What if music could give us the opportunity to rewrite the future?

Mandoki Soulmates puts this question at the heart of their latest acclaimed album, A Memory Of Our Future, which has attracted worldwide attention as a musical masterpiece, in Europe, and particularly in the USA and UK: Called “A modern-day Jazz Progressive Rock masterpiece” by Goldmine Magazine, and said by Forever Music “the album of the year,” fans and music press alike have hailed the album for carrying the flag for the future of Prog Rock through its timeless and socio-politically relevant musical messages conveyed in a super high-end audiophile format, in what band leader Leslie Mandoki calls, with a sly smile,“a revenge of the analog.”

EPK / Making Of

After this summer’s simultaneous release of the new album and packed-house European concert successes with the full line-up of this “band of bandleaders” playing the album live, A Memory Of Our Future is receiving accolades for the compositional maturity of its songs, the virtuosity of the performances from Europe’s favorite supergroup of jazz-and prog-rock legends, as well as for the audiophile analog production with a deeply American feel, generating great enthusiasm from Stateside listeners.

The relevant music media unanimously emphasizes the musical world-class level and the stylistic, even epochal relevance of the work. International broadcasters such as Sinclair Broadcast Group as well as major rock music magazines such as The Classic Rock describe A Memory Of Our Future as “an instant progressive rock classic”. At the same time, the artistic excellence of the iconic band members and the analog production are highlighted as in The Final On Vinyl “Each song is a masterpiece, a testament to the band’s musical prowess and creativity” or American Songwriter “There are many heavy hitters who contributed to the album, which was recorded, appropriately enough, using analog production.”

After the successful launch of the album, Leslie Mandoki and his Soulmates have followed up with a burst of creative output, first with the movingly heartfelt video for the single The Wanderer, and now with the emotional, elegiac I Am Because You Are, which will be released on December 9.

This will be followed with the release of a full concert video experience, captured live during the summer tour with 16 cameras and high-end audio, the post production for which was just wrapped up by Leslie Mandoki.

On November 29, a strictly limited deluxe X-mas edition of the album A Memory Of Our Future has been released worldwide on White X-mas Vinyl for the highest sound quality. Produced completely in the analog domain, audiophiles have lauded the production quality of A Memory Of Our Future, and coming shortly, the album will also be available on ¼” studio master tape for the ultimate analog audiophile experience.

For bandleader Leslie Mandoki, this album is not just a collection of songs, but a musical manifesto for today’s world. “Every song has a special genesis,” he says, “because it’s not we composers and lyricists who write the songs, it’s life!” Some songs on A Memory Of Our Future clearly have autobiographical echoes.

The subject of the new video, I Am Because You Are is perhaps Mandoki’s most personal song yet—a melodic meditation of aging and changing over the years. In the video, love, loss, and struggle are contrasted with the perseverance to stay by each other’s side and the intertwined existence as a developing entity. The video’s swirling dreamscapes of flashbacks and flashforwards combine to show the complexity of a radical intensive love of life, and to ask us to think about how we have become who we now consider ourselves to be—separately and together down the line through sunny and dark days.

“My life’s journey is a series of decisions, developments and learning processes, and I Am Because You Are is a chronicle of one aspect—deep and meaningful encounters and cross roads with all that goes with them. Along the way I have founded a family—being a father is the most magnificant role of my life and my greatest responsibility, the most beautiful commitment.
I have always tried to give my children deep roots and strong wings so that when the time comes, they can realize themselves and live their own dreams. When they look back on their own lives, as I’ve done in I Am Because You Are, my fondest hope is that they’ll feel, as I do, that in spite of the vagaries of life, it’s been worth it.”

Musically, I Am Because You Are tells its story of self-reflection in singer-songwriter mode—something of a stylistic departure for the Soulmates, who are usually found more in the Prog and Jazz Rock world. Mandoki explains, “Such a personal, contemplative, and open-ended song like I Am Because You Arecalls for more of a troubadour or wandering minstrel character—it’s a story told by a man of my time and my experience, and as the verses and choruses delve further into the pathos of reality, because this is my utopia for realists, the production also blossoms into almost a sing-along, chorale style, bringing the listener into the story even more intimately. And as a band, it felt natural and gave us a chance to show our musical range in new ways, which is something we’re always looking for.”

Ultimately, Mandoki reflects, “this, and all my songs, are grounded in my autobiographical reflection, in which a panorama of life, music and art has emerged from a tiny glimmer of hope—still to this day—all with the help of friends, family, colleagues and of course my Soulmates.”

Through the end of 2024 and in the first months of 2025, Mandoki Soulmates will be releasing more videos for songs from their current album, A Memory Of Our Future. Regular postings on the band’s YouTube channel during the fall/holiday season will include videos for new singles as well as new concert videos.

A Memory Of Our Future is characterized not only by its music, but also by its profound philosophical and socio-political poetry. The album is a beacon of quality and artistic integrity that touches people worldwide. Fans and music critics praise the band’s commitment to exploring new avenues of expression while maintaining musical sophistication and richness of thought.

Leslie Mandoki states, “The wonderful thing about A Memory Of Our Future and this way of making music is that we can overcome the melancholy of current trying times together.  Music also opens our eyes to the future, and encourages positive thinking and optimism. That gives us strength and drives us forward, even in this challenging time of great divides we have to build the bridges and hold the torch in the dark.”

Thus, even after more than three decades, the Soulmates never tire of raising their voices: Says Mandoki, “We must not retreat, we must not bury our heads in the sand, otherwise we are heading for a future of dystopias. We need more courage to leave our comfort zones and stand up for what we believe is right and rebel against what we know is wrong—to fight against division, fake news, hatred and hate speech and to stand up for truthfulness, intergenerational justice and humanity!

Courage is calling for people like us! Stay Loud for a future in freedom and peace!

Music has always been humanity’s greatest unifier, and now more than ever we need it to unite us.

Together, across generations—for a common future in a better world.”

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