Inner World

Not to be confused with Innerworld or Inner Worlds.
Inner World
The Dalai Lama seated in the lotus position with his eyes closed
Studio album by
Dalai Lama
Released6 July 2020
Genre
Length42:02
LabelKhandro Music
ProducerJunelle Kunin, Charles Goldstuck, Abraham Kunin
Singles from Inner World
  1. "Compassion"
    Released: 8 June 2020
  2. "One of My Favorite Prayers"
    Released: 29 June 2020
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Clash8/10[1]
The Independent2/5[2]

Inner World is the debut studio album by the 14th Dalai Lama, released under the name Dalai Lama. It was released on the Dalai Lama's 85th birthday, 6 July 2020.[3] It is the first time The Dalai Lama has released an album.[a]

The album was inspired by New Zealand musician and Buddhist Junelle Kunin, who in 2015 proposed an album fusing music with mantras and chants.[5][6] Kunin was turned down when she wrote to The Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama about her idea, but on a trip to India she handed a letter to an assistant of the Dalai Lama. Her idea was met more positively in person, as Kunin described the Dalai Lama agreeing that "music can help people in a way that he can't".[6] She and her husband, Abraham Kunin, both contributed to the album over the next five years.[6] She later said "The entire purpose of this project is to try to help people. It's not a Buddhist project, it's to help everyday people like myself, even though I am Buddhist. The messages couldn't be more poignant for our current social climate and needs as humanity.".[6]

The album debuted on multiple Billboard Album Charts: #1 Billboard New Age Chart,[7] #4 Top New Artist Album, #8 Billboard World Music,[7] #13 Record Label Independent Album, #14 Current Digital Album, #17 Digital Album, #43 Top New Artist - Consumption, #55 Top Current Album, #98 Billboard Top Album,[7] #125 Top Albums w/TEA

Track listing

[edit]
Inner World track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."One of My Favorite Prayers"Dalai Lama, Abraham Kunin, Daniel Ryland, Gandhaar Amin3:59
2."The Buddha"Dalai Lama, Abraham Kunin4:20
3."Compassion"Dalai Lama, Abraham Kunin3:55
4."Courage"Dalai Lama, Abraham Kunin, Junelle Kunin4:18
5."Ama La"Dalai Lama, Abraham Kunin, Anoushka Shankar5:32
6."Healing"Dalai Lama, Abraham Kunin3:02
7."Wisdom"Dalai Lama, Abraham Kunin3:19
8."Purification"Dalai Lama, Abraham Kunin, Junelle Kunin3:18
9."Protection"Dalai Lama, Abraham Kunin2:51
10."Children"Dalai Lama, Abraham Kunin2:34
11."Humanity"Dalai Lama, Abraham Kunin, Mahuia Bridgman-Cooper4:54
Total length:42:02

Personnel

[edit]

Music

  • Abraham Kunin
  • Junelle Kunin
  • Anoushka Shankar
  • Daniel Ryland
  • Gandhaar Amin
  • Alex Freer
  • Jeff Atmajian
  • Marika Hodgson
  • Stephanie Brown
  • Fen Ikner
  • Finn Scholes
  • Cass Basil
  • Guy Harrison
  • Russell McNaughton
  • John Davis
  • Scott Thomas
  • Kingsley Melhuish
  • Nastasia Wolfgramm
  • Mahuia Bridgman-Cooper

Production

  • Charles Goldstuck – executive production
  • Junelle Kunin – recording, executive production
  • Abraham Kunin – recording, composition, production
  • Randy Merrill – mastering
  • Aaron Nevezie – mixing

Charts

[edit]
Chart performance for Inner World
Chart (2020) Peak
position
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[8] 88
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[9] 18

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ The box set Living Wisdom, published in 2006, included background music and traditional chanting by the 14th Dalai Lama among companion media to a hardcover book.[4]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Roseblade, Nick (6 July 2020). "Dalai Lama - Inner World". Clash. Retrieved 6 July 2020.
  2. ^ Bray, Elisa (6 July 2020). "Dalai Lama review – Inner World: Music you'd find in a luxury spa". The Independent. Archived from the original on 21 January 2024. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
  3. ^ Sperry, Rod Meade (10 June 2020). "Listen to "Compassion," from the Dalai Lama's new album, Inner World". Lion's Roar. Retrieved 5 July 2020.
  4. ^ Dalai Lama (author), Don Farber (photographer) (September 2006). Living Wisdom With His Holiness the Dalai Lama (multimedia). Sounds True. ISBN 978-1-59179-457-8. OL 8857253M.
  5. ^ Owoseje, Toyin (8 July 2020). "Dalai Lama marks his 85th birthday with his first ever album release". CNN International. Archived from the original on 26 September 2023. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
  6. ^ a b c d Fekadu, Mesfin (9 June 2020). "AP Exclusive: The Dalai Lama to release 1st album in July". New York: Associated Press. Archived from the original on 24 January 2024. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
  7. ^ a b c Zellner, Xander (13 July 2020). "Dalai Lama Makes Billboard Chart Debut With 'Inner World' Album". Billboard. Archived from the original on 4 June 2023. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
  8. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Dalai Lama – Inner World" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
  9. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Dalai Lama – Inner World". Hung Medien. Retrieved 15 July 2020.


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