Estas Tonne | Message From the Stars
Estas Tonne’s “Message From the Stars, how a spontaneous soundcheck in Dublin during the 2022 Envision tour became a philosophical meditation asking humanity to remember our Original Dream for Earth.
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Story Behind “Message From the Stars”
The Dublin Soundcheck That Became a Cosmic Letter
Sometimes the most profound music arrives unannounced. During a routine soundcheck in Dublin while completing the Envision tour in 2022, Estas Tonne’s fingers found something unexpected on his classical guitar. The piece that emerged felt different—vast, reverberant, almost otherworldly. As Tonne later described it, the moment felt like “an invisible mail carrier had just delivered a letter, a memo to open at the right time.”
This wasn’t planned. This wasn’t rehearsed. This was pure spontaneous creation, the kind of musical moment that can’t be forced or replicated. The guitar spoke, and Tonne listened, following where the notes led him into territory he hadn’t mapped before.
The Question That Haunted a Year of Performances
Throughout 2022, as Tonne performed the piece night after night across the Envision tour, a vocalized message kept appearing during his shows. The same philosophical inquiry surfaced repeatedly, resonating with the composition’s meditative character: “Can we, humans, remember the Original Dream for this Earth and our participation in it?”
This question became inseparable from the music itself. For a musician who describes himself as a modern-day troubadour traveling the world without identifying with any single nation, the piece embodied his approach to art—music as a bridge between cultures, a meditation on humanity’s shared responsibility. The track wasn’t released until January 27, 2023, giving it time to evolve through live performance before being captured in its studio form.
“Message From the Stars” Recording and Production Details
Leon Galperin’s Minimalist Touch at SoundPro Studios
The recording and production of “Message From the Stars” required a delicate balance—capturing the spontaneous essence of the original soundcheck moment while ensuring professional sonic quality. Leon Galperin handled both mixing and mastering at SoundPro Studios, working to preserve the improvisational spirit that defined the piece’s creation.
The production approach emphasized space and resonance. Rather than layering the track with additional instrumentation, Galperin’s work focused on highlighting the natural acoustics of Tonne’s classical guitar, allowing each note to breathe and decay naturally. This minimalist production philosophy suited the piece’s meditative character perfectly.
Solo Guitar as Philosophical Statement
Tonne performed the entire piece solo on classical guitar, with no additional musicians or overdubs. This stripped-down approach aligned with the track’s contemplative message—one voice, one instrument, one question posed to humanity. The recording showcases Tonne’s technical mastery, blending classical structure with flamenco-influenced techniques and the rhythmic characteristics he’s absorbed from studying diverse musical traditions.
Geri Dagys Photography created the graphics and animation for the release, providing visual accompaniment that complemented the track’s cosmic themes. The complete package—sound, production, and visual presentation—was produced by ETmusic under the One Heart Sound imprint.
Notes About “Message From the Stars” by Estas Tonne
Release Date: January 27, 2023
Duration: 5:12
Genre: World Music / Contemporary Classical / Meditative Guitar
Format: Single (Digital Download)
Featured Artist: None (solo performance)
Producer: ETmusic
Mixing & Mastering: Leon Galperin (SoundPro Studios)
Label: One Heart Sound
Distribution Model: Donation-based (emphasizing accessible art)
Recording Context: Composed during Dublin soundcheck, Envision Tour 2022
Estas Tonne “Message From the Stars” Era Details
Release Details
Type: Single release
Release Date: January 27, 2023
Catalog Number: 70
Label: One Heart Sound
Format: Digital Download (MP3 320 kbps + WAV)
Distribution: Bandcamp, Spotify, Apple Music, and streaming platforms
Pricing Model: Donation-based on official channels
Philosophical Context: Part of Envision Tour 2022’s exploration of collective human consciousness
Personnel
Estas Tonne - Classical Guitar, Composer, Performer
Leon Galperin - Mixing, Mastering (SoundPro Studios)
Geri Dagys Photography - Graphics, Animation
ETmusic - Producer
Production Notes
Spontaneously composed during Dublin soundcheck in 2022
Performed throughout Envision Tour 2022 before studio release
Solo classical guitar performance with no overdubs
Recorded and released in 2023 after year of live evolution
Available as part of Tonne’s donation-based music philosophy
Later performed live at Dreamersland festival in Poland (2023) with additional musicians
Emphasizes Tonne’s improvisational approach and spiritual musical philosophy
Interesting Facts About “Message From the Stars”
The Modern Troubadour’s Philosophy Made Sound
Estas Tonne has spent decades traveling the world as what he calls a “modern-day troubadour,” performing over 2000 concerts across continents from the USA to India, from Mexico to Israel. Born Stanislav Tonne in Ukraine in 1975, he began studying classical guitar at age eight, only to stop playing for eleven years after his family moved to Israel in 1990. When he resumed in 2001 in New York, performing in a duo with violinist Michael Shulman, something had changed—his music had become a fusion of classical structure, flamenco technique, Gypsy roots, Latin characteristics, and electronic soundscapes.
“Message From the Stars” perfectly embodies Tonne’s philosophy that music isn’t a career but life itself. The track’s spontaneous creation during a soundcheck reflects his belief in following musical intuition rather than forcing compositions. His approach to distribution—offering music on a donation basis—reinforces his view that art should be accessible, communal, and shared freely rather than gatekept behind commercial barriers.
From Solo Meditation to Collaborative Expansion
While the studio version of “Message From the Stars” is a solo guitar meditation, the piece took on new life in live performance. At the Dreamersland festival in Poland in 2023, Tonne performed the track with an expanded ensemble including Tatjana Branoff on vocals and lyrics, Bernd Bechtloff on drums, Conrado Molina on drums and percussion, and Hernan Suarez on flute. This live version, released in February 2025, demonstrates how Tonne’s compositions remain fluid, evolving through collaboration and performance rather than remaining fixed studio artifacts.
The transformation from soundcheck accident to philosophical statement to collaborative performance piece shows Tonne’s approach to music as conversation—with himself, with other musicians, with audiences, and ultimately with the cosmic questions that inspired the piece’s recurring meditation on remembering humanity’s Original Dream for Earth.
Common Questions
Q: What is “Message From the Stars” by Estas Tonne about? A: The piece centers on a philosophical question that appeared repeatedly during performances: “Can we, humans, remember the Original Dream for this Earth and our participation in it?” It’s a meditative invitation to reflect on humanity’s collective responsibility and connection to the planet.
Q: How was “Message From the Stars” created? A: The composition spontaneously emerged during a soundcheck in Dublin while Estas Tonne was completing his Envision tour in 2022. Tonne described it as feeling like “an invisible mail carrier had just delivered a letter,” emphasizing its unexpected, improvisational origin.
Q: Where can I listen to “Message From the Stars”? A: The track is available on all major streaming platforms including Spotify, Apple Music, and Bandcamp. Estas Tonne also offers it as a donation-based download on his official website, emphasizing the communal and accessible nature of his art.
Q: Is there a live version of “Message From the Stars”? A: Yes, a live version was recorded at the Dreamersland festival in Poland in 2023 and released in February 2025. This version features additional musicians including vocalist Tatjana Branoff, drummers Bernd Bechtloff and Conrado Molina, and flutist Hernan Suarez, expanding the original solo guitar piece.
Q: What guitar does Estas Tonne play? A: Tonne plays a classical guitar made by Armin Hanika, a German luthier. He has stated that it’s not the guitar brand that matters, but how each musician can connect with the instrument, express through it, and feel themselves.