IASOS—one of the inventors of New Age music, passed away in January, 2024, three days before his 78th birthday. Born in Greece, raised in upstate New York, he moved to the San Francisco Bay area in 1968, adopted the stage name Iasos, and began a nearly 50 year solo career as an independent musician. Brilliant, exuberant, and completely original, he advocated for what he called “paradise music,” and claimed that what he heard in his head was sent to him by a being from a “distant dimension” named VISTA.
His debut album from 1975 was called "Inter-Dimensional Music." Where other New Age composers promoted music that was relaxing or healing, Iasos’s mission was nothing less than raising the “vibratory frequency” of all humanity!! And though he often made claims that were impossible to substantiate, there could be no doubt of his absolute conviction and utter sincerity. Because of his metaphysical beliefs, and his ability to invent new methods of music production to realize them, he was able to create a body of work that was widely influential yet virtually unequaled.
His music ranged from languid technicolor tropical to intensely dramatic, with lush textures and cosmic chords; from heavenly harmonies and angelic realms, to ethereal meditations with shimmering translucent curtains of sound. The overall impression is optimistic and positive, with a sense of unbounded potential.
In addition to his music, Iasos was a tireless advocate for Visionary Art. His web site featured an online gallery of paintings and videos by kindred visual artists. He also published two DVDs of his own video art and original music—"Crystal Vista" and "Realms of Light."
On this transmission of HEARTS of SPACE, a Iasos retrospective called VISIONS OF PARADISE.
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Thank you very much for the IASOS compliation! Sorry to hear he has passed. I loved his work back in the early days of HOS (MFTHOS) on KPFA. I still have my original IASOS tape cassettes with the handmade labels too!
Posted by: Jack Aldrich | 31 August 2024 at 10:50 AM
You’re welcome, Jack. Thanks for checking in!
Posted by: Stephen Hill | 31 August 2024 at 01:47 PM
Iasos was absolutely phenomenal ! Absolutely brilliant. It was HOS who introduced me to his music back in the classic era. Will always be grateful.🎶🎶🎶🎶
Posted by: August Gaden | 02 September 2024 at 12:30 AM