Nina Wise’s By This Light is produced with a delicate touch. It floats like refined incense, filling space with a clean, crisp, contemporary interpretation of Tibetan Buddhist chants and blessings. The album invites listeners to slow down and savor its subtle flavors and soothing vibes.
Intricately crafted by producer Ben Leinbach, who anchors Wise’s breathy vocals and compositions with bass, percussion, and guitar—while also adding counterpart male vocals—the production feels intentionally spacious. From its solid, drone-like invocation Refuge, through seven additional tracks, to Metta—loving-kindness—everything unfolds with an unhurried grace.
Bodhicitta, carried by a subtle Rasta-inflected beat, concludes with an effervescent refrain where melody and lyrics shimmer perfectly: “reflections like the moon on the water.” Om Tare moves with a gentle samba rhythm, hypnotizing through the repetition of a chant.
Wise takes a risk navigating the fine line between devotional music and saccharine New Age platitudes when singing of kindness, compassion, and happiness—essential teachings that can easily veer into the cringeworthy. (“May, may we all be a light, la la light…”) But thanks to Verve-like cello strings, nuanced percussion, and exquisitely matched vocal collaborators—Melanie DeMore, Lakshmi Delsesto, and Peter Rowan—the album flows serenely, never overstating its intention.
An internationally accomplished performance artist, writer, and teacher, Wise makes her recorded debut with By This Light —inspired by the teachings of Anam Thubten Rinpoche, who also contributes vocals. The album is available as a download from her website (motiontheater.org/music) where it comes with a pdf booklet that includes the lyrics and brief commentaries about the meaning of each blessing and how to engage with the music as practice. It is also available on all major streaming platforms.
“When the mind grows clear,” the booklet notes, “we recognize that all things are in flux, arising and dissolving like rainbows in the sky. We understand that our perception of phenomena as fixed and solid is an illusion.” It may take a restless mind a few listens to appreciate the album’s subtle offering, but before long it takes hold—and you may find yourself quietly singing along: “May all beings everywhere be peaceful…”
David E. Moreno
