A Sound That Asks Questions

Meet my brother in gongs, Reggie Hubbard. We crossed paths during an artist residency at Kripalu in May 2025. I had the pleasure of spending meaningful time with him, during the quiet gong recording sessions we did together.

Reggie is a dedicated mindfulness teacher who specializes in Nada Yoga, the yoga of sound. His love for gongs has grown into a profound passion that deeply influences his life. Approaching his 50th birthday, Reggie faced a life-changing event—a stroke. He now fondly refers to this pivotal moment as his "reborn day." Gongs have played a crucial role in his recovery journey, helping him heal, find peace and reconnect with others. There's so much more to share about Reggie—his wisdom and wonderful sense of humor. We certainly come back to him later, when we release new recordings from his gong collection. But you don't have to wait, to attend one of his enlighting session. If you're around the Washington area, check Reggie's upcoming performances.

Gongs are fascinating meditation instruments — not because they are sweet or melodic, but precisely because they are not. They are inherently inharmonic. Their complex overtones shimmer and clash. This creates dissonance and tension.

These are not sounds that say, “everything is fine.” These are sounds that ask questions. That challenge your sense of ease. That’s why gongs are so powerful in meditation: they don’t lull you — they awaken you. They agitate the quiet — revealing what usually lies buried beneath.

The soundscape playing now comes from a live recording during a public sound bath at Kripalu. If you listen closely, you may catch Reggie moving between his gongs, along with subtle sounds from the audience. This live session contrasts with the individual gong recordings I made with him in a quieter studio setting, which will be released later. While not as acoustically isolated or detailed as the upcoming studio takes, this live capture reveals how gongs interact in real space — with each other and with the room. The full recording of this live performance is available on YouTube.

The more you listen, the more you discover a world within these sounds. And if at any point you feel uneasy — remember, as Reggie says: it’s just sound. And you can leave this page at any time.

Big thanks to Reggie for letting me record his session, and Kripalu for hosting the session.

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