Release Date: February 18, 2025
Label: Global Sacred Sounds
For 30+ years, Ilka has worked with sacred sound healing modalities worldwide, including the ancient art of overtone singing (vocal harmonics). The Chinese Zhineng / Wisdom Healing Qigong ties in firmly with this music and is something the artist taught for many years.
If you have not had the opportunity to listen to the results of those studies and all that has worked collectively over the years for many people, then now would be a good time to start.
Her most recent release is Ocean of Light, a collection of eleven new-age instrumental tracks made for meditation. Eight of the eleven tracks are considerably long, making each a great tool for guided meditation through sound.
“Spirit Eyes” begins your path to healing sounds with Ilka’s amazing vocalizations. It is apparent immediately her voice is one of the main instruments in this recording. The soft synth layer in the background brings her voice to the front with elegance and beauty.
“Ocean Waves Overtones” begins with a heavier bass-sounding synth, and her voice sounds like a centering Om point. Then, it changes to a different tone as the music changes. The tones of her voice are incredible. As we move along the composition, we realize that what she is doing is distinctive and original. She can get high and low or change her intonations to fit the frequencies and harmonics of the music. At times, she sounds like a digeridoo, which is fascinating.
“Sophia’s Song” takes on a different tone and path with a nice acoustic guitar and the reliance on the higher vocals to fill in the spaces between the music. A flute arrives for more ambiance. It is beautiful.
“Abalone Skies” begins with a pulsating synth sound, and the vocals take on another tone to offset that as the flutes join in. Ilka reverts back to a more chanting/tribal mode, then back again to the humming, buzzing tone you hear briefly at the beginning. The way she switches back and forth is like her voice is a band within itself!
“Song Bird” begins with a drone sound, with bells ringing, the kind that sounds so beautiful, like when you hang chimes, and the wind blows, to create that organic symphony. The vocals come in, echoing like she is in a cave. A whooshing sound is added, and a very subtle percussive knocking sound, like a quiet xylophone, is added.
“Desert Dance” rings a bell, then a digeridoo or Jewish Harp sound comes to life, and some percussion begins, all sounding very earthy, like a spiritual dance for the elders before an offering or meditation. If you consider the track title, those comparisons seem to fit. Her voice sounds off in the distance in another direction; however, as usual, it is stunning. Things start getting more energized with the pace of the percussion and winding digeridoo/Jewish harp sound. This one is very mystical, and I loved it.
“Harmony Chant” is another glistening beauty, with Ilka’s lovely, wordless vocals leading the way to your place of comfort and healing. Like many other pieces in this collection, it is a harmonious chant, as the tones change during the track. The frequencies get your attention and, ultimately, your focus, which can be a great tool if your goal is regenerative meditation.
“Soul Shimmer” is an excellent title. Hopefully, after using this music to relax or meditate, your soul will shimmer with an inner light that may have been subdued somehow during your day. It starts with a light keyboard and those angelic wordless vocalizations. It sounds like an invitation to heaven, a musical soul food you will return to for a second helping.
“Light, Sacred Connection” is different in a few ways. It has lyrics with Ilka, showing how she can sing an entire song beautifully without changing her harmonics. It is warm and soft and so lovely. The length is 3:17, which is shorter than all the previous tracks. It is a step away from everything else to show another side of the most capable artist when called upon.
“Light Chant (Remix)” returns to the more extended compositions but starts with an acoustic guitar picked gently to match her vocals. Some nice woodwinds or Native Flute are added to give it a more organic earth tone, a nice addition. I could see where this lady could get full-time work providing backing vocals for numerous artists; however, what she does is much more valuable to an audience that needs it.
I had not heard “Healing (Remix)” before it was remixed. It is a reboot of “Light, Sacred Connection” and is just as beautiful, with a soft acoustic guitar, synth layer, gorgeous vocals, and emotive lyrics with such strong meaning.
This music certainly is an Ocean of Light. It is one of the more unique new-age releases I have heard in a long time because Ilka de Gast uses her voice as many instruments with varying harmonics. This is the perfect meditation recording.
Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck-NAMR Reviews Founder
February 5, 2025
Tracks:
01. Spirit Eyes (6:04)
02. Ocean Waves Overtones (6:08)
03. Sophia’s Song (4:30)
04. Abalone Skies (6:55)
05. Song Bird (6:40)
06. Desert Dance (6:45)
07. Harmony Chant (6:25)
08. Soul Shimmer (6:50)
09. Light, Sacred Connection (3:17)
10. Light Chant (6:07)
11. Healing (3:14)