Rising Stars: Meet Garth Robertson

Today we’d like to introduce you to Garth Robertson.

Hi Garth, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I’ve been a musician for over 25 years playing in different national acts and releasing independent albums. Playing in bars for so many years, I noticed the power of music and how it had the ability to totally change people’s moods and energy. I began pursuing that in a much more focused way and arrived at actually helping people by using specific Sounds from all over the world. Chimes, Himalayan Bowls, Flutes, Gong, Didgeridoo, Hand Pans, Drums, and Vocal Chanting. I began my practice about eight years ago. Mostly saw friends for free as long as they gave feedback about their experience. Eventually, I started seeing strangers and people began to insist they pay me after a session. Now I have a large list of private clients and try to do 3-5 groups sessions a month as well; It’s truly rewarding work and Im grateful every day.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
The path has been very smooth mostly because I didn’t put much pressure on it as I always had music to fall back on. Especially in the beginning. I do have one example. I always struggled with the word ‘Healer’ as in Sound Healer. This is because I am of the belief that any healing that happens during a session is originating in the client’s own body. The instruments and myself are only creating the container or holding the space for people to do their deeper work within. Though, using different nomenclature like Sound Ceremony or Sound Meditation just makes people ask, ‘so is it like sound healing?’ So I just go with whatever people want to call it.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Besides working with Music and Sound, I have a special love for plants. My wife got me started when we got together by slowly teaching my local plants and trees. Many times, she will share the folk uses of specific plants. It’s a passion of mine, and I’m thankful she’s still teaching me. We often combine her knowledge of plants with my knowledge of sound and will hold Plant Meditations. This entails ingesting a gentle and well-known plant, like rose, mugwort, or lemongrass, and then having a Sound Session while people are meditation with that plant’s energy. It’s usually very profound of participants and a beautiful way to collaborate with my wife.

Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
I was like most other kids in the 80s. Played outside a lot. Wasn’t really into sports. I began wanting to learn about music when I was around 14 or so. Grandpa sent me my first guitar. It was an old one that he didn’t play much anymore. I played for hours on end (sorry Mom and Dad). They were incredibly supportive… but I think that hearing any song on repeat for a couple of days will get to ya. The rest is history.

Pricing:

• 1.5 hour Group Sessions $20-$30 sliding scale
• 1.5 hour Private Sessions in Pittsboro (up to 3 people) $75-$115
• 1.5 hour Private Session at your place $90-$130

Contact Info:

• Email: SongoftheSacred@gmail.com
• Website: Songofthesacred.com
• Instagram: garth.sound
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/garthrobertson
• Other: Patreon.com/lizgarth

Image Credits
Bonnie Stanley Steven Whitsett