The Moment that Changed Everything
Sequoia Records wasn’t born in a boardroom—it started in the woods.
Back in 1982, we (David & Steve Gordon) were two overworked session musicians from L.A. who wandered off into Sequoia National Park to get away from it all. Sitting beside a mountain stream, we heard something unexpected: music in the wind, in the birdsong, in the water itself. That moment changed everything. We went back with microphones and our digital audio recorder—and came out with Misty Forest Morning. From there, Sequoia Records began—just two brothers, a reel-to-reel TEAC tape recorder, and a feeling we had to follow.
We started off small, hand-distributing those cassettes to metaphysical bookstores—places where people came to explore spirit, not just shop. The music struck a nerve. People were using it to meditate, to heal, to sleep, to feel something real. That grassroots support let us grow without ever needing to “chase trends.
By the time CDs came around in the late ’80s, we had a rhythm going.
You might have found our albums in Natural Wonders, Discovery Channel Store, Barnes & Noble, Borders, or independent record stores across the country—our CDs were some of the most featured in their listening stations. We sold hundreds of thousands that way, connecting with people who stumbled across something spiritual just when they needed it.
At this time we started releasing music by other artists we loved along the way.
Nurturing Artists Who Bring Illumination
We’ve always stayed close to artists who walk the same kind of path. Folks like:
- Gary Stadler, with his magical, Enya and Loreena McKennitt inspired Fairy music.
- Achillea, Jens Gad’s global chillout solo work after being co-producer and guitarist of the multi-platinum-selling artist Enigma.
- Shajan, crafting reiki-Master level pure ambient music-balm for body and soul.
- Karmacosmic, taking world fusion to visionary heights.
- Singh Kaur, one of the most beloved Sanskrit chant artists with a voice that feels like she is coming straight from the stars.
- Zingaia, who mixes mythic energy with tribal dance electronica.
- Sophia, merging sacred chant and healing sound into something deep and luminous.
A New Sound Emerges – World Fusion
Then came our (David & Steve Gordon) own drum albums—Sacred Earth Drums, Drum Medicine and others—which carved out a whole new space in global music. These weren’t just percussion records; they were a new kind of world fusion that blended ancient instruments like Native flutes and tribal drums with electric guitar, synth textures, and ambient atmospheres. Rooted in our own shamanic practices and ceremonial journeys, this sound spoke to something primal and modern at the same time. It was both grounding and transcendent—
and it still echoes through everything we do.
As the years rolled on, so did the sound. We leaned into ambient. Then global grooves. Then chilled-out lounge. In 2002, we launched Sequoia Groove to showcase downtempo electronica from all corners of the planet—like the beloved Buddha-Lounge and Café de Luna compilations. Spa people loved it. Yoga teachers played it on repeat. Late-night mystics found their soundtrack.
Where Science Meets Sacred
In the late 2010s, we stepped into the world of binaural beats collaborating with leading sound-researcher Richard Merrill and frequency-based healing music with albums like 432 Hz Forest Healing, exploring deeper ways sound can support wellbeing. Our (David & Steve Gordon) most recent release, Thankful, brings things full circle—combining our early acoustic sound with ambient atmospheres for a return to quiet, heartfelt presence.
Some of our releases even made it onto Billboard’s Top 15—Drum Medicine, Fairy HeartMagic, Buddha-Lounge 3—and of course we were proud to see that. What means even more are the messages and stories listeners have shared with us on social media about how our music has helped them through hard times or deepened their spiritual practice.
A Growing Tribe of Friends and Followers
We were one of the first indie labels on iTunes. Our stuff’s topped the New Age and World charts there more times than we can count. And between all the streams, CDs, and late-night listens, we’ve clocked over 948 million plays from people all over the world.
Those numbers aren’t just milestones—they’re reminders that our music reached people when they needed it. That it’s been listened to, shared, and made part of countless lives. From the forest. From the heart. This music has been healing for us, and we’re grateful to walk this path with you too.
If you’re on a path of mindfulness, spirituality, movement, or just need something deeper to hold onto Sequoia’s here for you. Always has been.
