The jewel (solon remix)
Written by VAANI, Edo Kahn
Remixed by SOLON
All proceeds from the track go to VAANI's charity 'A Sound Life'
It's this same feeling that compelled me to help bring 'The Jewel' to life. Five months ago, Jo's husband Edo left me with a few of her unfinished tracks before he went to India to take some time out after she passed away. When I heard the rough draft of 'The Jewel' something clicked - I knew I could help - I knew I could bring to life what was captured in the memory bytes of her laptop.
The message of the song is simple: at the heart of all of us lies something unique, something special, something that each of us has to share. Life is about finding it and realising it. Jo embodied this approach to life. She spent her last six years sharing what she had to share - with no doubt, no hesitation - just full commitment. 'TheJewel' captures that spirit in which she lived. She was and continues to be an inspiration.
Please note: all proceeds from the track go towards A Sound Life the charity Jo founded with Edo.
In case you're wondering about the mantra in the chorus of the song, "Om Mani Padme Hum" is a Sanskrit mantra which means "the Jewel in the Lotus". It's an important mantra in Tibetan Buddhism - you can find out more about it here: the meaning of Om Mani Padme Hum.
In January 2015, I was fortunate to have had the chance to collaborate with Jo Mall Kahn (a.k.a. VAANI) on a remix of her debut release The First Ray. Eight months later she unexpectedly died from cancer. There was little warning and it came as a shock for everyone who knew her.
For some time Jo had been working on a body of solo material which she planned to release under the VAANI moniker. Unfortunately her time was cut short and she was unable to realise her creative vision fully.
There were many ways in which Jo felt like a kindred spirit on a parallel life path. We both started our careers working in the corporate world... We both left to pursue our passions for music and yoga... We developed projects that were collaborations with our spouses (Edo & Jo, Future Sound of Yoga) and we both shared in the joys and challenges in doing so.
Like Jo, I've been working for some time on an album that I hope to release in the near future. One of my greatest fears is that some random act of fate might prevent me from realising this creative vision - it’s a feeling that sits with me and drives me each day to keep creating, to keep writing, to keep perfecting and to keep moving forward.
CREDITS
Mastered by Ben Feggans, Studios 301