They Architect The Stars by Earth Tree Healing is an album of Sci-Fi ambient/electronic music tracks by composer/multi-instrumentalist Claudine West. Released April 12th 2020.
Growing up on the films and tv series such as Star Trek, Blake’s 7, Day of the Triffids, Alien (1979 movie), A Hitchhikers Guided to the Galaxy, War of the Worlds, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, Star Wars, The Day The Earth Stood Still, Planet of the Apes, 2001: A Space Odyssey (Trivia- Wally Veevers – Claudine’s Auntie’s Father, was special photographic effects supervisor) and many more. (Thanks Dad!) Inspired by a lifelong interest in all things alien, conspiracy, intergalactic. Paralleled with Claudine’s meditative music releases under ‘Earth Tree Healing‘ music. This transforms into less melodic, more atmospheric soundscapes. This album became after Claudine was working on instrumental music for Music Libraries. This is a journey that blends into itself from its beginning to its end.
Indie Road Movie is a new instrumental album by Claudine West. Released 1st February 2020. 15 tracks for road journeys. Upbeat. Electronic, Raw. In between recording relaxing meditation music as Earth Tree Healing. I’ve enjoyed playing with loops and keyboards in my home studio. Part of my work as a musician and composer is writing, looping, experimenting to accompany visuals. 2019 was spent adding music to Pond5 stock music library.
Music has spoken more for me than words. I don’t feel the need to rant at the moment, to tell you all something you already know. An opinion you agree or disagree with. I wanted to quieten my chatter and speak through vibrations. 2019 was a time of loss, of not looking after ‘me’ very well. Very much locking myself away in studio to indulge. This is always a good thing. But I neglected getting out into nature, just walking, breathing in the sky. We travelled a lot which has been where the concept for Indie Road Movie came from. Music for exploration. A rhythm for the road. I’ve been working on tracks for over a year in between the other Earth Tree Healing albums. Maybe it’s a guilty pleasure. I get a bit of a ‘foot tappety tap, slap your flip flops round someones face and then embrace them vibe.’ I get the I need to escape from where I’m at right now vibe and travel to quench the thirst of the impulse to run. This is by no means my relationship. Its about us both feeling the need to go and explore.
Last night on New Years Eve 2019. I attended a Gong Bath. I’ve been ill with a bug for a few days. Stuck at home, Riding my horsey called ‘Biscuit’ about on Red Dead Redemption 2. Realising I simply cannot catch the white wild horse near the lake and giving up in a weakened rage. Time to disappear somewhat, meditate and eat more greens.
Being on my spiritual path, meeting like minded souls is educational. Being amongst good vibes is comforting. But…I still have to humanly address idiotic bad behaviours and actions. I don’t tolerate or stomach: bullies, liars, selfish, negative draining behaviours/people or folk that rip you off. They have no place in my world and get uninvited to sharing a path with me. Gut wrenching instincts are best acknowledged.
I didn’t have issue with Notts/Derby band Strange Currencies. 3 months ago I left on a positive note after their last gig of the year, ensuring they weren’t left without a drummer, then had winter to comfortably recruit and rehearse. But…. Seeing as co-written songs are being fraudulently ripped off. It is time to spill… Sit back, relax.
2019 was a time for change and moving on. I’d suffered a frustrating year spent hoping, in a band that stagnated. A band that did not go into studio to get the tracks recorded professionally to realise the full potential. Not through lack of trying to encourage it to happen. No EP or album release of music that reflected the music that band performed live. (Certainly a barrier was 1 member of the band didn’t want to pay for it)
We’d demoed tracks and recorded them in a rehearsal room. Now the newly named band #ROE releasing them under new titles. Well… well…as a co songwriter and them being PRS registered… well!
I left Strange Currencies as there was no more progression for me. The fun was slowly sucked out of any final bit of enthusiasm by the end of 2018. Reason? One individual continued to shat on the shoreline. – Let us say for examples: unsavory behaviours, moods, bitch fits, lying (a particular pork pie that was excruciating, was telling the audience that we had supported Foo Fighters) being ungrateful at all of the free lifts, taking his shit out on our band manager and trying to hide that from the rest of the band. The attempts at manipulation were pathetic. A power struggle over control, being creepy. What part of ‘I’m a lesbian in a happy relationship’ that was not understood? I highly suspect their behaviours were historical too in previous bands and will sadly occur in the future. Fortunately not by problem to witness anymore and it is blissful.
Having no understanding of how much effort you have to put in on social media (which I spent a lot of time on) or the advantages of releasing ones music on Spotify, iTunes etc to get your music out there. Being a very depressive shadow in my band life – which in turn affected me personally, that I no longer wanted to be around. Even getting pissed up wasn’t fun last year. For the final 6 months, I’d sit in rehearsals not wanting to be there, pretending, hoping things would get better. I amicably announced my departure at the last gig for them, The D.H. Lawrence Festival. September 2019.
Working with new people had been giving me the buzz. I was busy with other projects. I decided after much humming and harring to step away as my heart was no longer in it. Band death had occurred for me. (Newsflash: When musicians leave bands, it’s mostly because they don’t want to be in them anymore – ‘end of’ chuckle chump) it really doesn’t matter if I left to watch paint dry, save the planet, invent a new flavour, get stoned with Reptillians. I’ve gone. It is what it is buttercup. I don’t remember being under any contractually binding obligations to stick with.
‘How it looks…’
Was it a dick move to discuss what comes next? Well when someone rips off your music that is PRS registered and songwriting. It’s bloody rude! What kind of uneducated numpy would do such a twattish activity…. Well readers… read on….
Here is an example kids – of how not to behave. Unsurprisingly as soon as ‘said individual’ was dropped off home by myself and band manager.. So began ‘you left us for another band assumption’ deletions, (& us being blocked on FB. We high fived!)
The band agrees Benefits! #PRS PROTECTS ARTIST RIGHTS
All the video song titles from the Facebook page got mysteriously removed. It seems evidentially that songwriters rights are being disrespected and infringed here! When they could just have used the original song titles and let me know, as asked when and where they were played live, so I could claim performance royalties. Very poor activities and complete lack of honesty and integrity from a band. I can understand you were upset at your loss and are completely oblivious to your own distasteful ways. Bibble boo boo. Said individual had also taken over the Facebook page (with my blessing to carry on SC), changed it to the new band name, and even duplicated it. (Double bubble for your fans, whoop!) Individual then requested I ‘like’ their page again. ‘Fuck off sunshine no thanks!’ Alas, Strange Currencies split up after their final gig of 2019. A shame, as I wished them the best to carry on the music and reputation they were building, (I’d find it very odd them now trying to get new gigs off the back of the music from a band that no longer exists) – WELL ANYWAY… AHEM, gold watch cough up. Like I said, I had asked for them to just to let me know when they performed the songs live (so I could claim PRS performance royalties for the ones I’d co written)
The email asking nicely 8th September 2019 PRS
But alas they appear to be renaming the songs I co wrote, in a strikingly fraudulent attempt to claim them as the new bands. I expected as much disappointingly. It’s like renaming ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ as a new arrangement and claiming it to be your own! – please also note it was me drumming on the Rules of engagement ‘single’ releases. #PPL
There has never a better time to bring good healing music into this world than right now, when the very fabric of all that we once knew is being torn apart, by a lust for power, enabled by fear and negativity. Now with albums like this the gentle fight back of love and light will rise up, and this could well be the musical backdrop with which it happens.
Western Mystical Tradition is the latest release by Earth Tree Healing, who took us on a fine journey with Goddess earlier this year. This voyage of plenty starts with a lively short form musical introduction entitled Capodastro.
At this point we are delivered a composition which must be one of the best in this genre I have heard for years. The track is called Ethereal Sunset 432 Hz, the sound of the universe sweeps over our senses; this is the most beautiful piece of music that you’re ever likely to hear, the vibrational tone works for me, bringing chills to each and every hair on my arms, and the major minor chord structures, along with the build and progression here is utter quality, so much so I never wanted it to end.
Only twice have I see this actually occur, firstly the track is Murmuration and secondly for those who do not know, this refers to the phenomenon that results when hundreds, sometimes thousands, of starlings fly in swooping, intricately coordinated patterns through the sky. The swirling sounds and clever narrative on keyboards is absolutely perfect for this occurrence and one that is deeply fascinating to listen to.
On Mantra we are right in my ball park, to coin a phrase, or even an Americanism, the eastern values are strong here, but there is also an extremely cleverly crafted guitar, aiding what I think is a harmonium. When we gather the energies all together, a careful beat and percussive ethic joins this musical fray and completes a composition that almost takes me back to the late 60’s.
We are now nudging the middle of the album and some sumptuous acoustic guitar and a delicate keyboard greet our ever eager ears, as we herald the arrival of the track Sorrow of Souls, the further addition of strings here just creates a further lush dimension of sound to revel within.
Archipelago is our next docking port, and the gentle sea can be heard lapping up onto its shores. We have many stretches of water further west of us that have many small islands and a beautiful site it is as well. The multiinstrumental nature of this track alone is so well performed, and with such a mindful sense of balance as well, one can easily picture this scene through the music and be simply swept away by its overall chill out nature, a totally divine offering indeed.
The shortest track off the album is this one called Motion of the Moon, but even at only just over two and a half minutes long, it is one heck of an attractive offering, especially the performance on guitar in partnership the keyboards, one that manifested something quite graphic and addictive for us all.
We have three long form pieces now, so to our first spacious room of tone and vibration and it is called Orbital Ghosts, we now see a vast realm of musical brilliance open up before us, one so deep, yet bathed in a spectacular calmness of utter ambience. At just under ten minutes this breath-taking opus seems to drift over our senses like a late autumn mist, across a deep and dark lake, we are never quite sure what may or may not happen next, but the hovering anticipation of the keyboards and synths are just absolutely sublime.
Our longest track on the album is the following composition entitled Zodiacal Light. It partners the previous offering perfectly, but now also has that certain Kevin Kendle, super space music vibe about it as well. One could easily feel themselves floating up into the darkness of space to this one, perhaps even to watch the lights from the Orion nebula themselves. Synths and keyboards are the ship we now traverse the universe in, and the sublime sense of being able to just float within this composition is idyllic, if this track had lasted a whole hour I would not have minded.
Our penultimate piece is called Moonlight Arc, music akin to watching the moon rise on some distant world, a veritable soundtrack for this magical moment, the deep bass sound here was so incredible, the slowness was literally the arc of light gently rising to its zenith, this for me was one of my personal favourites on the album, and one that manifested something so very emotive and powerful as well.
Eulogy is our very last offering, a solo piano piece that takes us out of an album that has been incredibly impressive, a fine ending to a sublimely crafted and quite stunning release. Western Mystical Tradition by Earth Tree Healing in my view is the best work so far by the artist, each and every composition, each and every work of art is gratefully received by these ever eager ears; this must go down as one of the most remarkable new age styled albums to have been released this year, one I have absolutely no problem recommending.
Introducing the new Earth Tree Healing album by multi-instrumentalist Claudine West. Western Mystical Tradition. Released 28th September 2019.
Somewhat crudely, esotericism can be described as a Western form of spirituality that stresses the importance of the individual effort to gain spiritual knowledge, or gnosis, whereby man is confronted with the divine aspect of existence. — Historian of religion Henrik Bogdan, 2007.
A multi-dimensional 11 track (1 hour 16 minutes) collection of acoustic guitar based pieces, meditative electronic synth environments to explore. Themes of inspiration from the moon, the sky, the sea, the sun, the cosmos. Channeling Universal Life Force Energy through music, from past lives. The conscious element is intention, to create and perform a beautiful, higher vibrational, harmonious soundscapes.
Track 1: Capodastro We begin with a sweet and sunny acoustic guitar ditty.
Track 2: Ethereal Sunset 432 Hz – Inspired by the beautiful mystic energies of sunsets on Benirrás beach, Ibiza. As the blissful darkening introduces us to the night. The orange and pinkest skies bring awakening light. (10 minute extended single (Boho Mix) version also on digital stores. Why 432 Hz? This is the natural frequency of the Universe. Music is traditionally tuned to 440 Hz. Read about it here : https://attunedvibrations.com/432hz/
Track 3: Murmuration – Soundtrack for the Starlings, for the patterns in the sky for the people that have ascended. For when we look up to the sky and see the magic and true beauty that befalls us.
Track 4: Mantra multiple layers build upon the foundations, rising, thickening, rhythmical enchanted affirmations for self.
Track 5: Sorrow of Souls. The ones we encounter that so brightly shine. They illuminate and touch lives. they remain undiscovered, to the masses and a Saviour to the few. A philanthropist that doesn’t need to donate money to help others benefit.They donate selflessness, love, tolerance. When a loved one departs their body. There are regrets at the unsaid. Peace in the mourning and sorrow until we meet again. Built upon piano, acoustic guitar and strings.
Track 6: Archipelago. By a moonlit sea in Es Canar. I recorded the night waves. I’d been to Ibiza for a holiday earlier in 2019 and explored. Illuminated and inspired the essence of a sunset of Benirrás Beach, boat trips, the land train exploring the island. The vibe at Café Mambo. The Balearic islands vibe entertain beautiful chilled out times.
Track 7: Motion of the Moon. Watching night sky watching the moon. The changes that occur in life, the circles we covet. There is a full original version I recorded years ago of this with my vocals. I’ve always loved performing this – so recorded an instrumental take of it.
The next 3 track are a trilogy of chill out music. Journey in to cosmic calm. 432 Hz.
Track 8: Orbital Ghosts. It’s now to down lights, close your eyes, adventure, relax, meditation, do yoga, adventure. The voices of apparitions invite you in.
Track 9: Zodiacal Light (24 mins) The powerful rumbles in the awe and glow, ebb and flow of mystical reflections of light in the night sky. 432 Hz for deeper meditations.
Track 10: Moonlight Arc Ambient space, the cosmos. For travellers, explorers of ascension.
Track 11: Eulogy – Simply piano. I had a very strong urge after a family member’s funeral to compose something fitting that combines, love, loss, and celebration and remembering.
Album art painted by Claudine West
Enjoy, meditate, travel, relax, love, explore, be grateful, be kind.
Today I announced my departure from band Strange Currencies. My journey with them is at an end. I wish them well. I was mindful to announce it at the last gig of the year – ensuring the band have time to recruit a new drummer for 2020.
I had real pleasure jamming with talented musicians with some good tunes.
The D.H Lawrence Festival on 7th September was my final gig.
Goddess by Earth Tree Healing released 2nd February 2019. New Age instrumental music From British composer and multi-instrumentalist, Claudine West. Recorded in 2018 in Nottingham.
Available now on digital stores. CD’s from Amazon Music.
Sometimes I create my best works when I feel vulnerable, at a loss with life. My escape into Claudsville, into rapture. Music is my Panacea. I’ve struggle at times with depressive episodes. If I don’t look after myself. If sustained stress encapsulates me, I fight but eventually crumble into a desert wilderness. Low mood, the fog, hopelessness surrounded me in 2018..many many months.
A sustained draining and soul destroying circumstances bled me to the brink. I’d put on the acting face of ‘everything is ok.’ Eventually my health and wellbeing became cake left out in the rain. Deterioration lead to the inevitable health, emotional and mental health issues. I’d gotten quite poorly so took time out to heal. I didn’t want to lose my relationship or sanity.
Cycling round the lake. Being amongst the beauty of the trees. Meditation, and music making. Months later.. week by week. I began to feel like myself again. It became a very private withdrawn time. Talking about it did not help. My recuperation plan worked. My Lesson: Never let the day job damage and drain me to the walk to the edge of a chasm and dip my toes in the despair. When the sunshine gets shut out during a heatwave, it’s time to swim upon the tides of the moon.
The experience I am grateful of… As I will never have to suffer it again. I won’t allow it to happen again. I let myself down and others by not being fully honest with myself and allowing the harm and anger to take hold. We are all accountable for our actions. Humans can be selfish. Some don’t care about the ripples in the water they create, that build up to tidal waves. Life lessons are there to teach us. In some ways I’m far too sensitive to exist in this maddening world. Put an empath in a tunnel of pain and observe the carnage.
I found Zen creating this album. This infinite and connection to Goddesses.
There were days when I’d call upon a particular Goddess. But a different one appeared. The music poured, oh how it eloquently poured out. It was like lying on snow looking up to the sky. With every detail of snowflakes tinted with rainbows. My breathing returned after being stifled. The warmth embraced and travelled beyond the timeless gentle deeper dark of my meditations. The connection to Earth, Trees.. the healing of the skies. The composing became a cycle of daily therapy. It energised. It comforted. I indulged in sunsets and horizons. It made my world more alright.
The Triple Goddess, The Maiden, The Mother, The Crone )0( I sought Goddess of the hunt, Artemis in the wilderness. Under a magical moon I meditated to Selene. At the crossroads I asked for guidance and protection from Hecate. I became one with the Earth in the woods and the sky with Mother Earth, Gaia. In my darkest times I reached for the sea and asked for the return of feelings and love from Aphrodite. I retreated into meditations often in the Goddess Temple. Protector of Cats, Bast… Our 3 cats were very much part of recording this. I enjoyed further inspiration, music and creativity with Cerridwen. I called upon Morrigan, Goddess of war and fate. To help me endure my battles within. Healing came from The Celtic Goddess of Fire, Brigid, which I have also honoured with my track Imbolc from my album 8 SabbatsAthena gave me direction and taught me how to better cope. We drove around Snowdonia under blue skies to her sounds. Asking for assistance from LakshmiGoddess of abundance. We lit candles in the dark. Helping us see the way and what we have to do for the self sustained life we aim for. When you dance with death, there is the liberation of rebirth and Motherly love. I thank Kali. The 14th and final track in this album is Dance Of The Goddess. It comes from Blood Moon We end this journey with honouring and free movement and expression of dance for all. New beginnings…
Breath in the awe-inspiring. Recharge by the sea. Be well, indulge, connect, ask, sleep well.
An album created by a Reiki Practitioner. An album my Reiki Master/ Teacher enabled me to create. Reiki practice alleviates times of stress, anxiety and introduced me to a natural clean inner peace that I had sought but never found before. Combined with making music. Its as blissful combination. From a very angry and somewhat lost soul. When suffering and searching leads one on such a beautiful and rewarding journey of discovery. To becoming more centered individual, that is ever evolving. It is a practice that helps me chill out and practice on friends to help them. Even during periods when I’ve neglected daily practice, the energies channel during composition. Balance is Zen. I trained to Level 1 Shoden and level 2 Okuden through Reiki East and West (Judith Davies) in West Bridgford, Nottingham with Jane McLennan. I hope attain Master Level when I feel ready.
Maitreya (Koji Takeuchi) is a wonderful soul. His Japanese Garden is inspiring, peaceful and beautiful. I’m so grateful that it is located up the road from us. Go visit!
You can watch ‘Oneness’ the video I made there.
Maitreya (Koji Takeuchi) and Claudine West. May 7th 2018
“I was once described as ‘something close to traditional folk, to a more dreamy sound, all the way to an electro Tori Amos, an artist not to be pigeon holed.’
“I create alternative and new age music. I’m a multi-instrumentalist currently drumming in Nottingham indie rock band ‘Strange Currencies.’ I release solo work under Claudine West and ‘Earth Tree Healing.’ I used to call myself Bog Woppit.
“My sound can be as simple as a finger picked acoustic guitar with a haunting vocal. To alternative rock with electric guitars and melodic keyboards. I’m big on harmony, melody and haunting beauty that evokes emotion. I sing a little. But musically it’s the instruments that really do the talking with my work. I am the protagonist of my lyrics. My journey as a musician though jazz, blues, folk, grunge, rock has shaped what I create. You will hear elements of all.
“I also release new age, instrumental and meditation music under the pseudonym ‘Earth Tree Healing.’ From performing on sitars to accordions, keyboards, singing bowls, bongos, mandolins and more. I’m venturing more into binaural beats and good vibrations at 432hz (the God frequency).”
History
“From my first little ‘Bontempi’ Keyboard and second hand classical guitar. I knew my fingers were a bit special. Puberty unleashed a massive rush of creativity and opened me up as a conduit. It flows through me like a stream from the mountains. But I cannot contemplate the true source. Why would I?
“On one level It’s the buzz after exercise, the wellbeing after meditation and the warmth after red wine all rolled into one. On another it is the rock and roll adrenalin fuelled orgasm and vibrational ecstasy that come with live performance. I am grateful of the bliss this life is giving me. Fame is elusive. But in the dark rooms I learned to play the guitar in, so I didn’t need to look at my fingers on the fretboard, to collecting instruments. (You can never have too many!)
“This journey is so much more satisfying in ways that money or fame cannot bring. I never got into cover bands. I’m a creator not a copier. I’ve spent a lot of time locked away from daylight in home studios. As a teenager I got into Hip-Hop, Tori Amos, Suzanne Vega and grunge music. I appreciated funky beats and rhyme. Along with learning the drums at School. I equally concentrated on piano/keyboards and guitar. Self-taught. I don’t read music much. I improvise. Playing jazz and blues music and spending my formative years jamming at live mic nights.
“I spent many a good and not so good time with talented and sometimes temperamental musicians. I also suffer from a sometimes creative temperament. The beast is calmer with maturity. All great learning on this road!
“Experiencing the sudden death of my music mentor and close friend in my late 20’s was sobering. It created a world of emptiness and revaluation. The writer’s block that followed took me to new shores to heal. My evolution as a songwriter, composer, musician and conduit of thoughts, damage that became lyrics.
“I also have always loved creating instrumental music. A few years ago, I trained as a Reiki Practitioner. I wanted to accompany my practice and meditations. Being part of the pagan community and a spiritual being. The long road of excess led me here. I wrote a book about my life so far. It’s not an ego massager. It is an honest and true account of how I came to be ‘Claudsville Blogs and Biog of a Bog Woppit.’ is available via Amazon Kindle.
“I’ve been in a few bands along the way to here. Namely the cofounder and a decade stint in Nottingham’s The Idolins. I moved from folk pop to rock with the short lived Subway Circus. With myself and the vocalist PP Johnson departing to form Strange Currencies.
“I crawled out of the hole a few years back and really got back into gigging. This helped me get over the stage nerves that plagued me so much. The digital age has been a fantastic enabler to share it all worldwide. I’m having a great old time! I’ve been doing all of this this for over 20 years. Balancing it with my bill paying full time day job in the NHS is hard, but if it was easy. I would not appreciate it as much.
“After I’ve departed this mortal coil, my music will live on. There is something special and humbling about that. Practice, feel it, perform it, channel it, love it.”
What I’m working on
“I’ve just got back from a trip travelling around California. I was in San Francisco and Los Angeles during the tragic wildfires of October 2017. I wrote a new song upon my return called ‘Diablo Winds.’ Which is currently on Bandcamp. This will be on my new instrumental album under ‘Earth Tree Healing’ called ‘Candle Gardeners’ which will be released on digital stores on my birthday, May 30th 2018.
“I’m also busy creating some instrumental meditation work for a few clients. New music and recording an EP with our band Strange Currencies. About to release a guided meditation album I’ve just completed with our spiritual ‘Yoda’ Sally Wathen at Rainbow Bridge. Then I’ll write and record a ‘Goddess’ themed instrumental album later in the year.”
On my birthday. Waking up in our E-den Camping Cabin, going for a wander. Recording the birdsong while looking at the Glastonbury Tor. We love Somerset. Inspired, I made this music to accompany. From my forthcoming 2018 album to be released on 30th May. Written, performed, recorded by Claudine West (Earth Tree Healing)
Currently exclusive to Bandcamp.
Watch the making of Glastonbury at Claudsville Studios.
I was in San Francisco, October 2017 during the wildfires, the fear, the tragedy, the smoky air, watching it live on the news. Unprecedented destruction. I wanted to capture quickening, the forces of nature…I never forget the burning..thoughts and prayers and healing.
I currently working on my new instrumental album ‘Candle Gardeners’ which will be released on my Birthday, May 30th 2018.
Claudine West Music 