Entangled Mind holds nothing back with her newest EP, Illuminate. Boston-based producer and lifelong musician, Marissa Barbato, continues to stay hard at work behind the scenes. Described as “an audible expression of an entangled experience,” the project captures the persistent passion that translates directly into the sound we have all come to love from Entangled Mind.
This psychedelic release explores a magical journey through the Entangled Mind sound, curated organically within the scene over the years.
The opening track on this EP, titled “Brain Bath (Intro),” intentionally eases the listener with a psychedelic downtempo journey. Soft synths and melodic guitar gracefully guide us into the hi-hats, finding their cadence, creating a magical buildup that allows the sound to entrance us, serving as a medium for connection.
“Grounded” is the second track, wonderfully transitioning us into the heavy bass sound that Entangled Mind has cultivated for themselves. High and low frequency synths pair with a deep rolling bass that accentuates a dangerously crafted snare drum. Blessings from the horn section allow progression. Live instrumental recordings weave themselves through carefully crafted commands of tension and release.
“These tracks have been in the works for a couple years now. I got to play them at Tipper & Friends Suwannee earlier this year (2025), as well as at OZORA Festival in Hungary this summer (my Europe debut).”
– Marissa Barbato (Entangled Mind)
The skillful electronic production that exudes from ‘Illuminate‘ perfectly balances organic instrumentation with intuitive phrasing, complex layering, and thoughtful arrangements.
Our title track, “Illuminate,” naturally demands attention. It parallels the Entangled Mind sound to its core. Heavy reverb, wet pads, and a funky rhythm lead us into this track’s personality that blends tribal tunes with bass-saturated hypnotic rhythms. It concludes in an immersive and vibrant journey for the listener.
“Bonsai (feat. The Spy From Cairo)” is the fourth track listed. Enriching our eardrums early is a live recording of the Oud. Strings reflecting a guitar parallel the organic sounds of the bass guitar, carrying us into the build-up. Resampling and modulated synthesizers release us deep into an auditory haven. Live instrumental recordings, top-tier bass music production, and a familiar command of tension and release cement us in the Entangled Mind sound we’ve come to love.
“You’ll hear plenty of my own recordings such as guitar, djembe, darbuka, jaw harp, bass guitar, and handpan weaved into my production, as well as collaborations with The Spy From Cairo (an incredible oud player based in Italy, aka Zeb), and Amalgamy (NYC-based multi-instrumentalist playing kanun, kora, kaval, and gadulka).”
– Marissa Barbato (Entangled Mind)
Their production weaves these instruments throughout multiple tracks using resampling and synthesizers; however, an organic Jaw Harp emerges at the tail end of “Solar Flare.”
The next track up, “Solar Flare,” is a fantastic blend of Downtempo and Glitch-Hop. The style of strings is undeniable, easing us slowly into the solemn cadence of the song. A mystical feeling washes over, carrying our minds to a magical place before drawing us back through tension and release. As the strings fade and the drums surge forward, the music once again places us inside a multi-dimensional showcase of skill, creativity, and style.
Finally, we have “Zemya,” closing out the Illuminate EP. Whispers of the Handpan instrument are accompanied by shakers. Soft strings ease us into a mystical atmosphere that fills us with wonder and whimsy. Instruments such as the Kanun, Kora, Kaval, and Gadulka are featured throughout the track with the help of Amalgamy. We are inundated by a PsyTrance melody and resampled female vocals that tease themselves gently into the track. Elegantly creating the final heartbeat that our ears can follow.
Illuminate is a collection of six meticulously crafted gems.
Catch Entangled Mind on her 2026 Illuminate Tour!
- Headlining Boston – Hometown Show (January 31st, 2026)
- Headlining Denver – Cervantes Other Side (February 12th, 2026)
