Healing Tones & Audio Therapy: An Interview with Michael Joly - Part 1
09/01/21 • 42 min
"In tone therapy, we've created a space which is both safe and intriguing so we can solve some of the discomfort problem with mindfulness meditation and we can also solve some of the boredom aspects of it."
Michael Joly
This episode’s guest is the founder of solu®, maker of n.o.w. Tone TherapyTM, a sound meditation device. Before solu®, he designed a range of professional and consumer audio products for motion picture sound, home theater, and recording studio use. He has a background as a musician, an on-air announcer and radio business development executive, and he's also been immersed in the study of metaphysics, focusing on the intersection of sound, listening, and consciousness.
His name is Michael Joly and you can find the n.o.w. Tone TherapyTM System at nowbysolu.com. There’s a lot to unpack here, but Michael’s enthusiasm for audio and its proper use is something I really think you’re going to enjoy hearing. If you’re one of those people who are extremely sensitive to sound, I think this episode will validate and soothe you. I know Michael understands your pain!
Sounds in the Fog
Michael tells us about his first memorable experience with sound at the age of five when he heard the sound of distant foghorns on a misty morning in New Hampshire. That early memory not only sparked his interest in such experimental sound projects as Brian Eno's Music for Airports but also paved the way for his own work with ambient audio and tone therapy. "I realized," Michael explains, "I heard something like what Brian Eno is doing when I was a kid, that is, quasi-random overlapping of simple sounds to make new compositions. And that's what eventually led to tone therapy."
Listening to Nothing
We also talk about Michael’s early professional work, a career in cinematic audio technology that introduced him to a surprising new way of considering sound. “I spent a lot of time listening to the noise floor of optical soundtracks and the noise floor of magnetic tape, so I got really, really experienced at listening to nothing.” Listening to nothing became a big part of his approach to tone therapy, and turns out to be harder than we might expect. As he puts it, “I realized that you can't be thinking and listening attentively at the same time. It's just not possible to do. You're either giving your full attention to what you're hearing or you're thinking about it, or you're asking a question, or you're judging it.”
The Power of Now
Michael admits that when he first read the book The Power of Now, by Eckhart Tolle, he wasn’t impressed. But a series of changes in his life several years ago, including his struggle with depression, helped him see it in a new light. We discuss how the name of his n.o.w. tone therapy system is an homage to the book and its role in shaping his approach to sound healing, and how the sound of church bells in Frankfurt, Germany inspired the distinctive sounds of tone therapy. “I remember hearing two bells ringing, then one bell ringing, then no bells, just the foot traffic on the street,” he says. “And then, like out of the movies, the clouds parted and this beam came down.”
Surprising Yet Familiar
Tone therapy can be a challenge at first, he explains, because so many of us simply aren’t used to sitting still and turning off all our thoughts and worries. That’s why he’s worked to create a sound therapy system that, as he describes it, is both safe and intriguing, and incorporates the harmonic sequence to create an instinctively soothing quality. We also take a look at his upcoming tone therapy software service, including a brand new sonic logo.
Next week we'll continue with a discussion of the best quality microphones, share helpful recording tips to try at home, and a look at what the future might bring when it comes to tone therapy.
Connect with the Guest
Website: https://www.nowbysolu.com/
Connect with Michael Joly on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-joly-043513144/
Connect with the Audio Branding Podcast
Book your project with Voice Overs and Vocals https://voiceoversandvocals.com
Tweet with me on Twitter - https://twitter.com/JodiKrangle
Watch the Audio Branding Podcast on
"In tone therapy, we've created a space which is both safe and intriguing so we can solve some of the discomfort problem with mindfulness meditation and we can also solve some of the boredom aspects of it."
Michael Joly
This episode’s guest is the founder of solu®, maker of n.o.w. Tone TherapyTM, a sound meditation device. Before solu®, he designed a range of professional and consumer audio products for motion picture sound, home theater, and recording studio use. He has a background as a musician, an on-air announcer and radio business development executive, and he's also been immersed in the study of metaphysics, focusing on the intersection of sound, listening, and consciousness.
His name is Michael Joly and you can find the n.o.w. Tone TherapyTM System at nowbysolu.com. There’s a lot to unpack here, but Michael’s enthusiasm for audio and its proper use is something I really think you’re going to enjoy hearing. If you’re one of those people who are extremely sensitive to sound, I think this episode will validate and soothe you. I know Michael understands your pain!
Sounds in the Fog
Michael tells us about his first memorable experience with sound at the age of five when he heard the sound of distant foghorns on a misty morning in New Hampshire. That early memory not only sparked his interest in such experimental sound projects as Brian Eno's Music for Airports but also paved the way for his own work with ambient audio and tone therapy. "I realized," Michael explains, "I heard something like what Brian Eno is doing when I was a kid, that is, quasi-random overlapping of simple sounds to make new compositions. And that's what eventually led to tone therapy."
Listening to Nothing
We also talk about Michael’s early professional work, a career in cinematic audio technology that introduced him to a surprising new way of considering sound. “I spent a lot of time listening to the noise floor of optical soundtracks and the noise floor of magnetic tape, so I got really, really experienced at listening to nothing.” Listening to nothing became a big part of his approach to tone therapy, and turns out to be harder than we might expect. As he puts it, “I realized that you can't be thinking and listening attentively at the same time. It's just not possible to do. You're either giving your full attention to what you're hearing or you're thinking about it, or you're asking a question, or you're judging it.”
The Power of Now
Michael admits that when he first read the book The Power of Now, by Eckhart Tolle, he wasn’t impressed. But a series of changes in his life several years ago, including his struggle with depression, helped him see it in a new light. We discuss how the name of his n.o.w. tone therapy system is an homage to the book and its role in shaping his approach to sound healing, and how the sound of church bells in Frankfurt, Germany inspired the distinctive sounds of tone therapy. “I remember hearing two bells ringing, then one bell ringing, then no bells, just the foot traffic on the street,” he says. “And then, like out of the movies, the clouds parted and this beam came down.”
Surprising Yet Familiar
Tone therapy can be a challenge at first, he explains, because so many of us simply aren’t used to sitting still and turning off all our thoughts and worries. That’s why he’s worked to create a sound therapy system that, as he describes it, is both safe and intriguing, and incorporates the harmonic sequence to create an instinctively soothing quality. We also take a look at his upcoming tone therapy software service, including a brand new sonic logo.
Next week we'll continue with a discussion of the best quality microphones, share helpful recording tips to try at home, and a look at what the future might bring when it comes to tone therapy.
Connect with the Guest
Website: https://www.nowbysolu.com/
Connect with Michael Joly on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-joly-043513144/
Connect with the Audio Branding Podcast
Book your project with Voice Overs and Vocals https://voiceoversandvocals.com
Tweet with me on Twitter - https://twitter.com/JodiKrangle
Watch the Audio Branding Podcast on
Previous Episode
Interview with Producer, Randall Libero - Part 2
“Producers are people who are interested in developing and creating new ideas that expand human awareness and human consciousness.”
Randall Libero
This week is part two of my interview with online media authority Randall Libero. He's an executive producer of VoiceAmerica as well as co-producer of the new dramatic podcast "Marilyn: Behind the Icon.," and we'll be talking about myths, movies and the future of audio storytelling.
The Power of the Image
We begin the second half of the interview with a closer look at the concept of cinematic audio and “painting the scene with sound.” Randall discusses the innovative techniques of such cinematic legends as Stanley Kubrick and Orson Welles, and how they understood that art isn’t just created, but is brought to life by its audience. “When you look at a great painting,” he explains, “there's so much of your interpretation of it from everything that you've experienced in life, and you interpret that painting completely different from somebody else who's had a completely different experience in life.”
Stories That Bring Us Together
Randall also talks about the myths and archetypes of our ancestors, and the role imagery, geometry, and sound played in bringing those ancient stories to life. He sees such a holistic approach to stories making a return in the 21st century, and with it an opportunity to forge a new connection to art. “The challenge is can we actually create content both on the screen and through storytelling, through audio sound, that actually expands human consciousness.”
The Way That We Dream
"We're in a full-out revolution now, and you can see that in many forms today.” Randall and I talk about how social media and the information age have empowered millions to create and share their work on an unprecedented level. “This digitized media landscape,” Randall notes as we look to the future, “has disrupted and forever changed how movies and media are changing the way we think, the way we live, the way we relate, and the way that we dream.”
Creating It Together
The episode concludes with a discussion of audio storytelling and the unique techniques that are involved in bringing a story to life entirely through sound. We explore just what it truly means to be a producer in the age of new media and what responsibilities creative producers have toward their audience and to future generations. As Randall puts it, “when you create media, you have a responsibility to your audience to make their lives better.”
Next week I'll be interviewing Michael Joly, the founder and CEO of solu and creator of the n.o.w. Tone Therapy meditation device, for a look at sound, stillness, and the healing power of music.
Connect with Randall
Website: www.VoiceAmerica.com
Follow Randall
Libero on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/randall.libero
Connect with
Randall Libero on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/randall-libero-7677364/
Connect with the Audio Branding Podcast
Book your project with Voice Overs and Vocals https://voiceoversandvocals.com
Tweet with me on Twitter
https://twitter.com/JodiKrangle
Watch the Audio Branding Podcast on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/c/JodiKrangleVO
Connect with me on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jodikrangle/
Leave the Audio Branding Podcast a written review at https://lovethepodcast.com/audiobranding
or leave a spoken review at
Next Episode
Healing Tones & Audio Therapy: An Interview with Michael Joly - Part 2
“I came into the world listening. Other people came in noticing, visually, or touching things, tactically, which is why there are sculptors and visual artists, and some of us were just innately oriented toward the sound of the world.”
Michael Joly
This week is the second half of my interview with Michael Joly, founder of solu® and maker of the n.o.w. Tone TherapyTM device, where we talk about microphones, share tips for improving your sound recordings on a budget and look at the future of sound healing.
Sound is a Doorway
“I think sound is a doorway," Michael says, "that can help us experience truth." We begin with a discussion of microphones and audio recording equipment, comparing such diverse microphones as the Shure SM7 cardioid dynamic microphone, the Electro-Voice RE20, and the classic Neumann U47 microphone. Michael also shares his tips for creating an optimal sound environment for recording at home, using such everyday items as a clothes closet, furniture-wrapping blankets, and curtain rods to achieve surprisingly effective results. "What we're trying to achieve here is to communicate to people through a voice, and people love the intimacy of the audio medium."
The Future of Healing
We wrap up the interview with a look at what the future of sound healing might bring as audio continues to play a bigger role in our everyday lives. Michael also talks about the emerging field of “well buildings,” an international standard of wellness that includes sound reduction and ambient sound systems. “Sound is dynamic and always changing, and I think that we connect to this and we know something about ourselves and the way that the world is constructed.”
Connect with the Guest
Website: https://www.nowbysolu.com/
Connect with Michael Joly on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-joly-043513144/
Connect with the Audio Branding Podcast
Book your project with Voice Overs and Vocals https://voiceoversandvocals.com
Tweet with me on Twitter - https://twitter.com/JodiKrangle
Watch the Audio Branding Podcast on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/c/JodiKrangleVO
Connect with me on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jodikrangle/
Leave the Audio Branding Podcast a written review at https://lovethepodcast.com/audiobranding
or leave a spoken review at https://voiceoversandvocals.com/talktome/ (Thank you!)
Get my Top Five Tips for Implementing an Intentional Audio Strategy
https://voiceoversandvocals.com/audio-branding-strategy/
Editing/Production by Humberto Franco - https://humbertofranco.com/
This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:
OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy
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