The project is launched by “Meditations,” a piano-driven scenic track that feels more like a movie score than a beat. The keys are rich and dynamic and punctuate at certain junctions before the track itself soars into a crescendo when the crunchy boom-bap drums come into play towards the end. Lyric-wise, Xavior Black dives into the concept of the growing self and how evolving life can be when one goes through several path-changing experiences.  He also touches on the introspective aspect with profound lines like “When you’re everything, you’re nothing there is no you to be found/Condition of the self starts to unravel and unbound/Its the clarity of knowing there is nothing but the now/Written in perfect balance in the teachings of the Dao.” The next track, “American Dream,” explores the rise of corporate greed, consumerism, mass desensitization and the mental health fallout of the present state of American society. The title is ironic when you look at his lyrics, which detail the broken state of affairs. Lines like “Gotta fight through the deep plunge and distress/Its an everyday battle not to depress/So we press the dreaded state of right now/You miss one paycheck and then your lights out/hey yo It don’t really seem like the fight’s fair/Just looking for anybody who might care” underscore the never-ending rat race we are all stuck in and unfortunately it has become the norm. The production is a blend of classical and cinematic piano riffs and strings with crunchy boom-bap drums layered underneath Xavior Black’s expressive flow and intense emotional display.  The American dream is a nightmare is the main takeaway Xavior Black reveals on this dystopian and gloomy track.

Thus far, I must say that his production prowess is undeniable as his knack for progressive musical arrangement is present on all the tracks. The slow build-up and soaring of piano chords, cinematic strings and the use of drums to drive the track keeps listeners locked in. The final track, “When A Good Dream Ends,” is a conceptual track that looks at the pre and post enlightenment stages of the individual. The track offers something different as it’s a spoken word piece that introduces us to yet another skillset he possesses. Looking at the lyrics, one can see the relatability and the slow progressive tale that traverses the naive stage to the fully self-aware individual. Lines that caught our attention are as follows; “Because forever was never in the cards and that is what makes it fucking hard/ when such a good dream came to an end/when a good dream ends you are left with the shattered fragments of reality and that actuality is like a nightmare/So what’s up and what’s down with everything just seems pointless.” It is gloomy and not so inspiring, but it serves as a wake-up call for one’s inner awakening.

Overall, Meditations & Dreams is short and dense and gives audiences enough to ponder on.