Rising Stars: Meet Gabriel Braun

Today we’d like to introduce you to Gabriel Braun.

Gabriel, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My journey began when I was 16 years old I went through one of the darkest times in my life. Disillusioned with the world and life as I knew it, I dropped out of school (and eventually went back) and gave up my dream to be a professional basketball player.

At 17, I walked into my first yoga class and during savasana (resting pose), Govindas and Radha Rosen’s music took me on a transcending and mystical journey of sound vibration. That’s when I realized that we are human instruments. Like any instrument, we too need regular tuning for all of our parts to function as a resonant whole.

At 18, I traveled to Guatemala and Peru on my own to do volunteer work. This total immersion into a new way of life popped the “American bubble”, forever changing my perspective on life. I experienced people with so little material wealth having so much richness inside.

A few years later, I met Olaf Hartmann, who through his involvement in the movement, meditation and breathwork, helped me to experience my body as an instrument of healing. It was with him that I began to assist his guided breath work and sound healing journeys and was introduced to crystal bowls and the didgeridoo.

I then dived into the world of Kirtan and devotional music, studying bhakti yoga and classical Indian music with Sheela Bringi, Govindas Rosen and Saul David Raye, the yoga of guitar with Josh Brill, and shakuhachi and bansuri flute with Eric Vaughn.

At 26, Jesse Hanson and I started co-leading Sonic Sanctuary sound healing events in Los Angeles and recorded our first album. Jesse has been an instrumental force in my life and career.

Soon after, Elijah Ray took me on as a student of music and sound healing for five years. After working with Elijah, I continued my studies with one man orchestra and world music maestro, Porangui. It humbles me that as his career is taking off and his time is greatly limited, he continues to make the space to take me on as his student.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Definitely not. Simply put, staying the course.

When you’re initially excited about a new creative venture, it’s much easier to show up and put in the work. But when it starts to lose its sheen and become less glamorous at times, it can become much more difficult to maintain especially when you turn your passion into a business. I’ve had many moments along the way of feeling defeated, not good enough, unsuccessful and unmotivated to keep going. And that all being said, those moments have been some of the most important that I’ve encountered because I’ve grown and learned more about myself and life in general. When I’ve wanted to give up but kept going, this has built an inner strength and resiliency that I wouldn’t trade for anything.

Learning the ropes.

When I first started offering sound journeys, my setup was very simple, meaning I only had a few instruments and everything was acoustic. Since that time, I’ve added many (many) more instruments to the mix, a live sound system and a digital mixer with loop and effect pedals. There is quite the learning curve when you start to interface with technology in this way. And it is one that I’m proud of learning because of how much it has made my expression so unique and magnifies the music that is being created. I continue to study sound engineering and music as a whole.

The business side of all of this has also been a huge learning curve, one that I’m also still learning a lot about. I can’t tell you how many times that I used to schlep all my sound equipment (which is a ton as a one-man-band), set up for an event and have barely anyone show up and not even break even. What I’ve learned is that it isn’t always about working harder but smarter as well. Having a solid work ethic as well as team playing with others who are more skilled in an area than you are such as marketing is huge. In addition to this, building community and being consistent are very important aspects of building any business.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
Sonic Womb Live
I offer an in-person live sound healing experience called Sonic Womb Live. It is a dynamic and improvisational musical offering where I create a unique sonic atmosphere for people to relax, de-stress, harmonize and embrace the depths of their inner world. As a multi-instrumentalist of many different world instruments, I blend my voice, world flutes, didgeridoo, and percussive instruments including the handpan or hang drum, harmonium, ngoni and crystal singing bowls with loop and effect pedals, to create a unique melding of healing sounds. This experience definitely sets me aside from most sound baths out there because of my musicianship and how I uniquely create the sonic experience for those to take in.

Vocal Empowerment Sessions
Vocal empowerment sessions are 1-on-1 sound healing sessions where you are guided to use your voice, breath and movement to create healing within yourself. This can include using your voice to heal from trauma, moving stuck energy through your body, awakening your authentic voice through singing, communication and sound healing. The tone of your own voice is uniquely designed for you. Learn to use tone(s) that make your body feel spoken to.

Sound Healing Training Course
The sound healing training course is created in a very personal and individual way. Based on your needs and desires, you can learn anything from toning with crystal singing bowls to live looping with your voice to playing the handpan. Generally, this is offered in a series of 10 sessions and sometimes more.

Embodied Life Coaching
1-on-1 coaching session where you are guided to strengthen your ability to meet life head-on by:
– Clarify your life’s vision
– Setting simple achievable goals
– Creating balance in your life
– Learning to make the most of your journey

Sound Healing, breathwork, meditation and somatic movement are also incorporated to help you generate the movement needed to produce the results you want.

For the last 12 years, I have been working in recovery centers for drug and alcohol addiction offering life coaching and sound healing. This has been one of the greatest ways I have been able to share my gifts and be of service to people who are hungry for positive change and results. I am amazed at how open and willing people are to do what it takes to heal and transform themselves from within.

Private Group Sonic Womb Live
Experience Sonic Womb Live in a private group setting.

What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
Being genuine, grounded and of service to others. When you can get out of your own way and are down to earth, people really respond well. My success has definitely been built on people coming to see what I do not just for my gift of music but because they resonate with who I am.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.gabrielloganbraun.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gabrielloganbraun/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkeQ0YJnXpBXmljVL-6Nh1g
• SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/gabrielsoundhealing
• Other: https://linktr.ee/gabrielloganbraun

Image Credits
Nico Nelson