Circles – Reflection
-Performed by Michael Lenahan , July 17, 2026
Circles – Reflection explores ambiguity through harmony and rhythm. With influences from Satie and Chopin, this piece takes time with the melodies, allowing them to unfold as much through the use of silence as through sound. Performed by pianist Michael Lenahan, and recorded on March 5, 2026, at the UT Butler School of Music Recording Studio and was made possible by a grant from the Rainwater Foundation.
Tags: Ambient, Classical, solo piano
Etude: Polyphonic Hocket
- , September 21, 2023
Polyphonic Hocket looks at two specific traditional Zimbabwean rhythms and splits them between pairs of marimba players. The people playing High 1 and Low 2 are facing each other and sharing a single rhythm on the bongos. The pair on High 2 and Low 1 are doing the same thing with a different rhythm.
Tags: Drums, Marimba, percussion
Soon Is All We Have
-Joel Laviolette , June 28, 2023
A song for a weekly songwriting group that I'm a part of. The prompt was "Get Well Soon". I like this one. It has David Lang type vibes to me. The chord progressions is loosely based on a phrase in a Bach Chorale I've been learning (aren't they all?).
Tags: Chamber Music, Classical, New Music, Vocals
Kufungira Matemai
-Joel Laviolette , June 22, 2023
I have been thinking about my teacher, mentor, and good friend Matemai who I have studied mbira with since 1998. He passed away in 2021 and this is a song based on the last mbira song I learned from him.
Tags: African, Drums, Full Band, Guitar, Mbira, Shona, Vocals, Zimbabwean
Album Leaf – Edvard Grieg Orchestration
-Joel Laviolette , November 4, 2021
A string orchestration of Edvard Grieg's "Album Leaf".
Tags: Classical, Orchestral, Strings
Starfire
-Joel Laviolette , July 31, 2020
A tribe is chanting somewhere in the forest. You can't tell from the sound if they are miles away or only over the next hill. In any case, the music will guide you safely to them.
Tags: African, Ambient, Contemplative, Cue, DJ, Downtempo, Drums, Electronic, Glitch, IDM, Lo-Fi, Mbira, Modular Synth, Pads, Rain, Sound Design
Did You Win?
-Joel Laviolette , July 3, 2020
Old School Techno meets IDM Glitch
Tags: Aggressive, Cue, Distorted, Downtempo, Drums, Electronic, Glitch, IDM, Lo-Fi, Modular Synth, Pads, Rain, Sound Design, Synth Heavy
I Love This
-Joel Laviolette , June 19, 2020
How would it sound if angels and robots had a dance party? Maybe a bit like this...
Tags: Aggressive, Cue, Distorted, Downtempo, Drums, Electronic, Glitch, IDM, Lo-Fi, Modular Synth, Pads, Rain, Sound Design, Synth Heavy
Mellow Morning
-Siena Laviolette & Joel Laviolette , April 17, 2020
Debut track by the D&D Duo (Daddy and daughter)!
Tags: Aesthetic, Ambient, Chillout, Contemplative, Downtempo, Guitar, Meditation, Pads, Rain, Sound Design, Wistful, Yoga
Entering Dande
-Joel Laviolette , March 30, 2020
Slamming Psytrance
Tags: DJ, Dance, Distorted, Drums, Electronic, Guitar, Happy, High Energy, Jump, Lo-Fi, Modular Synth, No Vocals, Psy Trance, Sound Design, Sweat, Synth Heavy
Reflections
-Joel Laviolette , March 30, 2020
Calming Ambient Music
Tags: Ambient, Chillout, Meditation, Pads, Yoga
Animal Farm
-Joel Laviolette , March 29, 2020
Glitched IDM meets guitars
Tags: DJ, Dance, Distorted, Drums, Electronic, Guitar, Happy, High Energy, Jump, Lo-Fi, Modular Synth, No Vocals, Psy Trance, Sound Design, Sweat, Synth Heavy
Tripped Again
-Joel Laviolette , March 16, 2020
Glitched out Modular Synth IDM/Braindance
Tags: 12/8, Braindance, DJ, Dance, Distorted, Drums, Electronic, Guitar, Happy, High Energy, IDM, Jump, Lo-Fi, Modular Synth, No Vocals, Psy Trance, Sound Design, Sweat, Synth Heavy
Makena Surf (dj mix)
-Joel Laviolette , September 13, 2019
A fun loving "Surf Trance" tune!
Tags: DJ, Dance, Distorted, Drums, Electronic, Guitar, Happy, High Energy, Jump, Lo-Fi, Makena Surf EP, Modular Synth, No Vocals, Psy Trance, Sound Design, Sweat, Synth Heavy, Trance, Uplifting
Makena Surf (extended mix)
-Joel Laviolette , September 13, 2019
A fun loving "Surf Trance" tune!
Tags: DJ, Dance, Distorted, Drums, Electronic, Guitar, Happy, High Energy, Jump, Lo-Fi, Makena Surf EP, Modular Synth, No Vocals, Psy Trance, Sound Design, Sweat, Synth Heavy, Trance, Uplifting
Do Not Stand at My Grave and Weep
-Joel Laviolette , August 23, 2019
Old School Techno meets modular synth sound explorations in this new EP
Tags: Aggressive, Distorted, Downtempo, Drums, Electronic, Glitch, Modular Synth, Psy Trance, Sound Design, Synth Heavy, Techno, Vocals
Dudidodo
-Joel Laviolette , August 23, 2019
Old School Techno meets modular synth sound explorations in this new EP
Tags: Aggressive, Distorted, Downtempo, Drums, Electronic, Glitch, Modular Synth, Psy Trance, Sound Design, Synth Heavy, Techno, Vocals
Icecream
-Joel Laviolette , July 19, 2019
Modular experimentation of changing perception over time.
Tags: Modular Synth, experimental, noise
Just Let It Go
-Joel Laviolette , May 21, 2019
Intricate synths and a bass interweave with sound design elements and percussion in this contemplative piece.
Tags: Aggressive, DJ, Dance, Distorted, Drums, Electronic, Glitch, High Energy, Jump, Modular Synth, Psy Trance, Sound Design, Synth Heavy, Trance, Uplifting, Vocals
Hollow Bells
-Joel Laviolette , May 17, 2019
The modular synth ricocheting it's FM beauty against modular percussion. Alien landscapes result
Tags: Ambient, Contemplative, Downtempo, Drums, Electronic, Generative, Lo-Fi, Modular Synth, No Vocals, Sound Design, Story, Wistful
Do You Know My Name? (Original mix)
-Joel Laviolette , May 4, 2019
High energy Progressive Trance track! Turn it up and dance!
Tags: DJ, Dance, Distorted, Drums, Electronic, Happy, High Energy, Jump, Psy Trance, Sweat, Synth Heavy, Trance, Uplifting
Come What May
-Joel Laviolette , March 9, 2019
An Mbira and Reggae groove sprinkled with Garage Bass
Tags: Ambient, Contemplative, Distorted, Downtempo, Drums, Electronic, Guitar, Lo-Fi, Mbira, Modular Synth, Sound Design
My Time and My Mind
-Joel Laviolette , March 3, 2019
Does our belief create our reality or vise versa?
Tags: Ambient, Contemplative, Distorted, Downtempo, Drums, Electronic, Guitar, Lo-Fi, Mbira, Modular Synth, Sound Design
Life Dreaming (small talk)
-Joel Laviolette , February 14, 2019
A meditative journey-intended to be played in the background while going inward.
Tags: Ambient, Contemplative, Downtempo, Electronic, Lo-Fi, Meditation, Modular Synth, No Vocals, Odd Time Signature, Sound Design, Wistful
Space Sunset
-Joel Laviolette , February 1, 2019
An orchestral riser cue
Tags: Ambient, Contemplative, Cue, Downtempo, Drums, Electronic, Hans Zimmer, Lo-Fi, No Vocals, Orchestral, Sound Design, Strings, Timpani
Pärt Inspired
-Joel Laviolette , November 12, 2018
A Modular Synth piece inspired by Arvo Pärt's minimalist tintinnabuli technique.
Tags: Ambient, Contemplative, Cue, Downtempo, Electronic, Hans Zimmer, Lo-Fi, Modular Synth, Sound Design
Nostalgia
-Joel Laviolette , September 11, 2018
Beautiful piano and light strings set the mood for this forest scene.
Tags: Ambient, Contemplative, Cue, Downtempo, Drums, Electronic, Hans Zimmer, Lo-Fi, No Vocals, Orchestral, Sound Design, Strings, Timpani
Piano & Timpani
-Joel Laviolette , September 4, 2018
My first One Hour Composition exercise! Composed, registered and uploaded to the library in one hour!
Tags: Blues, Jazz, percussion, piano
Max Eliminates the Phrases and We Were Never the Same
-Mbirame , April 10, 2018
The first mbira music generator created fully with Max 7. Read the details for a deeper explanation.
Tags: Ambient, Contemplative, Downtempo, Drums, Electronic, Generative, Lo-Fi, Modular Synth, No Vocals, Sound Design, Story, Wistful
Sample Packs: Electro Hip-Hop Loop
-MbiraMe , April 1, 2018
32 bar Electro Hip-hop groove
Tags: Dubstep, Groove, Hip-Hop, Sample Pack, Sound Design
Prerelease: In The Flow
-Rattletree , February 25, 2018
Coming soon on Ecstatic Wave Records! A half-step Indie Rock song about giving ourselves a break.
Tags: African, Aggressive, Contemplative, Dance, Distorted, Drums, Dubstep, Electronic, Full Band, Guitar, Sound Design, Story, Synth Heavy
Borrowed Names
-Joel Laviolette , February 3, 2018
A generative musical piece that explores the randomness in letter to pitch transformations and finding beauty in that randomness.
Tags: Ambient, Contemplative, Downtempo, Drums, Electronic, Generative, Lo-Fi, Modular Synth, No Vocals, Sound Design, Story, Wistful
Video Game Music: Character Theme
-Joel Laviolette , February 1, 2018
A Character Theme for a video game. Meet Peashooter!
Tags: African, Ambient, Contemplative, Downtempo, Drums, No Vocals, Odd Time Signature, Sound Design, Story, Video Game, Wistful
Video Game Music: Town Theme
-Joel Laviolette , February 1, 2018
A short theme for a Town Theme in a video game
Tags: Ambient, Contemplative, Downtempo, No Vocals, Sound Design, Story, Video Game, Wistful
Demos: Old and In The Way
-Joel Laviolette , January 7, 2018
A short tune written in a Jazz Standard style.
Tags: Blues, Contemplative, Guitar, Jazz, Lo-Fi, Singer Songwriter, Story
Sample Packs: High Impact
-MbiraMe , August 1, 2017
Multi Layered Low Impact
Tags: Impact, Sample Pack, Sound Design
Sample Packs: 12 Bar Riser
-MbiraMe , August 1, 2017
Low 138BPM 12 bar riser
Tags: Risers, Sample Pack, Sound Design
Sample Packs: Low Impact
-MbiraMe , August 1, 2017
Multi Layered Low Impact
Tags: Impact, Sample Pack, Sound Design
Sample Packs: Low 8 Bar Riser
-MbiraMe , August 1, 2017
Low 138BPM 8 bar riser with drop on last half of last bar.
Tags: Risers, Sample Pack, Sound Design
Sample Packs: High 8 Bar Riser
-MbiraMe , August 1, 2017
High 138BPM 8 bar riser with drop on last half of last bar.
Tags: Risers, Sample Pack, Sound Design
Fearless
-MbiraMe , February 5, 2017
A high energy Uplifting Trance track! Turn it up and dance!
Tags: Dance, Distorted, Drums, Electronic, Happy, High Energy, Jump, Psy Trance, Sweat, Synth Heavy, Trance, Uplifting, Vocals
She’s Coming Back Again
-Ancient Forward , December 20, 2016
A man takes a dark journey through mysticism and secret teachings.
Tags: Aggressive, Angry, Distorted, Drums, Dubstep, Full Band, Guitar, High Energy, Jump, Loud, Mbira, Sweat, Synth Heavy, Trance, Vocals, Wobble
Going To The City
-Ancient Forward , December 10, 2016
A contemplative song exploring the struggles of the youth in Zimbabwe.
Tags: Contemplative, Distorted, Drums, Foreign Language, Full Band, Guitar, Lo-Fi, Mbira, Shona, Story, Sweat, Trance, Vocals
Love Ourselves
-Ancient Forward , December 1, 2016
A dark afro-glitch dance song.
Tags: Distorted, Drums, Full Band, Guitar, High Energy, Jump, Sweat, Synth Heavy, Trance, Vocals
Chamukwenjera Chakoromoka
-Ancient Forward , November 16, 2016
A lively afro-pop song featuring Newton Gwara on vocals.
Tags: Contemplative, Drums, Full Band, Guitar, Happy, High Energy, Jump, Mbira, Profanity, Shona, Sweat, Trance, Uplifting, Vocals
Eden’s Circle
-MbiraMe , November 8, 2016
An ambient modular synth sound design exploration.
Tags: Ambient, Contemplative, Electronic, Generative, Modular Synth, Sound Design, Wistful
Me and BT and Our Mbira Dreams
-MbiraMe , November 2, 2016
Modular synth explorations of mbira harmony. Ambient soundscapes.
Tags: Ambient, Electronic, Generative, Mbira, Modular Synth, Sound Design, Synth Heavy, Wistful
Buya iAfrica
-Mafaro Marimba , October 22, 2016
Zimbabwean marimba from the 2016 Rattletree School of Marimba album "From Austin, With Love"
Tags: African, Dance, Full Band, High Energy, Jump, Marimba, Mbira, No Vocals, Shona, Sweat, World Music, Zimbabwean
Tsaba
-Mafaro Marimba , October 22, 2016
Zimbabwean marimba from the 2016 Rattletree School of Marimba album "From Austin, With Love"
Tags: African, Dance, Full Band, High Energy, Jump, Marimba, Mbira, No Vocals, Shona, Sweat, World Music, Zimbabwean
Chemutengure
-Sevana Marimba , October 22, 2016
Zimbabwean marimba from the 2016 Rattletree School of Marimba album "From Austin, With Love"
Tags: African, Dance, Full Band, High Energy, Jump, Marimba, Mbira, Shona, Sweat, Vocals, World Music, Zimbabwean
Duduluza
-Sevana Marimba , October 22, 2016
Zimbabwean marimba from the 2016 Rattletree School of Marimba album "From Austin, With Love"
Tags: African, Dance, Full Band, High Energy, Jump, Marimba, Mbira, No Vocals, Shona, Sweat, World Music, Zimbabwean
Dudu muDuri
-Sevana Marimba , October 22, 2016
Zimbabwean marimba from the 2016 Rattletree School of Marimba album "From Austin, With Love"
Tags: African, Dance, Full Band, High Energy, Jump, Marimba, Mbira, Shona, Sweat, Vocals, World Music, Zimbabwean
Amaxoxo
-Kupira Marimba , October 22, 2016
Zimbabwean marimba from the 2016 Rattletree School of Marimba album "From Austin, With Love"
Tags: African, Dance, Full Band, High Energy, Jump, Marimba, Mbira, No Vocals, Shona, Sweat, World Music, Zimbabwean
Kgapotso (Unotamba Iwewe)
-Kupira Marimba , October 22, 2016
Zimbabwean marimba from the 2016 Rattletree School of Marimba album "From Austin, With Love"
Tags: African, Dance, Full Band, High Energy, Jump, Marimba, Mbira, No Vocals, Shona, Sweat, World Music, Zimbabwean
Nhemamusasa
-Kupira Marimba , October 22, 2016
Zimbabwean marimba from the 2016 Rattletree School of Marimba album "From Austin, With Love"
Tags: African, Dance, Full Band, High Energy, Jump, Marimba, Mbira, No Vocals, Shona, Sweat, World Music, Zimbabwean
Skokiaan
-Kupira Marimba , October 22, 2016
Zimbabwean marimba from the 2016 Rattletree School of Marimba album "From Austin, With Love"
Tags: African, Dance, Full Band, High Energy, Jump, Marimba, Mbira, No Vocals, Shona, Sweat, World Music, Zimbabwean
Blood Red
-Rattletree , October 31, 2013
A rendition of Rattletree's good friend Feed Me's dance floor masterpiece!
Tags: Aggressive, Cover Song, DJ, Dance, Distorted, Full Band, High Energy, Jump, Modular Synth, No Vocals, Psy Trance, Remix, Sweat, Synth Heavy
You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)
-Rattletree , October 31, 2013
The original by Dead Or Alive twisted and brought to new places with the electonic marimbas of Rattletree!
Tags: Cover Song, Dance, Drums, Electronic, Full Band, Fun, Happy, High Energy, Sweat, Vocals
En Galop
-Rattletree , October 31, 2013
Rattletree's brooding take on a Joanna Newsom classic
Tags: Contemplative, Cover Song, Downtempo, Drums, Electronic, Full Band, Story, Vocals, Wistful
Joy
-Rattletree , October 31, 2013
The title track of of Rattletree's debut EP. A high energy dance song!
Tags: Dance, Drums, Electronic, Full Band, Happy, High Energy, Jump, No Vocals, Shona, Synth Heavy, Uplifting, World Music
Something In Dande
-Rattletree , October 31, 2013
Taking the listener back to the trance inducing spaces in rural Zimbabwe.
Tags: 12/8, Dance, Drums, Electronic, Full Band, High Energy, Jump, Mbira, No Vocals, Odd Time Signature, Shona, Uplifting, World Music
Fools Gold (Stone Roses Cover)
-MbiraMe , July 31, 2012
A synthed out version of a classic indie pop song by Stone Roses.
Tags: Cover Song, DJ, Dance, Drums, Dubstep, Electronic, Happy, Jump, Odd Time Signature, Synth Heavy, Vocals, Wobble
Midnight Taxi Driver
-MbiraMe , July 31, 2012
Fun and funky! The music that you'd hear when jumping into a Taxi cab in NY on a Friday night!
Tags: Berimbau, DJ, Funky, Goofy, Guitar, Hammond Organ, Happy, Jump, World Music
Ogi No Mato (MbiraMe Remix)
-MbiraMe , July 31, 2012
A heavily glitched out remix of a traditional Japanese song
Tags: Ambient, Downtempo, Electronic, Foreign Language, Glitch, Lo-Fi, Remix, Sound Design, Trance Gate
Whistling Dubstep
-MbiraMe , July 31, 2012
MbiraMe breaks down the rules on how to make dubstep!
Tags: Comical, Dubstep, Electronic, Fun, Funky, Glitch, Goofy, Lo-Fi, Loud, Synth Heavy, Wobble
Om Shanti
-Joel Laviolette , July 31, 2012
An ambient soundscape that takes the listener on a downtempo journey.Audio sample taken from Guruji Patabi Jois doing the opening chant of Ashtanga Yoga.
Tags: Ambient, Contemplative, Downtempo, Field Recording, Foreign Language, Sound Design, Vocals, World Music, Yoga
Bell Click V
-Joel Laviolette , July 31, 2012
A sparse pitched bell melody with downtempo beats to help you find your groove.
Tags: Ambient, Bells, Contemplative, Modular Synth, No Vocals, Pluck, Rain, Sound Design, Wistful
The Earth Loves You
-Joel Laviolette , December 1, 2011
Intricate synths and a bass interweave with sound design elements and percussion in this contemplative piece.
Tags: Ambient, Contemplative, Downtempo, Drums, Full Band, Meditation, Odd Time Signature, Vocals, Wistful, World Music
Seems Like It’s Been So Long
-Joel Laviolette , April 11, 2011
A story of a man trying to find his way through the spirituality and ancient traditions of a music that he was drawn to.
Tags: Acoustic, African, Contemplative, Demo, Downtempo, Drums, Guitar, Lo-Fi, Odd Time Signature, Singer Songwriter, Story, Vocals, World Music
When The Levee Breaks
-Joel Laviolette , April 4, 2010
The old blues classic set to hypnotic matepe and distant-and somewhat scary-vocals
Tags: African, Cover Song, Distorted, Lo-Fi, Mbira, Odd Time Signature, Sound Design, Trance, Vocals, World Music
Demos: Buddhist Forgiveness Prayer
-Joel Laviolette , January 1, 2010
The Buddhist Forgiveness Prayer set to music
Tags: African, Ambient, Contemplative, Downtempo, Meditation, Prayer, Vocals, Wistful, Yoga
Standing Tall
-Joel Laviolette , January 11, 2009
Matepe music meets Zim-style Afrobeat. Recorded and originally released independently in 2009. Now available worldwide on Ecstatic Wave Records
Tags: African, Aggressive, Dance, Distorted, Drums, Full Band, Glitch, Guitar, Mbira, Shona, Vocals, Zimbabwean
Demos: Annie St. Blues
-Joel Laviolette , January 1, 2009
An old tune from my 2009 "Song a day" series.
Tags: African, Contemplative, Guitar, Lo-Fi, Mbira, Singer Songwriter, Story, World Music
Chikende
-Rattletree Marimba , January 1, 2008
Live recording of Rattletree Marimba
Tags: African, Dance, Full Band, High Energy, Jump, Marimba, Mbira, No Vocals, Shona, Sweat, World Music, Zimbabwean
Kari MuDande
-Rattletree Marimba , January 1, 2008
Live recording of Rattletree Marimba
Tags: African, Dance, Full Band, High Energy, Jump, Marimba, Mbira, No Vocals, Shona, Sweat, World Music, Zimbabwean
Nhemamusasa
-Rattletree Marimba , January 1, 2008
Live recording of Rattletree Marimba
Tags: African, Dance, Full Band, High Energy, Jump, Marimba, Mbira, No Vocals, Shona, Sweat, World Music, Zimbabwean
Mbavarira
-Joel Laviolette , April 17, 2007
Meditative traditional Zimbabwean mbira sounds.
Tags: African, Ambient, Contemplative, Downtempo, Mbira, Meditation, Rain, Shona, Sound Design, Wistful, Yoga
Kanotamba MuBani
-Joel Laviolette , April 17, 2007
Meditative traditional Zimbabwean mbira sounds.
Tags: African, Ambient, Contemplative, Downtempo, Mbira, Meditation, Rain, Shona, Sound Design, Wistful, Yoga
Muchenjedza Mutonga
-Joel Laviolette , April 17, 2007
Meditative traditional Zimbabwean mbira sounds.
Tags: African, Ambient, Contemplative, Downtempo, Mbira, Meditation, Rain, Shona, Sound Design, Wistful, Yoga
Nyuchi
-Joel Laviolette , April 17, 2007
Meditative traditional Zimbabwean mbira sounds.
Tags: African, Ambient, Contemplative, Downtempo, Mbira, Meditation, Rain, Shona, Sound Design, Wistful, Yoga
Mapiye Mana
-Joel Laviolette , April 17, 2007
Meditative traditional Zimbabwean mbira sounds.
Tags: African, Ambient, Contemplative, Downtempo, Mbira, Meditation, Rain, Shona, Sound Design, Wistful, Yoga
Mwana We Shumba
-Joel Laviolette , April 17, 2007
A song for my brother. Meditative traditional Zimbabwean mbira sounds.
Tags: African, Ambient, Contemplative, Downtempo, Mbira, Meditation, Rain, Shona, Sound Design, Wistful, Yoga
Dangurangu
-Joel Laviolette , April 17, 2007
Meditative traditional Zimbabwean mbira sounds.
Tags: African, Ambient, Contemplative, Downtempo, Mbira, Meditation, Rain, Shona, Sound Design, Wistful, Yoga
In Her Smile
-Joel Laviolette , January 1, 2006
A song I wrote back in 2005. All brought about from a lunch with a stranger
Tags: Acoustic, Contemplative, Demo, Guitar, Lo-Fi, Singer Songwriter, Vocals