Exploring the Sonic World of Natural Information Society

In a music world obsessed with speed and spectacle, Natural Information Society (NIS) invites us to slow down, listen deeply, and get lost in repetition. Led by multi-instrumentalist and composer Joshua Abrams, this Chicago-based collective creates mesmerizing soundscapes that feel less like songs and more like sonic environments — rich, meditative, and alive.

At the heart of NIS’s sound is the guimbri, a three-stringed bass lute traditionally used in Gnawa music of North Africa. Abrams plays it not as an exotic accent, but as a foundational pulse, anchoring long-form compositions that blur the lines between jazz, minimalism, African rhythms, and experimental drone.

🎵 What Does It Sound Like?

Imagine:

• The hypnotic grooves of Can or Terry Riley.

• The spiritual resonance of Pharoah Sanders or Alice Coltrane.

• The patience and spatial awareness of Brian Eno, but with organic texture.

NIS tracks often unfold slowly, building subtle changes over extended durations. It’s not music for the impatient, but for the curious. For those who want to sit inside sound, not just consume it.

🌀 Music as a Living System

Abrams and his rotating group of collaborators treat music like an ecology — everything interacts, but nothing dominates. The ensemble often includes harmonium, bass clarinet, cornet, electric guitar, and percussion, all woven into intricate, looping structures.

There’s no traditional soloing. Instead, the musicians contribute to a shared momentum, like murmuring birds in a flock or ripples in water. It’s a collective act of presence and listening — both for the players and the audience.

✨ Albums to Explore

If you’re new to Natural Information Society, start with:

• “Magnetoception” (2015) – Warm, earthy, and deeply immersive. A modern masterpiece.

• “Simultonality” (2017) – More groove-driven, with tighter interplay and rhythmic shimmer.

• “Descension (Out of Our Constrictions)” (2021) – A joyous, ecstatic collaboration with Bitchin Bajas, built around movement and trance.

🔊 A Live Experience Like No Other

Live, NIS transforms venues into sanctuaries of sound. Performances often stretch into hour-long sets without pause, inviting audiences into a meditative headspace. It’s less about clapping or crowd response and more about experiencing time differently.

🌍 Why It Matters

Natural Information Society is doing something quietly radical: reminding us that music can be sacred without being religious, experimental without being alienating, and deeply grounded in tradition without being bound to it.

In an age of noise, their music is a form of care — an invitation to slow down, tune in, and move with intention.

Have you listened to Natural Information Society? Got a favorite track or album? Drop it in the comments — let’s get blissed out together.