The White Lotus Health and Wellness Center in Opelika will celebrate the release of CDs created by Alabama residents Saturday from 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
Al Bennett, Marcus Johnson and Khari Allen Lee are each releasing CDs Saturday night. They will answer questions during a Q&A session and play songs from their albums. "We're all friends, and we collaborated on each other's projects in various ways," Bennett said. "We're going to be performing a few of the songs from the albums and have a little jam session."
The release will also feature a screening of a stop-motion animation "A Race to the Center of the Sun," which features music from Bennett's album "Foraelia."
The book Bennett is in the process of writing influenced his album.
The plot focuses on Bennett's creation of Foraelia, which he said is Earth's sister planet.
"Foraelia's the name of this other world," Bennett said. "The book will probably take me about a year to finish, but it goes with the album."
Johnson, who earned his masters from Auburn, is releasing "Life as a Human, Vol. I." Johnson credits a lot of the inspiration for this album to a trip to Peru.
Johnson, Lee and Bennett traveled together and explored the rainforest.
"We gained many insights about ourselves, which I believe played an important role in the creation of the record," Johnson said. "Life experiences, self analysis and the observation of others played a major role in this record, as well."
Johnson describes his album as a discussion of "self-realization at an individual level and how one's environment, perceptions and thinking affects one's view of him or herself."
Lee is releasing his CD, "Conscious Evolution," Saturday as well. He is a graduate of the University, but grew up in a family of musical professionals, educators and lovers.
Describing his music as his art and his art as his life, Lee wanted to share his gift of music with others to heal, inspire and unite all people.
"My inspiration as an artist comes from my experience, from our shared experience, from our individual and collective aspirations, and from the ineffable, indescribable Source," Lee said.
Bennett, Johnson and Lee recorded their CDs at the recording studio located in Bennett's home.
"I have a recording studio in my house and I've been recording other artists for about ten years," Bennett said. "I've always wanted to do my own album, and we all embarked on these projects about a year ago."
Food and wine, for those 21 and over, will be provided at the event, which open to all. The CDs will be available for people who attend.
"It will be a gathering for the purpose of sharing and cultivating creativity, enjoying the energies of positive communion and for celebrating each other, our works, and the times," Lee said.
The White Lotus Health and Wellness Center is located at 705 Ave. D in Opelika. Call 818-770-5112 for any questions or to RSVP.
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