German musician Prem Joshua has released a new 12-track collection, Breath of Voavah, capturing the soul of one of the world’s most pristine locations, the new Four Seasons Private Island Maldives at Voavah.
Born out of Prem’s own visit to Voavah, the collection is an ingenious interpretation of the sights, sensations and spirit of the Maldives designed to leave guests tingling from their ears to their toes. To create the album, he worked closely with fellow musician and co-composer Dondieu Divin and invited a number of talented friends to contribute: Raul Sengupta’s darbouka on Voavah Metro Station and shaker and tabla on Banyan Birds; Sandhya Sanjana’s vocals on A Spoonful of Infinity and Under the Mangrove Tree; Sanou Olszewski’s vocals on Bharata Blues and Vasundhara; and Francky Moulet’s electric guitar on James Baba.
Melodies whisper the secrets of the Indian Ocean while honeyed harmonies trace nature’s subtlest and most sublime features – from the ripple of a fish in the lagoon to a flash of sunlight between swaying palms.
Recalling his visit to Voavah and how it inspired him, Prem shared, “The incredible beauty and purity of nature is overwhelming. But the secret of this place is the people – their warmth, liveliness, smiles, laughter, dignity, honesty, kindness and contentment. With this album I want to return exactly these impressions and secrets in the form of contemporary music — the ever-changing colours of the endless sea, from a gentle breeze to a sudden storm, the warm rain on our skin, the night sky, the jungle birds in the trees, and again and again the friendly smiles of the people.”
“It was an honour to have Prem Joshua visit us,” Armando Kraenzlin, Regional Vice President and General Manager at Voavah, was quoted as saying in an announcement by Four Seasons Resorts Maldives.
“Our Maldivian resorts have long aligned with Prem’s music, with it frequently appearing on our restaurant playlists, so to have him visit personally to capture Voavah’s essence in the form of a bespoke compilation is a very special thing.”
Prem Joshua and Band are pioneers of a crossover sound that is nestled at the cusp of Eastern tradition and Western innovation. With a soul-searching and dexterous blend of sounds and instruments, the music draws the listener into an emotionally rewarding journey across diverse musical landscapes. Elegant and contemporary, Prem Joshua and Band have consistently awed audiences with their virtuosity and confidence to create an experience that shall long outlive the classifications of genre or time.
According to Four Seasons Resorts Maldives, Breath of Voavah is available to purchase from the spa and resort shops at every Four Seasons resort in the Maldives. The CD will also feature in all rooms and suites across its Maldives properties.
Four Seasons Private Island Maldives at Voavah, located in the southern Baa atoll, opened in December, becoming the world’s first exclusive-use hideaway in a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. This secluded two-hectare haven transcends the private island experience by being “entirely yours” from the moment of booking, with seven bedrooms, a Beach House, a dive school and a 62-foot (18.9 metre) yacht offering ultimate privacy for up to 20 guests at a time.
The private island joins another two properties in the Maldives run by Four Seasons.
Combining innovation, wellness and conservation, Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Landaa Giraavaru is a 44-acre, 103-villa wonderland in the Baa Atoll UNESCO Biosphere Reserve — a 30-minute seaplane flight from the main Velana International Airport.
Its sister property, Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa, lies to the south: an enchanting garden island complete with Island Spa sea sanctuary and Tropicsurf coaches and guides. The luxury catamaran Four Seasons Explorer connects the two via three, four and seven-night cruises, plus private leisure, surf and manta ray charters.