Few artists possess the rare ability to transform their primary instrument, bending it entirely to their will and pushing it beyond its natural limits. The pedal steel guitarist […]
Experience Tonalism: dublab’s late night ambient music happening at Descanso Gardens

Listen to ambient music in the natural, biodiverse landscapes of the Descanso Gardens!
Following up from last year’s smash hit, Tonalism, dublab’s night time ambient music extravaganza, returns to the California native landscape of Descanso Gardens, transforming the grounds into an ethereal exhibition of soundscapes and projected visuals.
Inspired by La Monte Young’s Dream House and the happenings of the 50s & 60s by artists such as John Cage, Terry Riley, and Yoko Ono, Tonalism encourages the audience to relax in the natural world, inspired by the music to nap, stargaze, or otherwise lay down and let the exhibit wist them into bliss. This year’s event features live performances, DJ sets, and visuals across 4 stages harmoniously intertwined with the landscape, keeping the audience in a transformative state of tranquility all night long.
Visitors are encouraged to bring sleeping bags, pillows, and cushions, finding their place in the garden to experience the sights and sounds grounded by the landscape.

This year’s lineup includes ambient sets from: Automatic Trance Ensemble, Claire Rousay, Green-house, Hoseh, In Sheep’s Clothing, Khotin, Laura Shumate, Maral, Qur’an Shaheed, Show Invisibles, Smoke Point, Teebs, William Basinski, & Yu Su. Plus live visuals from Alex Pelly, Metabolic Studios, and Teebs.
● Tonalism is an all ages, family friendly event
● Advanced tickets are required, $30 for members/$35 for non-members
● Food and drink available for purchase at the venue
For tickets and more information visit: https://www.descansogardens.org/event/tonalism-2023/
In Sheep’s Clothing is delighted to be a part of the happening this year and will be hosting deep listening sessions in the Japanese garden featuring six classic and favorite ambient albums.
Virginia Astley – From Gardens Where We Feel Secure (1983)
Virginia Astley’s conceptual debut is a collection of tone poems meant to represent the sounds and mood of an innocent summer day. The album is notable for its use of field recordings and natural sounds, which Astley used as the foundation for these gorgeous improvised piano pieces.
Hiroshi Yoshimura – Air in Resort (1984)
Air in Resort is a quintessential record of the “Kankyō ongaku,” Japanese for “environmental music,” genre with a unique story – it was originally commissioned by Shiseido in 1984 to be released as an “amenity record” to promote their new perfume with the same title.
Meitei / 冥丁 – Komachi (2019)
Meitei’s Komachi is a slow-motion dance in nature – it’s tranquil, reflective, environmental music. With its ethereal sonic landscapes replete with relaxing water sounds, delicate percussion, field recordings, and ASMR delights, it’s a perfect soundtrack accompaniment to a bath, a walk in the woods, a visit to a creek, a home meditation, yoga in the park…
Susumu Yokota – Sakura (1999)
Considered by many to be Susumu Yokota’s best ambient record — it’s definitely the most sought-after — Sakura was a favorite at ISC’s former home in the Arts District. A delicate mix of electronic tones dense with reverb, echo and looping, gradually shifting textures, this double album possesses enough emotional energy to upend your here-and-now and carry you to a better place.
Gaia: Selected Ambient & Downtempo Works (1996-2003)
A new in-depth compilation of works by the mysterious Japanese musician Noriko aka Dream Dolphin from Music from Memory and Revelation Time’s Eiji Taniguchi. The collection features oddly therapeutic, ambient club sounds that fuse ideas from Japan’s “environmental music” era and joined them with dance production.
Gigi – Illuminated Audio (2019)
Illuminated Audio is a remix album of the Ethiopian singer Gigi’s self titled debut, completely reworked by Laswell alone in his New Jersey studio. Taking the more funk, hip-hop and R&B rooted original mix, Laswell mutated the sounds into a tapestry of deep percussive ambient and heavy dub.