M e l a t o n i n :

“Maria Jardardottir’s electro acoustic solo project, Melatonin, is founded on exploring her own voice as the only sound source. In Melatonin, Jardardottir blends her collection of musical styles and vocal expressions and techniques into one strong essence where improvisation is the core idiom; human, earthbound and elusive.“

D i s c o v e r i n g _t h e__h e a l i n g _v o i c e :

Particularly through my creating of and research work with Melatonin, when moulding this solo concept into a project with a distinct identity, (but also in the other projects I am involved in), I have become more and more aware of the natural healing behaviour of my music and of my voice. I believe it all has to do with the fact that I, in a very raw and uncovered way, am projecting immediate feelings and mental and bodily conditions directly through my voice, and that the voice as such works as a prolongation of the essence of what is human; namely body, mind and spirit, and literally manifests these conditions into the concrete appearance of sound and music. As such it is evident that I, consciously and unconsciously, am using my voice and musical expression as a channel for pouring out my own state of being and that it therefore works as a therapeutic tool for me on a personal level. However, the general feedback I have gained from my listeners has been that they also pick up on this aiding ability of and, somewhat, protection-supplying frequency within my music and voice.

All of which through time has made me think more and more enthusiastically about the idea of actually creating music that in addition to having its own self-sufficient artistic aim and purpose also could contain or carry out a health-improving function for the listeners. And hence that it could offer something healing for other people in addition to doing so for me on a purely personal level.

The nature of my personality is, and always has been, of a very tranquil, optimistic and resourceful character, and I have found that I through my work and my musical expression noticeably and to a large extent project and make use of these specific features. Some may call these features and resources a passion, some may call it dedication, and both are definitely part of what I see it being: To me it is a necessity. The way I see it music is inevitably the foundation of my life (quite practically so as well – making a living from it) and I am probably at my most vital and complete when “musicating” – when being engaged in some sort of musical aspect. Therefore my music quite naturally becomes a quite direct link to my inner resources and thus it exposes all of me in it. Now, clearly I also have my ups and downs both of which are used as sources for creating, but I thankfully find that I intuitionally always strive for what is good and constructive in any situation, as opposed to being drawn to what is destructive, evil or in any way harmful, - and this, I believe, is perhaps the core energy that is projected in my work, the healing energy of unspoiled creation.

__________- _A l l__c r e a t i o n__a n d__f o r c e__

_________________m u s t __c o m e__f r o m__a__n a t u r a l__s o u r c e ._ -

T h e _p o t e n t i a l _o f _m u s i c _a s _a n _a l t e r n a t i v e _a i d :

Founded on these thoughts about my own personal experience of my music; when creating it, performing it and listening back to it, - as well as based on the feedback provided by my listeners, I have acknowledged that some of my music potentially could be of help for people, and then especially directed to people struggling to find the peace and rest within themselves or people who are experiencing difficulties sleeping or falling asleep. With this driving force I have created the concept of a Melatonin series of CDs called “Private Imperfections”.

There are several central motivations for the creation of the music for this particular series and for each individual CD that will come under its title, yet the most important motivation is to get in contact with the healing power and peacefulness in man, for then to aim at projecting this state of body, mind and spirit within the music and as such engage the listener in unifying with that inner journey. Hopefully I see these CDs working like accessory equipment in the appearance of a musical costume; as in functioning as the means for a purely musical aiding guidance through focused and undisturbed listening.

The idea is that the music should work as a “pocket of space and time” where the listener will find that she/he is allowed to and able to breathe just slightly calmer and more relaxed than usual: A state of privacy, humbleness and, thus; imperfection, wherein no one can harm you and wherein you feel safe and protected. Also, the aim is to provide the listener with a sensation of time different from her/his common experience of it. This because the average time pressure of our contemporary society, especially apparent in Western life styles, evidently is one of the main issues causing destructive, unhealthy tensions in man. Ideally the aspiration is that the listener gradually when becoming drawn into the music will/should not be occupied in any sense of time at all - in other words the perception or sensation of time will/should be more or less (completely) absent.

This goal is based on a philosophical healing idea that when we as humans are fully mastering not to feel time is when we are at the very heart of peace – within ourselves and with our surroundings. The aim and effect is then, especially due to the music’s intentional ability to break away from stating any sense of time, to establish a mental and emotional space which is fully and forcefully present where the listeners with greater ease will manage to reach through to their inner calmness and thus invigorate and reload their vital resources. This state can be seen as being within one continuously lasting moment, which fundamentally is what we all throughout our lives are striving for; the moments.

_______- _M e l a t o n i n__p r o m o t e s__r e s t f u l__a n d__p e a c e f u l__s l e e p ,

___________________b e i n g__i t__s l u m b e r i n g__o r__d e e p . _-

A r t__h e a l s :

“Private Imperfections” is a CD series that I on the basis of these various motivations want to promote under the slogan “Art heals”. Additionally, as part of an extended division of this and as result of the music’s womblike comforting and flowing, watery characteristics I am also presently researching the potential of promoting this CD-series towards pregnant women and/or parents with very young babies for therapeutic calming and meditative aid. Moreover, and worth mentioning in this context, is that 5% of Melatonin’s CD sales income is donated to Norges Blindeforbund (The Norwegian Foundation for Blind and Seeing Disabled). Listening is a treasure for those who struggle to see.

T h e__m u s i c :

The music of this series is strongly influenced by the Indian concept of raga in terms of time and space and form, but in contents the musical components are very contemporary, free and open and deriving from elements found in diverse musical genres - as is the all over expression of Melatonin as a music concept. It is important for me as an artist to express that there hence are no artistic compromises made or needed to accommodate the health aspect of the series, the product musically and health-wise is entirely organic and the artistic aims for each individual piece and CD are fully seen to.

The series will be running for however long is natural and the first release, recorded in January 2006 and currently sound treated, will be a CD with the name; “Waves of Air and Seasons through me” containing three tracks with a total duration of approximately 65 minutes. This first CD was in May 2006 released in a small print up and the income from this initial print up will be directly invested in funding for doing a larger print up.

F u n d i n g__t h i s__p r o j e c t :

If you yourself are interested, or you possess knowledge of organizations or individuals who may be interested, in funding the printing, distributing and promoting process of this CD series your feedback will be greatly valued.