Michael Stillwater, founder of Inner Harmony, is an award-winning songwriter, recording artist and filmmaker. His work explores music’s transformative power and inspires creative expression across generations.
Early life and influences
Stillwater credits his mother’s art and music for shaping his creative path. Growing up in 1960s Washington, D.C., he fell asleep to Bach’s piano sonatas and watched an endless stream of paintings emerge from her easel. Fascinated by television and film, his newspaper route at WTOP, a news outlet, gave him daily contact with studios and media personalities.
Michael Stillwater followed his inner calling from a young age, discovering music when he re-strung his mother’s guitar at thirteen. Uninterested in conventional schooling, he attended Pacific High in California, where he immersed himself in music and spirituality, eventually living in an ashram under Swami Satchidananda.
His artistic curiosity manifested early on, from line drawings to writing stories of ancient times and spies. Music also played a crucial role.
“The clarinet was my chosen instrument throughout elementary school, shifting to saxophone and ultimately guitar in junior high. Only when I began playing guitar did I realize my voice was available for singing — no longer confined by a mouthpiece — so I began writing my songs and performing in local coffee houses. During high school, rock guitarist Nils Lofgren offered me lessons, jammed with schoolmate Seth Justman (keyboardist J Geils Band), and weekly studies with Frank Mullen (prominent jazz guitar teacher in DC),” Stillwater recalled.
Musical and spiritual exploration
Seeking a more engaging environment, Stillwater left public high school in Washington for Pacific High, an experimental school in the Santa Cruz Mountains. There, students explored caves while reading “The Hobbit,” lived in geodesic domes and practiced yoga. He immersed himself in chant, later spending his senior spring at the Integral Yoga Institute while illustrating for the local newspaper.
During this time, he encountered a figure who left a lasting impression on him.
“I met Swami Satchidananda (known for opening the Woodstock Festival), who profoundly influenced me in pursuit of deeper self-knowledge. Moving to Eugene, Oregon after graduation, I began offering yoga classes at a home studio as well as at the University of Oregon, where I studied music and theater. Becoming restless with the academic approach to music, I moved to Marin County, California, to study with composer/arranger W.A. Mathieu, conductor of the legendary Sufi Choir.”
Creative evolution: Music, art and spirituality
In the mid-1970s, Stillwater turned to visual arts, producing a series of line drawings called “GraceNotes” that were published as greeting cards and posters. Alongside his art, music and spiritual exploration continued.
“During this time I organized an interfaith concert of several musicians in Eugene. Together with my first wife, Kristin, I moved to Santa Barbara to be part of a spiritual community, continuing my artwork, displaying and selling my pictures at a beachfront market. There I met a Franciscan monk, Brother Mateo, who demonstrated a quality of spirituality that greatly moved me,” he explained.
In 1977, he encountered “A Course in Miracles,” a transformative influence that led to a new musical direction. “Seeing the words as deserving of music, I began a 10-year path of transmitting these messages through song. Together with Maloah, my second wife, we created a music ministry called Heavensong. Albums of songs were created both in California and Hawaii, where we relocated in the early 80s,” he shared.
Song as a tool for healing: Hospice and beyond
Following their separation in 1990, Stillwater moved to the Pacific Northwest, where his work took on a new depth.
“I began offering intuitive song portraits through hospice. This was a significant time for me — entering the zone of silence with patients, families and care providers, a place from which a new song is always ready to be born. From this time, the vision of publishing a unique recording arose — which would be helpful to those on the threshold of death, but also for their loved ones. This idea eventually became a spoken word/music CD called ‘Graceful Passages: A Companion for Living and Dying,’ with music composed by Emmy-winning film composer, Gary Malkin.”
Filmmaking: Documenting the power of music
Stillwater’s journey into filmmaking grew naturally from his deep exploration of music’s spiritual and emotional dimensions. His first film, “Shining Night,” tells the story of renowned composer Morten Lauridsen, a project that emerged unexpectedly from his broader documentary work.
“My discovery of the music of Morten Lauridsen was through Doris Laesser Stillwater, a Swiss psychotherapist whom I met in 1989 and married in 2006. When beginning our film project, “In Search of the Great Song,” we asked ourselves who should be interviewed — and Morten came to the top of our list. In his agreeing to a short interview, we had no idea that it would inspire a full-length documentary focused fully on his life and music, entitled ‘Shining Night: A Portrait of Composer Morten Lauridsen.'”
The film received widespread acclaim, winning multiple “Best Documentary” awards and introducing Lauridsen’s music to new audiences. Encouraged by its success, Stillwater expanded his filmmaking with “In Search of the Great Song and Beyond the Fear of Singing,” each earning accolades and resonating with audiences worldwide.
His second film, “In Search of the Great Song: Fifty voices. Twelve countries. One question,” explores the universal nature of song across cultures. Winning two “Best Documentary” awards, including its U.S. premiere at the Moondance International Film Festival, the film delves into music’s existential and creative significance.
Over time, Stillwater’s mission with “Song Without Borders” evolved beyond filmmaking.
“The mission began with the film series ‘In Search of the Great Song’ and projects aimed at bringing communities together through song. Upon completion of the three-film series, the work of ‘Song Without Borders’ has folded into Inner Harmony, the platform for all our music and educational services. The mission continues through new resources, seminars and community events.”
Through his films, music and community work, Stillwater continues to explore and share the profound role of song as a bridge between cultures, emotions and inner transformation.
Intuitive songmaking and personal expression
His intuitive songmaking, centered on spontaneous musical expression, remains a cornerstone of his work.
“A fear of singing or creative expression is everywhere in our culture, as we easily compare our own voice with that of greatly talented performers. Yet our natural voice, and our unique creative expression, is perfectly suited to us — if we but give it an opportunity to come forth, ‘out of the cave.’ My focus for these last decades has been to provide such an opportunity, now through SongLife Training online and residential.”
Stillwater’s films and album “Stillwater: Songs & Chants” embody his philosophy of intuitive songmaking, reflecting his personal journey and creative vision. His work is deeply rooted in spontaneity, personal expression and a lifelong exploration of sound as a means of connection and transformation.
“Up until 1977, I saw myself as a songwriter in the traditional sense — taking whatever time is needed to unite lyric and melody into a song which felt good to me. In that year, I discovered another method of accessing new songs — which I came to call ‘intuitive songmaking’ — which is allowing a song to be born spontaneously, in the moment, inspired by anyone asking for a reflection, response, or solution — a musical interpretation of their theme or issue. After years of such song creations and recordings, I am convinced this is a method for anyone to engage in a kind of song self-therapy, as well as providing a unique and memorable approach to song as personal reflection. While continuing to create musical portraits for individuals, couples and organizations, I am engaged in a variety of programs for transmitting this creative tool to anyone interested — both through the online SongLife Training plus weekend and residential seminars,” Stillwater explained.
Stillwater’s work offers a deeply personal approach to music as a tool for connection and self-expression. “The Honoring” is a musical healing ceremony that fosters empathic connection, while “SongSourcing” helps individuals reconnect with their natural vocal expression. His “Song Sanctuary” seminars and “SongLife Training” programs explore intuitive songmaking, songwriting and guitar artistry through workshops and retreats.
Together with his wife and creative partner, Doris Laesser Stillwater, a Swiss contemplative psychologist, he co-leads retreats in Europe and America, integrating contemplative, creative and personal growth practices. Currently based in Switzerland, he continues to offer musical and educational programs both on tour and through worldwide broadcasts from his studio.
Collaboration and legacy
Collaboration is central to his work, fostering creativity through shared artistic visions and complementary talents. When asked about the qualities he seeks in creative partners and how collaboration enhances his projects, he explained:
“Collaboration, for me, is a natural phenomenon when people align with creative vision and complementary talents. I encourage collaboration in songwriting in all of my programs, as each person brings their unique perspective and gift into the creation.”
His artistic journey spans multiple disciplines, from music and visual arts to writing and filmmaking. To preserve and share his extensive body of work, he created Stillwater Legacy, a digital archive spanning 50 years of creativity.
“I have traversed a variety of artistic domains. Recently I summarized my offerings through Stillwater Legacy, a digital archive of 50 years of creation — songs and chants, songbooks and guitar studies, fine-line illustrations, nature photography, essays, humor, spoken word/music creations and documentary films.”
New York events: A weekend of music and reflection
For those in the New York area, Unity of New York will be hosting a special weekend of events with Michael Stillwater from March 28-30. The events will take place at St. Michael’s Church, offering a unique opportunity to experience the transformative power of intuitive song and community singing.
Each day will feature a different event, inviting participants to explore music as a tool for self-discovery, healing and connection.
March 28 – ChantWave NYC
The weekend begins with ChantWave, an immersive evening of sacred and healing chants. This practice helps participants shift from head-to-heart consciousness, fostering connection and emotional harmony through shared song. Rooted in age-old traditions yet adapted for modern seekers, ChantWave offers a space for spiritual and emotional harmony through shared music. More information can be accessed here.
“The power of immersion in song with others — to feel one’s own voice joined with other voice, in harmony, is one of the most beautiful experiences. Anyone who sings in a choir knows this — I just want everyone to have this experience, even those who ‘didn’t make it in the choir.’ That’s what ChantWave is about — with songs and lyrics referring to ‘coming home’ to one’s heart. This continues to be my main performance focus for 50 years- guiding an audience into a collective song of power and beauty — and this is what the March 28 evening at St. Michael’s is about,” Stillwater shared.
March 29 – Song Sanctuary NYC
The second event, Song Sanctuary, is a seminar focused on creating intuitive songs. This workshop invites participants to explore a spontaneous, heartfelt approach to songwriting, learning how to express their emotions, experiences and personal themes through music. With guidance from Stillwater, attendees will discover how intuitive songmaking can serve as a powerful tool for self-reflection and creative expression. More information can be accessed here.
March 30 – Guest Speaker & Honoring Ceremony
The final day features a guest speaker session and an Honoring Ceremony, a profound experience where Stillwater will create personalized songs for participants. This ceremony is an opportunity for individuals to receive a song that reflects their journey, emotions or aspirations, crafted in the moment as a form of musical storytelling and tribute. More information can be accessed here.
This weekend offers a rare chance to engage with music in a deeply personal and transformative way, whether through communal chanting, intuitive song creation or receiving a song made just for you.
“In concluding, I invite you to listen to your core tone, to discover your own unique way of expressing into the world. Being open to change, to new ways in which this core tone wishes to be heard, or made visible — allows for freshness in one’s life, and in the way we share ourselves in the world,” Stillwater said.
More information about Michael Stillwater can be found on his website.
Editor’s note: This article has been edited since its original publication.
Featured image: Photo courtesy Michael Stillwater/Facebook
Edited by Nancy Martin & James Sutton
