Ektā, the new New Age & Ambient album, is a nine-track exploration of spirituality, mindfulness, meditation, and shared humanity, bringing together artists, musicians, and traditions from across the world.
Taking its name from the Sanskrit word for “oneness,” Ektā is predicated on the idea that diverse cultures, voices, instruments, and musical traditions can harmoniously converge through a universal language — music.
The internationally acclaimed collective Cafe De Anatolia ventures deeper into the realms of New Age & Ambient music along with a striking lineup of collaborators, including GRAMMY®-winningAntaeus; Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree Madame Gandhi; and Amani Sol, the creative mind behind the Relax My Dog brand.
The outcome is a mantra- and meditation-inspired album that intricately weaves organic instrumentation, ambient soundscapes, spiritual influences, and contemporary electronic production.
Released on August 14, 2026, Ektā made an immediate impact, soaring to #1 on the iTunes New Age Albums chart in the United States and clinching the #1 spot on the iTunes Overall Albums chart in India.
Since its debut, the album has accumulated over 100,000 streams across all platforms, marking an impressive start for Ektā and its burgeoning journey into the New Age & Ambient realm.
Nine Tracks, One Journey
Each of the nine tracks on Ektā navigates through varied cultures, emotions, and forms of meditation, while steadfastly anchoring its essence in the concept of oneness.
The album opens with “Home,” a cinematic, enigmatic New Age entity featuring guitars and tambura played by Billy Esteban. The vivid vocals of acclaimed GRAMMY® nominee and three-time Latin GRAMMY® nominee AleMor introduce the listener to themes of belonging, reflection, and the quest for an inner sense of home.
Transitioning into a meditative realm, the second track, “Ocean,” sees Madame Gandhi engaging in a dialogue with nature, leading listeners into a deeper awareness.
“Goddess Mantra,” the third track, draws from the rich tapestry of Indian mantra and chant traditions, thereby anchoring the project to its spiritual roots.
The journey continues with “Echoes of You,” embracing a classic New Age style and showcasing violin from two-time GRAMMY® Award winner Frederika Krier.
The fifth track, “Shiva Nirvana,” offers an extended guided meditation that blends Indian cultural elements and spirituality, featuring the soothing vocals of Madame Gandhi alongside a downtempo electronic beat produced by Nickarth and Cafe De Anatolia.
The sixth offering, “Kyrie,” presents a musical blessing inspired by ethereal and spiritual sounds, crafted by Antaeus.
Subsequently, “Aether,” expands the album’s soundscape into wider, almost cinematic realms.
Plunging deeper into immersion, the eighth track, “Deep Water,” integrates choir elements from the East Balkan Noble Voices alongside flute, delivering one of the most enveloping and contemplative segments of the album.
The album concludes with “Desert Night,”, showcasing poignant violin performances from two-time GRAMMY® nominee An Vedi, thus rounding off this nine-track New Age & Ambient journey beautifully.
A Meeting of Cultures and Instruments
Musically, Ektā is a delightful blend of organic instrumentation and lush electronic textures, underpinned by atmospheric production.
The work showcases a diverse assembly of instruments including keyboards and music production by Antaeus; arrangements and music production by Nickarth; dulcimer performed by Pete Giatrakus; ney flute by Thanassis Vassilopoulos; sitar by Iasonas Psarakis; tambura and guitar by Billy Esteban; and kaval, duduk, and oud performed by members of Rialians On Earth.
Notably, vocal contributions from Madame Gandhi and AleMor, along with lyrics penned by Monika Ilieva, lend an expressive depth to the project. Violists Frederika Krier and An Vedi complement the auditory tapestry further, with the East Balkan Noble Voices choir enhancing the vocal landscape.
Supporting the production is a globally recognized engineering team composed of GRAMMY®-winning engineer Joe Maldonado, multi-GRAMMY®-nominated engineer Tony Correli, recording engineers Stefan Petanovski and Valdera, and multi-GRAMMY®-winning engineer Alex Psaroudakis.
Together, they forge a rich sonic landscape characterized by warmth, clarity, and emotional depth, allowing the collaboration of vocals, acoustic instruments, choir, and ambient textures to coexist harmoniously with electronic elements of the album.
A Soundtrack for Reflection and Inner Peace
For Cafe De Anatolia, this project signifies both musical exploration and a more personal approach toward the boundless possibilities found within New Age and Ambient music.
“New Age and Ambient music are spaces where silence becomes part of the composition. We believe this album possesses the potential to create environments where healing can unfold naturally.
With Ektā, we blended organic instruments, meditative voices, and ambient textures to curate a soundtrack for reflection and inner peace.
The true magic of this project lies in its ability to unite various artists from distinct cultures, traditions, and musical heritages, each contributing their unique voice to a shared vision of unity.
Our desire is for every listener to find their own quiet space amid these compositions.”
The Sony Music Publishing MENA Connection
A pivotal element in the Ektā narrative revolves around Cafe De Anatolia’s partnership with Sony Music Publishing MENA.
Sony Music Publishing MENA serves as the exclusive publishing team behind five tracks from the album, specifically produced by Cafe De Anatolia: “Home,” “Ocean,” “Shiva Nirvana,” “Deep Water,” and “Desert Night.”
The works are composed by Nikola Iliev (Nickarth), Monika Ilieva, and Zoran Iliev (Billy Esteban), who are exclusive songwriters signed with Sony Music Publishing through Cafe De Anatolia’s publishing arm, CAMELWAV.
Dounia from Sony Music Publishing MENA speaks of the project with enthusiasm:
“EKTĀ is a wonderful project that Nick and Monika presented to us, and we are happy to support it. Cafe De Anatolia, together with their collaborators, created an extraordinary piece of music, a beautiful New Age album that stands out in 2026.”
Taking “Ektā” Beyond the Album
Extending the vision of Ektā beyond streaming platforms, the team has orchestrated a series of intimate listening and experience events aimed at connecting with New Age & Ambient enthusiasts.
The project has already successfully engaged audiences in San Francisco, with upcoming events slated for New York on September 24, Los Angeles on October 4, and London on October 18.
At its core, these experiences echo the foundational idea that inspired the album itself: the essence of oneness.
In this collaborative effort across nine tracks, musicians from diverse cultural backgrounds fuse traditional instruments, meditative voices, choirs, electronic textures, and modern New Age production, creating a unique intersection of musical worlds that inspires connection and unity.
Listen to the album below!
