Chill with Symbiosis

Edition 2 – ‘Autumn’ – An Ode to Autumn; Our Friends the Trees (Revised Repeat)

25/10/25: This month, Clive presents a soothing soundscape for gentle relaxation, with the themes: ‘An Ode to Autumn’ & ‘Our Friends the Trees’. The programme also includes a special preview of a guided ‘Relaxation & Visualisation’ by Julie Milton of South Devon’s Rowcroft Hospice (in collaboration with Symbiosis) and ends with a “Chilled Playlist” of some of Clive’s favourite ambient music by other artists, including Brian Eno, Arvo Pärt, Thomas Newman and Erik Satie.

Find the music and nature sounds featured in the programme on the playlists are available on the Apple Music & Spotify playlist: “Chill with Symbiosis” (Please use Apple Music if possible, as they support the artists more!)

With special guests: Rupert Flindt (fretless bass); Ashley Drees (percussion); Sarah Devonald (Cor Anglais) and Emily Jane Page (flute).

FEATURED SHOW – Edition 7 – ‘My Chilled Life’

A special programme tracing the development of Ambient and Relaxation Music through a ‘lifetime of listening’ to calming sounds by musician and sound designer Clive Williamson of Symbiosis.

From hearing gentle Classics and Ella Fitzgerald on 78s; through discovering Cool Jazz on vinyl and Psychedelic Pop on a transistor radio; to a flute in the Taj Mahal and streaming natural sounds online… Join Clive as he investigates his ‘Ambient Family Tree’, with contributions from Brian Eno, Gong’s Daevid Allen and flautist John Hackett. His insightful recollections and discoveries include music from Debussy, Tangerine Dream, Paul Horn, Pink Floyd and, of course, 50 years (!) of Symbiosis.

Symbiosis musicians: John Hackett (flute); Richard Bolton (guitar) and Clive Williamson (keyboards, percussion programming, flute, Synthi AKS synthesizer, voice effects and treated whistling). Also appearing in this programme: Chris Jenkins (guitars); Jamie Chadwick (flute) & Daevid Allen (glissando guitar & voice). Reading by Maloviere. (Thanks to: Nora Correa Jimenez, Michele Stroobant, Gareth Glynn, Rafe Jaffrey, Nicky Horne, Mike Sparrow & Andy Finney.)

NOTES:
The music and nature sounds featured can be found on the Spotify playlist: ‘Chill with Symbiosis’. [Watch out for these currently unreleased tracks on future Symbiosis releases: ‘To Chelly, Sal & Zee’, ‘Alchemy from the Depths of Despair (feat. David Allen), and ‘A Drifting of Clouds’.] Satie’s Gymnopédie No.2 is played by Pascal Rogé.

LINKS:
Daevid Allen podcast; Book: ‘Meeting the Music Makers – Brian Eno from Bowie to Ambient’ 

Edition 10 – ‘Summer Smoothies, Seas & Oceans’ – with complete Denise Linn Meditation

Begins with a very laid-back hour of smooth music blending jazz and pop: including songs from Nat ‘King’ Cole, Hall & Oates, Paul Simon and Diana Krall. The second hour starts with Clive’s evocation of the ‘Mystery & Majesty of Seas and Oceans’ using natural sound recordings, poetry and music (from The Kanneh-Masons, Van Morrison and Celtic Women). The programme ends with a full guided meditation from author and healer Denise Linn: “Miracle Power of your Mind – Creating a Positive Future” (with original music by Symbiosis, featuring beautiful interplay between flautist John Hackett and special guest Nick Magnus on keyboards). (Broadcast: 06.07.2025)

Other musicians: Richard Bolton (guitars & cello) and Clive Williamson (keyboards, nature sound recordings & sound design). Also appearing in this programme: Sally Goodworth (piano). Many thanks to: QED Productions for the Denise Linn recording from ‘Phoenix Rising’. (Available from iTunes.)

Edition 9 – ‘Joy, Happiness & Warm Summer Days’

June 2025: Clive explores Joy and Happiness in music, featuring artists such as Joni Mitchell, Bobby McFerrin, Gene Kelly and Louis Armstrong, with some salsa, Cuban ‘son’ and classical music added to the mix. Warm summer days are conjured up by Miles Davis, Michael Franks and Herbie Hancock, and there’s poetry from Walt Whitman and ChatGPT! The programme ends with some of Clive’s favourite ‘psychedelic pop’.

We hear Frank Zappa’s ideas about ‘love songs’ and there’s news about the Ashburton Arts Centre and the online charity ‘Action for Happiness‘, which has a group based in Exeter.

 Edition 8 – ‘Under Moon & Stars’

May 2025: Clive presents some calming new mixes of Symbiosis music with natural sound recordings from Devon, Australia, New Zealand and Colombia; then explores the theme: Under Moon & Stars, including a range of poems from the Victorian ‘Romantics’ to Chat GPT’s AI, via ‘The Owl & the Pussycat’! The programme ends with an hour of Clive’s favourite chilled, ambient and down-tempo music from around the globe, featuring Pakistani-American singer Arooj Aftab; Australia’s ‘My Friend the Chocolate Cake’ & PNAU; musicians from Turkey and Colombia; and singers from Georgia and Brasil.

Also appearing in this programme: Sally Goodworth (piano) and Brian Mullen (cello).  (Thanks to: Nora Correa Jimenez for production advice and help with the new nature sound recordings, and to Becky Wilcock for her support on location.)

Edition 6 – ‘Spring’

The main theme this month is a Celebration of Spring, including music by Delius, Beethoven, Ella Fitzgerald and jazz saxophonist Scott Hamilton. Poets include William Blake, Christina Rossetti and William Wordsworth. The programme begins with more of Clive’s favourite chilled tracks (from artists like Nick Drake, Lou Reed, Priscilla Ahn and Kenyan harpist Ayub Ogada) and ends with a natural sound journey from creeks and streams to the sea in Sydney, Australia.

The music and nature sounds can be found on the Apple music & Spotify playlist: “Chill with Symbiosis”.
The nature sounds are from Devon Naturally and Australia Naturally by Clive Williamson & Symbiosis.

Symbiosis line-up: John Hackett (flutes and guitar); Richard Bolton (guitars and cello) and Clive Williamson (keyboards, percussion, world flutes, wind synthesizer and voice). Also appearing in this programme: Rupert Flindt on fretless bass; Michele Drees (percussion); Emily Jane Page (flute and voice); and Ian Ritchie (soprano sax).

Edition 5 – ‘Symbiosis in Concert – Rudolph Steiner House, June 1992’

A special edition of deeply relaxing ambient music, with extra global grooves and jazz-inspired songs: played live by Symbiosis, from their “Touching the Clouds” concert (featuring guest musician Maloviere).

Enjoy the entire archive concert, recorded live at Rudolph Steiner House in London on 18th June 1992. The performance was given to celebrate the launch of the ‘Touching the Clouds’ album and to help raise awareness of the charity Butterfly Conservation. During the interval, musician and sound designer Clive Williamson presents poetry on the theme ‘The Countryside in Winter & Looking Forward to Spring’, including work by Christina Rossetti, Robert Browning and ‘To a Snowdrop’ by William Wordsworth. The programme ends with a laid-back taster of some of Clive’s favourite Lounge and Chill-out music from the ’90s.

The musicians: John Hackett (flutes and guitar); Richard Bolton (guitars and cello) and Clive Williamson (keyboards, percussion, world flutes, wind synthesizer and voice). The concert also features Ashley Drees (cittern, mandolin, Brazilian pot drum and hand percussion) and Maloviere (violin, tsimbala and recorders). (Also appearing in this programme: Rupert Flindt on fretless bass.)

Edition 4 – ‘Winter; Travelling in the Mind’s Eye; Forest Bathing in New Zealand’

A gentle mix of music, nature sounds and poetry, featuring the music of UK relaxation group Symbiosis and presented by producer and sound designer Clive Williamson. In this edition: ‘Winter Reflections’, including winter-themed poetry; a segment called ‘Travelling in the Mind’s Eye’ creates a ‘winter getaway’ for the imagination in music and words; and some ‘virtual forest bathing’, by listening to New Zealand’s December birdsong and natural environments. The programme ends with ‘cool jazz’, highlighting the work of influential pianist Bill Evans and featuring the work of Miles Davis and Tord Gustavsen.

Edition 3 – ‘Chilled Pop; Life’s Journey; A Plea for the Planet; It’s About Time.’

A soothing soundscape for gentle relaxation with the themes: ‘Life’s Journey’; ‘It’s About Time’; ‘A Plea for the Planet’ and virtual Forest Bathing in New Zealand. The second hour is a “Chilled Playlist” of some of Clive’s favourite relaxing pop and folk music from artists including Coldplay, Pink Floyd, De Phazz, Joni Mitchell and John Martyn.

Poetry in this edition includes works by Charlotte Brontë, Keats, Wordsworth and Blake:
“To see a World in a Grain of Sand
And a Heaven in a Wild Flower,
Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand
And Eternity in an hour…”

Edition 2 – ‘Autumn’ – An Ode to Autumn; Our Friends the Trees (Original Edition)

This month, Clive presents a soothing soundscape for gentle relaxation, with the themes: ‘An Ode to Autumn’ & ‘Our Friends the Trees’. The programme also includes a special preview of a guided ‘Relaxation & Visualisation’ by Julie Milton of South Devon’s Rowcroft Hospice (in collaboration with Symbiosis) and ends with a “Chilled Playlist” of some of Clive’s favourite ambient music by other artists, including Brian Eno, Arvo Pärt, Thomas Newman and Erik Satie.

Find the music and nature sounds featured in the programme on the playlists are available on the Apple Music & Spotify playlist: “Chill with Symbiosis” (Please use Apple Music if possible, as they support the artists more!)

With special guests: Rupert Flindt (fretless bass); Ashley Drees (percussion); Sarah Devonald (Cor Anglais) and Emily Jane Page (flute).

Edition 1 – ‘Chill with Symbiosis’ – with themes: Ebb & Flow; Summer Days; Starry Skies & Inner Spaces; Forest Bathing; Spring & New Beginnings; Songs of Hope

Includes poetry by Emily Dickinson, Kahlil Gibran, Hermann Hesse and Wang Wei; and gentle music and relaxing nature sounds from a number of Symbiosis albums. Presented by Clive Williamson, musician, sound designer and producer with Symbiosis.

Symbiosis are: John Hackett (flutes and guitar); Richard Bolton (guitars and cello) and Clive Williamson (keyboards, percussion, flute and voice). With special guests (in Edition 1): Rupert Flindt (fretless bass); Sally Goodworth (piano); Brian Mullen (cello) and Denise Linn (closing guided meditation: ‘Meditation for your Home’).

Clive also presents the radio series: A Pocket Guide to World Music on Soundart Radio – which also includes music and natural sounds from Symbiosis.

‘Chill with Symbiosis’ includes music and nature sounds from these albums by Symbiosis…