“Phi-Psonics (pronounced fai-soniks) is a spiritual exploration of being together and connecting,” says acoustic bassist Seth Ford-Young, who launched the project in East Los Angeles in 2016. Aimed at creating contemplative, meditative music, the group’s latest album, Expanding to One, was shaped through six live sessions held at Pasadena’s Healing Force Of The Universe record store in early 2024.
The album’s 14 tracks emerged largely through improvisation, reflecting Ford-Young’s post-lockdown desire to foster community. “Being isolated during COVID made me realize how essential it is to be together,” he says. With a rotating cast of musicians, including core members Sylvain Carton, Randal Fisher, and Josh Collazo, the performances unfolded before attentive, ticketed audiences in an intimate setting.
Tracks like There’s Still Hope and Healing Time exemplify the project’s serene yet searching sound, with contributions from guests such as Zach Tenorio, Mathias Künzli, Minta Spencer, and Jay Bellerose. The sessions were recorded with studio-level quality, allowing the album to retain both the immediacy of live performance and the polish of a studio release.
Ford-Young’s spiritual and musical foundations trace back to his Washington, D.C. upbringing, surrounded by yoga, meditation, and Eastern philosophy. “I don’t remember a time where I didn’t know about breathing, meditation and Eastern thought,” he recalls.
Phi-Psonics first gained traction with their 2020 debut The Cradle, recorded at Ford-Young’s home in Glassell Park and later re-released by UK label Gondwana Records. Their 2022 follow-up, Octava, continued the DIY ethos, favoring informal sessions and close-knit collaboration over conventional studio environments.
For Expanding to One, Ford-Young intentionally broadened the ensemble, inviting 11 additional musicians—including harpist Minta Spencer, pedal steel player Rocco DeLuca, and vocalist Sheila Govindarajan—to contribute. The closing track, Mysteries Of The Dark, featuring guitarist Dave Harrington, symbolically concludes the journey into the unknown.
“This record captures a moment in time,” Ford-Young reflects. “It’s about hope, togetherness, and the beauty of a community that listens with intent.”
Listeners at home can now experience that same moment—drifting with Phi-Psonics’ gentle tides toward a deeper sense of connection.
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