Christopher Willits and B&O Play Sound Bath

Christopher Willits, an artist renowned for creating meditative sonic landscapes, built the Envelop software which allows listeners to experience three-dimensional sound. Willits partnered with B&O Play, maker of the gorgeous A9 speaker used here to create a spatial audio sound bath for guests of #outposttrade at Camp Navarro.

Willits performing at Camp Navarro captured by @candymountaincollective

The result was absolute magic as attendees were engulfed in ambient sound textures that were as replenishing as they were reinvigorating. The B&O Play Sound Bath was a prime example of the progressive brand activations that take place at The Outpost. It showcased B&O Play’s quality products, design, relationships with musicians, and product versatility. It was truly a highlight of the weekend. Here’s more from the man himself about the experience, the technology, and his approach to sound:

The B&O A9 working as part of the whole thanks to the Envelop software. Photo by @syranara

Christopher is a musician, artist, and educator based in San Francisco who believes that music and deep listening can catalyze inner change. Focusing on three-dimensional ambient electronic music, created with processed guitar and voice, the weaving and folding of sound is designed to be within. Often overlapping with earth-inspired photos and videos he creates, the music has forged a world-wide audience that listens intently. Pioneering solo albums on 12k and Ghostly International, along with collaborations with Ryuichi Sakamoto, Tycho, Zach Hill and many others, has created a prolific and diverse catalog of sound. As an experienced educator, Christopher strives to illuminate people’s vision and creativity in music, art and life, and has lectured at many leading institutions in the world. Christopher also teaches meditation techniques that often accompany his music. Here’s more from him about the weekend and his approach to sound, music, and meditation:

Christopher is also the director and co-founder of Envelop, a non-profit organization with a mission to amplify the unifying power of music through immersive listening spaces and spatial audio production software. Envelop may be a technical solution to create 3D sound, Willit’s mission is a social one, to amplify the connective power of music. When people have an incredible experience of music together, when people are literally within the music, another level of integration emerges. It’s similar to what happens in meditation or when someone is on psychedelics. Micheal Pollan goes into detail about this in his book “How to Change Your Mind.” The default mode network of the brain relaxes, allowing for new connections in the brain to be made. The analytical mind is provided a rest. Willits believes that these experiences of being “inside the music,” together, have great social-emotional benefit for society.

Listen in to his sound here:

Cover photo by Alingo Loh