Serial entrepreneur Miki Agrawal turned to music to heal with her debut album IT ALL EXISTS available now. Agrawal performs under the stage name “Soul Gaze” alongside veteran musician Happie Hoffman. Agrawal went through a tough divorce and decided to use music as a way to capture the human journey of emotions that happen during that. When she’s not writing or singing, she is a businesswoman running critically acclaimed companies. It is inspiring to see the leaps of faith and well laid plans that Agrawal had during this process.
When reflecting on her album, she shares, “Music became a potent outlet for me during my transition out of my marriage. It allowed me to express my deepest yearnings, desires, frustrations, and realizations about love. Collaborating with Happie Hoffman and Gene Evaro Jr. was an incredible journey of trust and vulnerability. We explored the fusion of dance music and heartfelt lyrics to create an album that shifts energy and promotes healing.”
The eight song LP opens with “Antarctica,” an empowering song about finding love again – personified by a love with Antarctica itself. The track uses beautiful imagery like “in your snowy arms” and “what we often see is the surface, the tip / and miss the deeper realms.”
Agrawal plays with a fun pop-jazzy sound, singing with a soft, light voice. This song is also where the album gets its name; the chorus repeats “it all exists / it’s all okay too.” it greatly represents someone coming into their own, similar to Hayley Williams’s “Watch Me While I Bloom.”
With the track “Fire,” Soul Gaze continues to prove that writing about nature keeps the band in their element. The song feels more like a chant, with heavy bongo drums and lots of repetition. The first captures feeling ice cold, teeth chattering – then it transforms to talking about the fire on the inside. The glowing transformation that comes from healing. The harmonies are light yet fierce. It carries power throughout while still highlighting the struggle and pain of healing.
Another track to highlight is “Fart in the Wind.” It has what feels like a uniquely silly title, but it is deciding not to dwell anymore. Agarwal sings “Life comes and goes like a fart in the wind.” It has an americana sort of feel, leaning into the more speaking style of singing. Agrawal has reached a moment where she knows life happens – she just has her own way of saying it.
The final track of the album is “Changed.” It is about exactly that, a ten-year relationship ended solely because the two have each changed. She wishes her partner nothing but the best and knows they will still be best friends. The electric guitar riff is bluesly and fun, the darker sound contrasts to the positive message.
The LP IT ALL EXISTS, plays a lot with pop, R&B, Americana, and island-like sounds. It is clear Agrawal had a vision for this project and saw it through until the end. The LP transports the listener to her world – the production and attention to detail make it feel like a musical. We are introduced to a main character and get to watch her fight and heal over eight songs. Agrawal proves firsthand how healing music can be, whether you are the singer or the listener.
Written by Katie Power
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