Maneki Neko

Maneki Neko is composer, soundscape artist, and recording engineer Al Mikula. Based in Austin, Texas, Maneki Neko crafts electro-acoustic ambient music for yoga, relaxation, meditation, and massage therapy. Born in Hawaii, raised around the world in places as diverse as Iceland and Southern California, Al's early career in interactive digital video and audio took him around the world. He left the world of high technology to pursue his lifetime love of music as a recording engineer in Austin's vibrant music and arts scene.

Born in Hawaii, raised around the world in places as diverse as Iceland and Southern California, Al's early career in interactive digital video and audio took him around the world. He left the world of high technology to pursue his lifetime love of music as a recording engineer in Austin's vibrant music and arts scene. Austin's music scene is as diverse as it is vibrant, and he has been privileged to work as a recording engineer on classical, jazz, rock, pop, and ambient releases.

Mixing influences from his travels, Al debuts his own music as Maneki Neko on his new CD, "Auracle." Maneki Neko takes a chilled out vibe, layers it with gently rolling hints of melody, and grounds it in deep, satisfying, resonant beds. The result is music with depth and purpose, music that invites the mind and body to slow down and relax in its ambient textures. The five compositions on "Auracle" combine traditional instruments and melodic structures from cultures with long-standing meditative traditions to build soundscapes that aid the 21st century meditator on a relaxing inner journey.

Steven Parente, Producer of The Smiling Ear, describes "Auracle" as "...narcotic body-numbing vibrations and layers of electronic space sounds that allow the mind to drift into other realms."

Al sums up the philosophy of Maneki Neko's music, "Sound is a core element in almost all meditative traditions. Sound can really change the way we feel - our heart rate, brain waves, and muscle tension. With my music I try to blend the musical traditions I experienced around the world with ambient sounds that let listeners relax or explore through meditation."