MONICA LOGANI, The Depths

Perhaps the most wonderful aspect of new age instrumental music is that without the anchor and limitations of words, an artist’s melodic and harmonic expressions piano, guitar, harp or any other lead instrument can connect with listeners in many different personal ways as we experience the music. Yet sometimes it’s also inspiring to know the artist’s intent and inspiration, so that we may find those points of connection to elements of their personal story which led them to share their artistry.

No question, an extraordinarily meditative and richly soulful album like Monica Logani’s The Depths can be engaged in and appreciated as a thoughtful collection of 14 simply beautiful, sometimes haunting, often sparkling piano pieces, some featuring strings by Maria Grigoryeva, others with the graceful guitar of the collection’s producer Greg Zubowicz.

The dramatic cover art of a woman suspended in the depths of the sea as sunlight beams through the water above may clue us in as to Monica’s artistic intention, but nothing substitutes for her honest explanation of what inspired her to create The Depths, which renders her a passionate, intricate storyteller in much the same way as her previous album The Long Road, which debuted in the Top 5 of the Zone Music Reporter new age chart.

After some words about intuiting spiritual connections with loved ones long after they are physically no longer with us, I wrote: “This is the type of relationship that the wonderfully sensitive, insightful composer and pianist Monica Logani was blessed with for years with Juliette Calayag Pralle – and it’s our good fortune that she has decided to honor her incredible, multi-faceted friend with The Long Road, a stunning 15-track tribute that not only speaks eloquently to the intimate details of their time together, but also includes deeper reflections on life’s eternal mysteries that we can all find comfort and introspective connection with.”

Though still emphatically centered on her lovely melodic sensibilities and easy flowing rhythmic piano touch, Monica is telling a very different story on The Depths. From the hypnotic and lilting, classical flavored “Dreams of Zagya” (inspired by a nostalgic tale about lovers, connection and longing on the Zagya River in Hungary) through the spacious, electric/rock guitar enhanced reflection on time, timelessness and the universal truths that connect us on the closing track “Eternal,” The Depths was born from Monica’s unique, years long journey into self-reflection and meditation.

In the beauty and stillness of this space, the pianist could strip away the chaos from the outside world and access a state of peace and deep introspection. It’s a bold and surreal adventure of inner exploration, offering her the opportunity to uncover her innermost truths and ultimately uncover her innermost truths while finding clarity, authenticity and meaning. Ultimately, she found that reflecting inward created a more universal resonance in the music than composing with any other subject, person or concept in mind. For her, it felt like tapping into something that wasn’t just hers alone but part of the shared human experience.

“While The Long Road was inspired by my friendship with Juliette and was an outward expression of love, grief, and connection, The Depths turns inward,” Monica explains. “The story here is more personal, focusing on the transformation that happens when you quiet the mind and allow the core of who you are to surface. Both approaches offer unique challenges and rewards.

“Composing from external inspiration, like with The Long Road,” she adds, “is about channeling the energy of another person or experience and translating it into music. It’s often emotionally intense but also deeply fulfilling because it feels like honoring or communicating something tangible. On the other hand, composing from within, as with The Depths, requires a different kind of vulnerability. It involves stripping away external distractions and diving deep into my own thoughts, feelings, and truths. It’s both liberating and challenging because it forces me to confront parts of myself I might otherwise overlook.”

Like many wonderful piano-centric albums, it’s tempting to put on headphones, relax, click the first song (in this case, the aforementioned “Dreams of Zagyva”) and allow the graceful flow of Monica magic to transport you over the next 66 minutes straight through. Nothing wrong with diving into The Depths (pun intended!) this way, but for fans who want to tap into the artist’s mindset, she offers some interesting insight into her narrative approach.

The opening tracks, starting with “Dreams of Zagvya,” the uncommon eloquence  of “Stars,” the dreamy, calming, string enhanced “The Depths” and tender, haunting yet cautiously optimistic “Silver Lining,” set the stage with a classical, storytelling quality reflecting key aspects of the heart and soul like memory, emotion and introspection.  

Centered by the brief, gently enlightening charms of “Intermezzo,” the middle section of The Depths carry our emotions aboard the uplifting, wonder-filled “Midnight Express” (which begins with the humble beauty of Zubowicz’s low key acoustic guitar) and take us into states that beg for deeper understanding through life’s confusion (“Misty”) and remind us to explore with a childlike sense of “Wonder” while allowing ourselves necessary moments of “Solitude” along life’s roads full of chaos, twists and turns.

A powerful story within itself, “Midnight Express” reflects the fleeting nature of life, but from a compassionate, observant pace; it’s about watching time pass without resistance to it. “Wooden Horses” is a gorgeous gem in the middle of the album whose title doesn’t tie in neatly with those themes on the surface, but perhaps can be understood metaphorically in some way that opens us to further introspection.

As Monica sees it, the final phase of the album, a four-track sweep starting with the appropriately shimmering, easy swaying “Diamond Gaze,” marks an ascent, tapping into a liberating sense of surrender, transformation and eternal truths that connect us all. The spiritual transition of the album, “Diamond Gaze,” inspired by the stars, was created to evoke a sense of wonder and clarity, an invitational look that connects the self to the infinite.

“Offering” opens with a mystical solo guitar intro before giving way to an ambient piece that evokes a sense of service to both ourselves and the divine mystery. Leading to the aforementioned closer “Eternal,” “Resurrection” is a burst of string caressed ivory elegance and meditation, invoking transformation and renewal, a symbol of necessary rebirth after going to the depths – a re-emergence as our truest selves.

Monica’s intention was that each piece flow naturally into the next, creating a narrative arc that mirrors the journey inward – beginning with reflection, moving through deep introspection and ultimately reaching a place of spiritual awakening. 2025 is just beginning, but The Depths is one of those new age albums that will generate a lot of excitement and buzz and be the topic of many discussions as awards are given throughout the year!