Pioneer of New Age music, Iasos, dies aged 77

New Age music pioneer Iasos has died aged 77.

Close friend and producer Carlos Niño confirmed that the Greek-American musician had passed away in Maui, Hawaii, on January 6, which Douglas McGowan shared via the Yoga Records Instagram account.

Describing Iasos as a “genius,” McGowan had this to say on the musician’s contribution to music: “He built incredible, immortal things from scratch.”

Born in Greece in 1947, Iasos grew up in New York and began studying music at the age of eight, starting with the piano. He continued a self-taught musical education, studying composers from around the world.

In 1967, Iasos found inspiration for a sound he referred to as “paradise music”. Following this pivotal moment, he relocated to California to pursue his vision, believing that this music could help “people to connect to heavenly realms of existence.”

Iasos released his first album, ‘Inter-Dimensional Music’ in 1975. The album was characterised by its experimental sound, creating ambient instrumental soundscapes using “modulated flutes, steel guitars, spacey electric pianos.”

The album would become accredited as a contributing work towards the birth of a new genre known as New Age.

The genre is now defined not only by its sound but by its “spiritual roots,” with practitioners of New Age speaking of the music’s “healing potential.”

The distinct sound has become a staple for yoga, meditation and alternative healing practices worldwide. The healing properties of Iasos’ work became the study of scientists at NASA, as reported by VICE in a 2014 Interview.

In 1989, when researching near-death experiences, Plymouth State University found that Iasos’ work – namely his piece ‘Angels of Comfort’ – was rated most highly by participants as the “sounded the closest to what they heard during their near-death experience“.

Since the release of ‘Inter-Dimensional Music’, Iasos remained dedicated to his pursuit of music and taught workshops and seminars on the “different ways that sound & music can be used for healing, alignment, and consciousness evolution“.

He continued to perform until 2023, hosting multi-media concerts at venues around the world.

Iasos’ music can be found here. Yoga Records states that all proceeds from the sales of Iasos’ music now will go towards “supporting his legacy.”

Belle Richardson is Mixmag’s Digital Intern, follow her on Twitter