His new album Sleight Of Hand, unlike much string-based New Age music, is not derived from Eastern music tradition. Rather, Victor drew inspiration from his life, his experiences, and his surroundings. Sleight Of Hand evokes the deception and beauty of our beliefs of our experiences. Inspired by the whispers of subtle streams to the cool shade and chilly peaks of the Rocky Mountains, Sleight Of Hand is a reflection on the nature of life, the ephemeral cycle of the seasons, and the raw, emotional foundation of judgements of ourselves as human beings.
Unlike many albums where the pieces are perfected and performed widely live before recording, the music on Sleight Of Hand was written as initial ideas and then refined by Victor through live performance at meditation classes multiple times per week. This process allowed Victor to capture the most distilled form of the ideas and emotions that constitute each piece, creating an end product that is both authentic and field-tested. Then, Victor hand picked the perfect soloist and accompanying musician to add to the secret understanding and desire for the emotion of each song.
With Sleight Of Hand, Victor has successfully tapped into both that universal interconnected experience of being human, and his own personal expression of what it means to be Victor Towle. Sleight Of Hand leaves listeners with simultaneously an affirming answer and an unanswerable question!
Victor Towle is an eclectic and multi-talented artist who has gained recognition in the New Age music scene for his expertise in various styles. Victor soon began his musical journey by listening to classic pop hits on the AM radio he was gifted by his grandfather. Then branching out to legendary guitarists such as the iconic Jeff Beck, Jimi Hendrix, and Wes Montgomery.
Throughout his school years, Victor was exposed to different styles of music, including jazz, which he played in school bands, and rock, pop, and blues, which he played in a party band called “The Band.” His fascination with jazz legends such as John Coltrane, Dexter Gordon, and Miles Davis, whom he discovered during this period, continued to shape his musical preferences throughout his life. After completing his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Psychology and Rehabilitation Counseling, respectively, Victor began his professional career in social work and counseling for those who had a brain injury.
As a guitarist and soloist, Victor has grown his instrumental repertoire, owing to his extensive experience as a leader and collaborator. He attributes his musical development to his professional career, which includes working as a Clinical Care Manager for rehabilitation, as well as his involvement with yoga and meditation. Victor’s passion for using his guitar music as an aide in meditative and rehabilitative practices inspired his latest albums, “Acoustic Reflections”,”Colorado Zen,” “The Space In Between”, and “Still Young For Another Day”, which showcases his eclectic musical background and the immersive soundscapes of New Age music.
His album “Colorado Zen” was nominated for New Age Music Acoustic Instrumental Album of the Year and reached #8 on the New Age Music charts (Zone Music Reporter). The song “Spring Crocus” was also featured on Sirius XM Spa channel. His album “The Space In Between” reached #11 and the song “Storm On The Horizon was also added to Sirius XM Spa channel.
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