Mars Lasar: The Pioneering Sound of Electronic New Age

Mars Lasar is an Australian-born electronic composer and producer renowned for his lush, cinematic soundscapes that blend new age, ambient, and electronica. His 1992 debut album, The Eleventh Hour, became a landmark release in the genre, achieving gold certification and establishing his signature style of emotive, narrative-driven instrumental music.

Early career

Born in 1964 in Sydney, Australia, Mars Lasar demonstrated prodigious musical talent from a young age, mastering piano and delving into early synthesizers. His professional journey began in the late 1980s after relocating to the United States, where he initially worked on sound design and commercial jingles, honing the technical skills that would define his future albums.

Breakthrough

Lasar's breakthrough arrived in 1992 with the release of his debut studio album, The Eleventh Hour, on the Real Music label. The album was a commercial and critical success in the new age market, eventually earning a gold record for sales and receiving a Grammy nomination consideration, which propelled him to international recognition within the genre.

Key tracks

The Eleventh Hour — The title track from his gold-certified debut is a quintessential example of his early, powerfully melodic and atmospheric style.

Olympic Fanfare — Featured on his 1996 album 11:02, this grand, uplifting piece showcases his talent for creating large-scale, inspirational themes.

Karma — A standout from his 1994 album When Worlds Collide, this track highlights his evolving integration of world music elements and complex electronic rhythms.

Escape from Babylon — This dynamic, rhythm-driven composition from his 1995 album of the same name illustrates his move towards more percussive and sequenced electronic productions.

Following his initial success, Lasar continued a prolific output through the 1990s and 2000s, releasing albums like Escape from Babylon and Karma on the Real Music and Miramar labels. His work expanded into film and television, with music featured in projects for National Geographic and the Olympic Games, while he also explored more beat-oriented electronica under the alias "Sonic Edge."

Artists exploring similar terrain in electronic and atmospheric music include Kitaro, who shares Lasar's affinity for epic, synthesizer-based new age compositions. David Arkenstone creates comparable cinematic soundscapes that blend orchestral elements with electronic music. Deep Forest mirrors Lasar's interest in fusing global music samples with contemporary electronic production. Jean-Michel Jarre represents a foundational influence in the realm of expansive, melodic synthesizer music.

Mars Lasar's influential catalog is a staple on dedicated new age and ambient radio stations, as well as on online radio streams specializing in instrumental and electronic music. His albums, particularly his early 90s work, receive regular rotation on stations that curate relaxing and immersive sonic experiences for their listeners.

The music of Mars Lasar can be heard across various radio stations featured on our website. Listeners can discover his pioneering electronic and new age compositions by tuning into the radio stations available on onairium.com.