My work is founded on the exploration of Consciousness and the cultivation of Listening.
It is through experience and cocreation that we may explore as individuals and as communities the full richness of consciousness. When we set upon the understanding and cultivation of consciousness, our potential for awareness and growth may be exponentially realized.
It is my belief that one of the most powerful ways by which we may cultivate consciousness is through our utilization and development of Listening.
For me, Listening is not solely concerned with hearing, it is our whole being Of profound reception and expression. My understanding of Listening was initially formed out of my interest in music and sound. Over the years, this original interest has evolved into my examination of all phenomena and the varying degrees and depths of Being through which I incorporate a number of modalities into my creative work, these include: mysticism, the sciences, philosophy, architecture, martial arts, yoga and other disciplines.
These concepts require a diverse and complimentary palette of expression as they touch on a broad number of issues and concerns. It is for these reasons that I have worked in the mediums of sound and music, literature, imagery and film.
Through my creative endeavours, I am not attempting to define but to explore and stimulate potentialities of what we consider to be the real and the imagined, the possible and the impossible.
BIO
Joël Tibbits is a composer, writer and multimedia artist.
At an early age, Joël was intrigued by sound, an attraction that began with his father's record collection
and led to his study of music composition at Simon Fraser University with Owen Underhill, Rodney
Sharman and Rudolf Komorous.
In addition to his profound fascination with sound, Joël was equally drawn to mysticism, mythology
and science. This cocktail of interests took him on to further studies and explorations of the martial
arts, and bioenergetic modalities. In 2000, while studying Bushido in Japan, Joël experienced an
altered state of consciousness that initiated the creation of "The Books of Magra", a nuanced and
expansive creative ecosystem devoted to the exploration of consciousness through experiential and
creative enquiry.
Since then, Joël has initiated and collaborated on a number of projects of varying genres and
intentions, including acoustic and electronic chamber music, film and installations. However, “The
Books of Magra” has always remained his creative epicentre.
In 2018, Joël published the first book and album, "The Books of Magra: Hax-Sus." In 2019, "Grand
Structures" from "The Books of Magra: Hax-Sus" album was included in Sonologues, a spatial
installation at the Vancouver Library in B.C. Canada. In 2024, “A Luminous Brocade” was performed
by Angelique Po on June 18th at St. Andrew's-Wesley United Church in Vancouver, B.C., Canada.
This was the very first performance of live music from "The Books of Magra."
Through his creative endeavours, Joël is not attempting to define, but to explore and stimulate
potentialities of what we consider to be the real and the imagined, the possible and the impossible.
All in the spirit of exploration and experimentation; to foster greater understanding and experiential
richness of Being, and the mystique of "more" that comes with the wonder and awe of the cosmic
dance.