disintegration.

Watch the Video


Un/natural Fields Tour

I’m very excited to team up with my old colleague and friend William “Bilwa” Costa for a tour through the Baltics and Central Europe. 

Un/natural Fields is a new project in which Michael McDermott and William “Bilwa” Costa juxtapose two solo projects, the organic imagined landscapes of the McDermott’s Echozoo works in progress and Costa’s unnatural field recordings. Together they create an imaginary listening experience akin to magical realism.

Audio: https://soundcloud.com/bilwa/sets/un-natural-fields

Madame Claude, Berlin, Germany May 21
MOKS, Mooste, Estonia May 24
MIM stuudio, Tallinn, Estonia May 25
UNDER / Electronic Musik Festival, Riga, Latvia May 26
Skaņas dienas (Sound Days) Festival, Liepaja, Latvia May 30 – June 2
BB 15, Linz, Austria, June 5
Rozkurz, Wroclaw, Poland, June 7
Osobliwy Poniedziałek, Krakow, Poland, June 8
Kolonia Artystów, Gdaǹks, Poland, June 10

Philly Projects April 2018

Good morning or evening friends. Below are some events I’m involved with and news about the release of a new Landscapes album. Thank you for your continued support and interest in my musical adventures!


Nora Gibson Contemporary Ballet presents HUMAN

I am really excited for this next chapter in my long collaboration with one of the most exciting choreographers working in contemporary ballet. This science fiction influenced ballet has stunning digital video, beautiful lighting, strong dancers, intricate choreography and an engulphing score that wraps you up like an electric blanket. Not to be missed!

April 20, 21, 8:00 PM & April 22, 3:00 PM (with artist Q&A)
Performance Garage
1515 Brandywine Street
Philadelphia, PA 19130
Tickets


What Do Opossums Dreams Sound Like?

I’m happy to be collaborating with an old friend, Liza Goodell from Spiral Q Puppet Theater on this show. She has built a giant opossum sculpture that people are invited to lie down in. Inside will be my soundtrack of what I imagine an opossum’s dreams sound like while he’s “playing dead”.  Plus they’ll be work by Katie Parry, Tom Parry, and Marina Borker

ST. BERNARD LION: AN ARTISTIC EXPLORATION OF NEIGHBORHOOD FOLKLORE
April 20 – May 18, 2018
Opening reception Friday, April 20th, 6:00 – 8:00 PM
University City Arts League
4226 Spruce Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104​
More Info


William Fields + Mikronesia @ Event Horizon
Still from William Fields’ visuals for Landscapes Live
Landscapes 3, Uttarakhand

If you missed my Landscapes show at the Rotunda (see the photo above from the show with William Fields’ brilliant real-time projections) and wanted to hear part of my surrealists’ field recordings creations from North India, I just released an album on Bandcamp, Landscapes 3: Uttarakhand  with gorgeous artwork by my fellow PECAH resident Isabel Moreno.


Lastly, for those who are into meditation or would like to learn more, I’ll be teaching four classes at Springboard Studio this week and next. This is a great class for beginners or experienced meditators who want to go deeper into the classic Buddhist text of the Satipatthāna Sutta. Each class will have periods of silent meditation, teaching, and discussion.

Satipattāna: The Four Foundations of Mindfulness
Wednesday, April 18, 7:00 – 8:30 PM
Sunday, April 22, 7:30 – 9:00 PM
Wednesday, April 25, 7:00 – 8:30 PM
Sunday, April 29, 7:30 – 9:00 PM

Springboard Studio
530 Carpenter Lane, West Mt. Airy
 

Listening in Asia…

Greetings from Yangon, Myanmar! I’ve had an amazing two months in Southeast Asia. In January I was Artist in Residence at ComPeung in northern Thailand where I was making field recordings, sound designing for some upcoming projects and experiencing the beautiful landscapes, people, smells, sights and sounds of the region​.

recording the landscape in Bagan, Myanmar; photo by Monica Gentile   Here’s a piece I made inspired by the landscapes of Thailand and Myanmar. Traveling in the land that’s home to Theravada Buddhism has been profoundly powerful. There’s so many temples, stuppas, pagodas, monks and lots of psychedelic Buddha shrines! To see all this first hand has changed me and given me perspective on the practice, dhamma and the nature of connection.​ Click below to hear and download this new piece of music “Once You Hear This You Will Always Be a Part of the Song”.

My next stop will be a residency in North India at PECAH in the Uttarakhand region in the foothills of the Himalayas. There I’ll be working on Echozoo, playing and collaborating with North Indian musicians and artists and working on upcoming projects for a very busy April when I return to Philadelphia for a month. If you’re in Philadelphia I’ll be involved in a number of projects including:​