Karen Salicath Jamali ‘s musical journey began unexpectedly after a life-changing accident in 2012, which led her to become a self-taught pianist and composer. Known for the meditative and healing qualities of her music, Jamali has achieved international acclaim and numerous accolades. Her awards include the Midnight Gold Record Award for “Angel Pollination” and nominations for the Elite Music Awards. Recently, she received a Silver Medal from the Global Music Awards, recognizing her significant contributions to the music industry.

Esteemed composer and pianist Karen Salicath Jamali has just released her latest musical creation, “Angel Melchizedek.” This serene composition exudes a deep sense of peace and spiritual connection, drawing listeners into its soothing and soulful melodies.

Jamali’s story exemplifies how creativity and determination can transform adversity into extraordinary art. With “Angel Melchizedek,” she continues to inspire and connect with her audience, offering a musical sanctuary that touches the soul.

“Angel Melchizedek” highlights Jamali’s unique ability to infuse her music with spiritual themes. Representing the Angel of Peace, the piece resonates deeply in today’s turbulent times, providing solace and reflection through her delicate piano performances.

Beyond her musical endeavors, Jamali is a celebrated visual artist with a career spanning over three decades. Her spiritually themed sculptures and installations have been showcased in leading museums worldwide, including the Louvre Museum in Paris. Her dual proficiency in visual and musical arts underscores her profound engagement with spirituality and peace.

“Angel Melchizedek” continues Karen Salicath Jamali’s artistic journey, merging her spiritual insights with her passion for music and art. In collaboration with Parma Record for her upcoming album, Jamali pushes her creative boundaries and forges deep connections with her audience.

This new single is more than just music; it’s an invitation to begin a spiritual journey that mirrors Jamali’s own path. Her work remains a beacon of peace and comfort, especially significant in a chaotic world. Jamali’s transformation from a life-altering accident to a renowned composer and visual artist highlights her resilience and artistic vision. Her ability to turn personal challenges into universally resonant art has cemented her place in both the music and art worlds, making “Angel Melchizedek” a notable addition to her extensive body of work.
 

If there is one place angels seem to be especially close, it is in music. Karen Salicath Jamali’s Angel Pullination brings nine significant angels to life and makes us feel their tender and compassionate presence. The solo piano melodies radiate love, hope and faith. The word Pullination has an interesting back story. When the album was uploaded, the word revealed itself in the title. “I have no idea how this happened, but maybe it is a new word that describes the music better?” says Karen. I fully agree. There is something new and different here, a certain pull from above. Angel Pullination is a delight from start to finish.

Karen Salicath Jamali is a multi award-winning composer, pianist, and producer, and painter, sculptor, and photographer for the last 30 years. She was born in Denmark and living and working in NYC and Florida. It wasn’t until an accident that caused a head injury and a near-death experience that Karen started to play the piano spontaneously, previously she had never played the piano. The head injury amazingly opened up a new world and she began to play and compose, self-taught, beautiful and meditative music, which healed her. She has released seven albums, including Sound of Angels (2020), Hope of Angels (2022) and today’s topic, Angel Pullination.

Angel Calling
The opening track is called Angel Calling. Notice the rapid high and low notes that probably indicate how the angels are trying to contact us. It is a key track. It tells us that the angels are here and we only have to “tune in” to receive their guiding messages. I love the soft yet distinct sound of the piano and the recording is flawless. Karen is an incredibly gifted pianist. Angel Calling is a terrific album opener!

It is time to get to know the archangels. First out is Angel Jofiel (The Angel of Wisdom). Often depicted in iconography holding a flaming sword, Jofiel is a guardian of wisdom and holy texts. The melody gives the impression of someone who takes that job seriously and there is a hint of melancholy too. Next out is Angel Sabrael (The Angel of Miracles). As one of the seven archangels, Sabrael makes us feel that the impossible is possible. The gentle and kind sounding melody seems to underline that we have to adjust our ears and hearts to a certain frequency to experience miracles.

Angel Zadkiel (The Angel of Surrender)
 is known from the Bible as the Angel of the Lord who holds back Abraham to prevent him from sacrificing his son. Hence, Zadkiel is the angel of mercy and surrender. From Karen’s composition and playing, we sense the difficult situations when the angel comes to life. It is incredibly beautiful and utterly sad at the same time.

One of the finest pieces on the album is Angel Aura. The angels are near, close enough to see their colorful aura and experience to a divine presence. It is an exquisite track in every sense of the word. Angel of Hope feels lighter and more optimistic. Crystal Angel is dedicated to one of the many representations of angels that we humans make.

Angel Anael (The Angel of Love)
It is impossible not to like the bright and carefree Angel Anael (The Angel of Love). It radiates positivity, kindness and good feelings. The track is only two minutes long, but the time is well spent. The Angel Adnachiel (The Angel of Adventure) is a bit hesitant, but it has a lovely melody.

The two Angel Melchizedek (The Angel of Peace) and Angel Raguel (The Angel of Harmony and Justice) round off the album in a contemplative way. Reflecting on the state of the world and how the angels might guide us, seem necessary. It is a vital part of the listening experience.

In conclusion: “I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free,” Michelangelo said. Listening to Karen Salicath Jamali’s Angel Pullination, that same feeling of making angels come to life through art is everywhere to be found. Each of the angels are presented with incredible skill, love and humanity. It is angles in a classical sense, yet the solo piano is modern and accessible. Also, notice the wonderful cover artwork, which features Karen’s art.

As a concept album about divine messengers, is it possible to listen without focusing on angels? Yes! It is a fantastic solo piano release, filled with great compositions and terrific performances. Its neo classical sound makes it perfect for reading, creative work or as background music to a romantic dinner. It is a very well-balanced album, so you can safely put it on reply. Also, if you listen on Spotify, make sure to check out the wonderful small videos (Spotify canvases) that come with each track, many of them also feature Karen’s art.

Few albums are so special that they lead to the invention of a new word, but Angel Pullination is that kind of release. Check it out and see where the angels might take you.

March 20, 2024

Karen Salicath Jamali is a polymath in the truest sense, seamlessly blending the worlds of music and visual arts into a captivating symphony of creativity. Hailing from Denmark but currently splitting her time between New York City and Florida, Karen has garnered acclaim as a composer, pianist, and visual artist over her illustrious three-decade career.

Karen’s latest tranquil piano piece, “Angel Sabrael,”offers a glimpse into the rich tapestry of her artistic expression for her album, Angel Pollination.

Karen‘s artistic journey took a transformative turn in 2012 following a life-altering experience. After a head injury and a near-death encounter, she made a remarkable discovery during her three-year recovery: the innate ability to play and compose music spontaneously. This newfound talent, born from adversity, became a source of solace and healing. “Angel Calling,” the album’s inaugural track, serves as proof of the emotional depths she unearthed during this extraordinary period.

“Angel Sabrael” beckons listeners on a journey of introspection. Gentle piano notes cascade like soft whispers, enveloping them in a cocoon of tranquility. The piece transcends mere music, transforming into a space for quiet contemplation and spiritual rejuvenation.

Karen Salicath Jamali‘s background in visual arts, spanning painting and sculpture, intricately intertwines with her spiritual connection to angels. This unique perspective shapes the distinct soundscapes found in her music. Themes of peace and balance, central to her sculptures, find resonance in the delicate melodies that flow effortlessly from her fingertips. Angels, recurring motifs in her visual art, seamlessly transition into her music, creating an energy that defies conventional explanation.

Beyond her musical endeavors, Karen boasts an illustrious career in the visual arts. Educated at the esteemed Royal Danish Academy of Fine Art, her sculptures, predominantly crafted from bronze and glass, have been exhibited worldwide, including at the prestigious Louvre Museum in Paris.

Karen Salicath Jamali embodies the limitless potential of human creativity. “Angel Sabrael” isn’t just a composition; it’s an invitation to embark on a profound journey into the depths of the human spirit, guided by the unseen forces that surround us.

Karen Salicath Jamali’s latest album, “Angel Pollination,” is a captivating and profoundly spiritual journey that transcends the boundaries of traditional music genres. Performed on an 80-year-old Steinway grand piano, the album showcases 11 piano pieces that were inspired by and guided by angels, which Jamali received through dreams. The music can be described as a fusion of New Age, classical, and relaxation music, but it encompasses so much more. It is a voice in the darkness, a fear in the heart that leads to unwavering fearlessness, and a guiding light for the soul when the body grows dim.

Each track on the album is an homage to both the immortal and mortal aspects of humanity, evoking the divine, innocent, and spiritual essence of angels. The solo piano melodies exude love, hope, and faith, making the music accessible and contemporary while retaining a classical sensibility. The album’s cover artwork, featuring Karen’s own art, adds an additional layer of depth and beauty to the overall experience.

Karen Salicath Jamali is a highly acclaimed composer, pianist, and professional American artist. Born in Denmark and residing in New York City and Florida for the past three decades, she graduated from the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Art, School of Design in Copenhagen. Jamali has participated in over 180 exhibitions in museums and galleries worldwide, including the prestigious Louvre Museum in Paris. She has received numerous awards from the international art community.

Karen’s journey as a musician began after a head injury, which opened up a new world for her and led her to play and compose beautiful, meditative music that brought healing to her life. She is now a self-taught composer and musician, having released seven albums, including “Sound of Angels” (2020), “Hope of Angels” (2022), and “Angel Pollination.”

“Angel Pollination” is a testament to Karen’s remarkable ability to create deeply emotive compositions that touch the soul. The album serves as a spiritual pathway to rejuvenation, and Jamali skillfully channels the healing notes from her dreams to the keys of the piano.

Meditative, soothing, and deeply interesting, Jamali paints a vivid image of a utopian angelic world.

Born in Denmark and living in New York City, Karen has an interesting story, which reflects itself in her music’s mystique. Karen began her music career after a near-death experience that caused a head injury. After this incident, Karen found that she could miraculously play the piano despite never having played it previously.

This strange yet fascinating musical miracle can be seen in Karen’s central aesthetic of angelic serenity and divinity.

It feels wrong to call “Angel Pollination” an album, as it is more akin to a soundtrack or an experience. It’s music that isn’t meant to get people dancing and grooving; it’s music meant for ambience and sitting still too.

Songs like “Angel Jofiel”, Angel Sabrael” and “Angel Zadkiel”, have a Final Fantasy feel to them that transports you into your own fantasy world of your imagination.

Instead of each song having its own distinct sound, the album is structured to feel like one continuously changing song that progresses slowly throughout the duration of the album.

“Angel Melchizedek” is my favourite song on the album and has a soft and sombre tone to represent the sound of peace, which is what the angel represents.

The album closes with “Angel Raguel,” the angel of harmony and justice, which might be what the album represents: world harmony through music. The song feels like a cinematic closing and almost like a montage of every angel that is featured in the album’s tracklist.

If “Angel Calling” is the opening of the book into Karen’s intriguing, biblically driven world, then “Angel Raguel” feels like a solid last chapter with a subtle yet satisfying ending.

 With this album, Karen showcases her careful soundscape crafting and her ability to make music that offers the listener a unique, profound experience rather than just a few more songs for their playlist.

The Concise Oxford Dictionary (1984 edition) describes the word 'Angel' as a 'divine attendant or messenger', or a 'lovely, obliging or innocent person'. And merriam-webster.com describes Angel as a 'spiritual being serving as a divine messenger and intermediary, and often as a special protector of an individual or nation'. Of course, angels may come in various forms, but the adjectives we use to describe them are, more or less, along the lines as above – divine, innocent, and spiritual. Now, how does one convey the depth of these terms auditorily? Easier said than done – for most rely solely on the tried and tested methods of the past composers from start to finish (which is, to an extent, a reasonable practice), but with little emphasis on creativity and uniqueness. Thankfully, though, it is a wonderfully different case with Karen Salicath Jamali's latest album 'Angel Pollination' which not only oozes with creativity and emotive dynamics but also, with a thunderous calm, explores the very depths of the terms – divine, innocent, and spiritual.

In the works for eleven months, Angel Pollination (the latter word being inspired wordplay for 'Poll the Nation') is a meditative canticle, an eleven-track piano album, with each track associated with a unique angel and dream. And here is where Jamali showcases profound creativity: she uses different scale modes to represent various qualities such as justice, love, adventure, peace, and hope. This is, without a doubt, one of the greatest attributes of this magnificent album. And this, combined with the New York-based pianist's signature style, incorporating quasi-arhythmic patterns with the left hand's ever-flowing ostinato, works like a superlative charm capable of transporting the listener to an entirely different world filled with infinite space and infinite goodness.

Each track is meant as a tribute to a trait. And a different scale mode is used to depict the same. As you listen, you can sense the angel in the room, through Karen's musical gift. Angel Calling', written in the key of G minor, employs the harmonic minor scale sprinkled with a few natural minor clashes, to create that feeling of yearning for help, enhanced no less by its 'D-D-F-D' theme. 'Angel Sabrael (The Angel of Miracles)', written in C natural minor, intelligently avoids foraying into bombastic territory, instead utilizing a three-chord progression over a topline that switches over to the higher octave towards the end – which is all it takes to accomplish conveying the 'miraculous' element that angels are associated with. 'Crystal Angel', written in Eb minor pentatonic scale over a single chord in the left hand is one of the album's most dynamically emotive pieces, with the mf – p transition as the octave changes performed most evocatively in an attention-retaining manner.

'Angel Anael (The Angel of Love)', written in A major (or D Lydian), oozes with tenderness in every note from the first to the last, utilizing three chords, over a standout theme that etches into your memory ever further, not least on account of the very first chord (D Major) used. Angel Adnaciel (The Angel of Adventure)' echoes shades of Mozart ( a major complement to Jamali) with its playful affection using just two chords – the A Major and the E Major.

'Angel Raguel (The Angel of Harmony and Justice)' demonstrates a profound exploration from key to key – starting with A natural minor, which then modulates for a while into D minor before concluding in the major key of G – depicting that quest for justice and harmony, as represented by the angel Raguel, and is among the album's most profoundly narrative pieces.

 Each track is anywhere between a duration of 1:51 and 4:01, and yet, perhaps inevitably so, because of the album's immersive traits, time bears little meaning in the universe it creates for the listener. And Jamali must be credited for this, first and foremost, for weaving a sonically immersive and beautiful experience inspired by the stories of angels and her own experiences upon the Steinway. Credit also goes to the mastering engineer Maria Triana for churning out a superb mix with balanced reverb that complements the storytelling with a surreal charm.

At a duration of thirty-one minutes and thirty-nine seconds, Jamali's Angel Pollination is a profound addition to the classical and new-age genres, and an incredible lesson for musical students on how to approach relevant and familiar themes with uniqueness and honesty. Each track of this album is an ode to both the immortal and mortal elements in mankind, and a prayer invoking those three traits of angels aforementioned: Divine, Innocent, and Spiritual.

About Karen Salicath Jamali Karen Salicath Jamali is a multi-award-winning composer, pianist, producer, and professional American artist with over 30 years of experience in painting, sculpting, and photography. Born in Denmark and currently residing in NYC and Florida, she is also a voting member of the Recording Academy.

Music Story: Karen's journey into music began unexpectedly after an accident and near-death experience that led to her spontaneously playing the piano. Prior to this, she had never played the instrument. The head injury opened up a new world for her, and she started composing and playing self-taught, beautiful, and meditative music that had a healing impact. Following a three-year recovery period, in 2015, she began hearing music in her dreams, leading her to record and perform what she was experiencing. Over the course of seven years, she has produced seven albums and over 2500 compositions. Karen has performed at Carnegie Hall seven times with her music.

Accolades: Karen's achievements include being the Grand Winner of The Akademia Award in Los Angeles for the best classical song in January 2023, featuring her track "Angel Arcadia." Her album "Hope of Angels" won the Global Music Award in April 2023, and she received the Global Music Award for composers. Her latest album, "Hope of Angels," is on the first ballot for Grammy® Consideration in the categories of Best New Age, Ambient, or Chant Album. Additionally, her composition "Angel Gabriel" is being considered for the Grammy® in the category of Best Classical Contemporary Composition.

Recognition: Karen has been recognized for her work extensively. She won The Academy Award in Los Angeles for the best classical song in July 2022 for "Angel Gabriel." The same track was a finalist in the World Songwriting Award for the best alternative song in 2022. Her track "Angel Gabriel" was a number one hit on Berkshire Media Group Radios Los Angeles in September 2022.

Artistry and Influence: Karen's albums, like "Hope of Angels," and "Sound Of Angels" were selected for Grammy® Consideration, showcasing her ability to blend contemporary instrumental music with artistic expression. Her artistic background as a painter, sculptor, and photographer has greatly influenced her music, which often reflects themes of angels and spirituality. She believes angels represent energy, frequency, and vibration, and her art and music aim to bring the energy of angels closer to humans in various forms.

Artistic Accomplishments: Aside from her music career, Karen's art has earned her global recognition. Educated at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Art, School of Design, she has participated in over 180 exhibitions in museums and galleries worldwide. Her works have been featured in prestigious venues like the Louvre Museum in Paris. Karen's sculptures and installations convey spiritual and universal themes, often drawing on the human figure as a symbolic language.

Karen Salicath Jamali's remarkable journey as a musician and artist is marked by her ability to create deeply emotive compositions and artworks that transcend boundaries and touch the soul. With a unique blend of creativity and spirituality, she continues to captivate audiences around the world.

Karen Salicath Jamali – Angel Pollination

 Performed on an 80-year-old Steinway grand piano, the latest album from pianist Karen Salicath Jamali, Angel Pollination, features songs inspired by – and guided by – angels. And by angelic nature, Jamali received this music through dreams, translating each spiritual, musical message into 11 hopeful, slightly lamenting piano pieces. Does Angel Pollination – which describes specific angels and their unique healing energies – truly ring of the divine? Let’s hit the highlights:

The first track, “Angel Calling,” sets the tone for the rest of Angel Pollination – it offers rich lower arpeggios, twinkling notes above, and…an overall sense of grief? Loss? Perhaps the aching human heart before finding peaceful angelic light? And the piano features space-giving sustain with perhaps a touch of organic-sounding reverb. 

Before continuing, I want to mention the piano’s clarity and blissfully natural sound; this is the result of legendary mastering engineer Maria Triana. Having worked on music from Britney Spears to Bob Dylan, her skills at enhancing the final mix are world-renowned, and once again on audible display.
Now, where were we?Moving through tracks two and three – “Angel Jofiel (The Angel of Wisdom)” and “Angel Sabrael (The Angel of Miracles)” – I’m discovering these 11 songs aren’t necessarily independent pieces, but continuations of themes introduced in “Angel Calling.” Things do change, but more noticeably on “Angel Aura,” “Angel of Hope,” and with more trepidatiously joyful autonomy, “Angel Anael – The Angel of Love.” In fact, with its glowing beauty and emotional brevity, this might be my favorite piece.

Closing with “Angel Raguel (The Angel of Harmony and Justice),” I sense acceptance; a glowing, peaceful emittance from on high; a surrender, or perhaps the discovery of being wonderful simply by being. This is another more uplifting piece that, while evoking a strand of trepidation, remains unwavering in its bestowment of heart-swelling grace. But…is it good? Sure, you could label this “New Age,” or “Music for Relaxation,” or even “Classical,” but these labels are limiting, and therefore, a tad ungracious. Angel Pollination is certainly those things, but so much more: it’s a voice in the dark; a fear in the heart leading to something forever fearless; a light on the soul when the body dims. Angel Pollination is a spiritual means to rejuvenation, and Karen Salicath Jamali simply divines the healing notes from dreams to keys.