Having just released her debut album, My Enemy, My Love, last year, you’d think Berlin-based artist Mentrix would be taking a rest during these drastic times.
Luckily for us, that isn’t the case, with the singer and sound artist making an early return with “99 Names of God”. This one is best left in her own words:
“99 Names Of God are the many words which describe God in the Quran. These words are principals and qualities that manifest the divine. In Sufism, the teachings invite one to contemplate on these names : which one of these words are you? This chant, composed of three vocal octaves in the style of Tavashi, has been sung by many around the world. My version is here to honour the very essence of Islam, an invitation for every individual, beyond gender and any social construct, to cognise the divine within.”
With the chant that inspired the track traditionally being sung solely by men, the power within Mentrix’s words is beyond clear. Crafted in collaboration with Tobias Gremmler, most known for his work with Björk, the track took shape in quarantine between Berlin and Hong Kong. Check it out below.
