LIQUID MIND
Liquid Mind IV: Unity
(Real Music)

 

Nearly a quarter century ago in the year 2000, Liquid Mind released the Liquid Mind IV: Unity album. Looking back on that relatively early period in Liquid Mind history, it was already clear that Chuck Wild had a vision for his creation and the early roots of that vision can be heard on the fourth Liquid Mind album.

While Liquid Mind had already released its first albums, including Ambience Minimus (1994), Slow World (1996) and Liquid Mind III: Balance (1999), the release of Liquid Mind IV: Unity on Real Music was a breakthrough album for the Liquid Mind imprint. Featuring six tracks, and with the CD time total clocking in at 58 minutes, it’s clear that Chuck Wild’s long term plan for the Liquid Mind sound was set in place.

Mixing in ambient electronic music with a healing, slow-moving music sound, Liquid Mind IV: Unity combines a number of elements of sonic delights that clearly highlights why Liquid Mind has remained a favorite among New Age meditation fans as well as healing music practitioners that have used Liquid Mind’s music as a healing music tool for yoga, massage and guided meditation.

In his liner notes, Chuck Wild points out that the sea-bound animal called the Nautilus, pictured on the CD cover, lives in a shell with two halves, implying that humans also grow and change their shapes, while the unity implies that we are designed for growth of body, mind and spirit throughout life. The peaceful, meditative sounds on Liquid Mind IV: Unity imparts a wondrous sense of harmony of body, mind and spirit as we adapt through our life changes.

An excellent example of the Liquid Mind sound that still continues to evolve and grow, Liquid Mind IV: Unity is an early classic of sublime sonic magic from Chuck Wild and Liquid Mind.

 


 

Chuck Wild remembers Liquid Mind IV: Unity

mwe3: The CD cover art of Liquid Mind IV: Unity features a sea animal called the Nautilus. What gave you the idea to compare human unity to the nautilus? I didn’t know anything about the nautilus but the comparison is still valid.

Chuck Wild: To be honest, the idea of using a nautilus shell was Glen Wexler's. Glen and I had been friends and working together since the early Missing Persons days when he created the amazing Spring Session "M" cover. Still, I was at first hesitant. But as I gave it more thought, I realized that the nautilus is a reflection of the reality that we are all complex individuals, but as time goes on, we can become unified in body, mind and spirit, and that was the theme of the album.

The album titles of the Liquid Mind® series are my personal journey from overwork, anxiety and panic disorder, to a more peaceful existence, and I realized at this point how important it was for me to work to unify my being.

mwe3: Was Liquid Mind IV: Unity the first album you released on Real Music? Can you tell us, perhaps again, how you first met Real Music? It seems like a very natural fit from a musical standpoint.

Chuck Wild: Actually, I didn't sign with Real Music until 2004, and Liquid Mind VII: Reflection in that year was the first release under Real Music. That said, I was acquainted with Terence Yallop, the founder of Real Music, and Karen Kael, Terence's wife, and president of the label, as fellow artist and the godmother of New Age Music Suzanne Doucet had introduced us. Terence and Karen had been meditating daily to Liquid Mind since the mid-90's, and we always stayed in touch. Terence had a saying that was on every CD, every album they sold... I loved this, and immediately connected to his intentionality with Real Music.

"Beyond the teeming activity of our lives on beloved Earth lies a great eternal Silence. As we pause and listen, the Silence will speak. One of the wondrous voices is through the language of music." To me, it truly represented the spirit of the New Age.

mwe3: The release of Liquid Mind IV: Unity was way back in the year 2000. Is nearly 25 years too far to look back to provide some historic insights into how and when the album was written and recorded? The music scene changed so much since the year 2000, for example mass acceptance of the internet with the advent of broadband in 2000 changed everything.

Chuck Wild: Yes, the internet was officially "born" in 1983, but by Y2K, usage of the web was quite growing quickly every month, every year. We didn't fully realize the implications for the music industry, but that soon became apparent when Tim Westergren founded Pandora Music. At that time, we released CD's, cassettes, and, starting 1987-88, using MP3's to transmit music files.

mwe3: How would you compare Liquid Mind IV: Unity with your albums that came out previous to that including Ambience Minimus (1994), Slow World (1996) and Liquid Mind III: Balance (1999). How did those albums provide a link to Liquid Mind IV as well as your current work?

Chuck Wild: I was finding my way still, trying different sonic approaches, and beginning to refine the sound and speed of the music. As well, during that time, my sister had just passed on from cancer, and my Mom and Dad were in their 90's, so I was commuting every few weeks to Kansas City to manage their care and be with them.

I remember during my weeks back in Hollywood I was working as quickly as possible to finish the album, which made me analyze my process a bit. I had started Chuck Wild Records in 1994, and by 2000 it was just barely breaking even financially, but the feedback from healthcare professionals was significant, and that encouraged and energized me to continue the series.

mwe3: It’s amazing that the Liquid Mind sound has remained true to its roots and Liquid Mind IV: Unity sounds just as cool as the current Liquid Mind albums. What was your vision for Liquid Mind even during the early period and early albums.

Chuck Wild: In 1987, after finishing the Max Headroom® series on ABC-TV, I began to have persistent anxiety and panic attacks... not only from the long 20 hour days, 7 days a week, but also from many friends continuing to die from AIDs/HIV, not to mention commuting to Kansas City as my Mom became ill in late 2000.

So my vision back in 1987-88 was to continue to make music to not only help myself, but also help other folks with anxiety disorder. The slowness of the music, which I learned from playing organ in a church as a teenager, had a way of calming me that I couldn't explain, but it was very real.

mwe3: Can you tell us about the current Real Music label, that I know is now owned by Cutting Edge Group of London, England and Beverly Hills, California. Are they still planning on releasing new music and will you release future Liquid Mind albums on Real Music?

Chuck Wild: Real Music was sold a few years back to the internationally known licensing company Cutting Edge Group. The new Real Music's banner reads "Real Music, Real Artists", and in the day of AI music I love that acknowledgment that creativity comes from the artists.

The Myndstream brand is now focused on "wellness", and is part of the same family but is now a "Spa Music" streaming service for businesses.

Since 2016, my newer albums are released on the Chuck Wild Records label, "under license" to Real Music, representing our continuing business relationship. It's a different digital world these days, and I appreciate working with a team that is continually staying up to date.

 



 

 
   
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