The Solfeggio Experience is a fascinating album by Éxtasis (Allan Susoeff, Jr.) that explores the seven-chakra system, solfeggio frequencies and binaural beats - areas Susoeff studied extensively and wrote his master’s thesis on. I won’t pretend to know much about this, but I’ll do my best to explain some of the ideas and focus that went into the music’s creation and its intention. The album was composed and performed for the purpose of bringing balance to the energy centers of the body through music. The solfeggio frequencies are believed to have originated in around the 11th century and are thought to be more natural (closer to the note as a bird might sing it or the tone of the wind blowing in a forest, etc.) than the standard tunings that came later. Quoting Allan Susoeff:

“Binaural beats are an auditory illusion where a unique tone is perceived by the brain when two slightly different frequencies are played into each ear, which is a method used to try and achieve brain entrainment. Brain entrainment is the theory that the brain's electrical activity will synchronize to an external stimulus frequency, which can then be used to guide the brain to different mental states like relaxation or focus.”

Clinically, it has been shown that when solfeggio frequencies and binaural beats are used in music, people find it easier to relax and/or meditate and report having a heightened state of well-being.

Two of the pieces on the album, “Root: 396 HZ” and “Sacral: 417 Hz” were released as singles in 2022 and did quite well. Susoeff released two more, “Navel: 528 Hz” and “Heart: 639 Hz” earlier this year before deciding to put together a full album as a musical journey through the seven-chakra system. Another album is planned that will explore the last eight chakras of the fifteen-chakra system.

Susoeff suggests listening to the album with earbuds or headphones “because I have mixed it in such a way that it should activate both the left and right hemispheres of the brain; think ‘more bang for your buck.’” He also advises to not listen to the music while driving because it can cause sleepiness and dizziness.

While all eight tracks on the album are very relaxing and ambient, they are quite different from each other. Some include percussion and others float peacefully through the air. Most of the instrumentation sounds like it is electronic/synthesizer-based, but there are also singing bowls, keyboard, flute, voices, field recordings and much more. The first seven tracks are: “Root 396 HZ,” “Sacral 417 Hz,” “Navel 528 Hz,” “Heart 639 Hz,” “Throat 741 Hz” (my favorite!), “3rd Eye 852 Hz,” and “Crown 936.” The eighth (bonus) track, “Peaceful Return,” was created because “no meditation would be complete without a ‘wake-up song’ to slowly and easily bring the listener fully back into the world of 3D.” I find it really interesting that each piece was composed in the key signature of that chakra’s note and chord.

The Solfeggio Experience is available to stream and download on Amazon and Apple Music/iTunes as well as on many streaming platforms including Spotify and Pandora. This is music with a purpose, but it is also a very pleasant (and relaxing!) musical experience!