Luminaries Carlos Niño, Saul Williams, Aaron Shaw, Nate Mercereau, Maia the Artiste, Aztlan Unearthed, and more, unite for an ecstatic new standalone 2-track EP. A simmering and evocative exploration in contemporary spiritual jazz, nature/space music, and spontaneous composition.

Elysian Invocation / “Pollen of the Earth” is a soaring, life-affirming longform dialogue between a cast of stellar musicians, every artist in symbiosis with each other and the work’s organic beating heart. Made from guitar, drums, saxophone, synthesis, percussion, and the scorching, fluid Voice of Saul Williams, the pieces commune with many worlds, natural, cosmological, and humanmade, full of fire and full of vision.

Elysian Invocation begins with a rising gale of percussion and interplaying melodic lines before Williams’ righteous calling becomes the focus, both dreamlike in its imagery and incendiary in its authenticity. As vocalist (the Grammy-nominated, Pan Afrikan Peoples Arkestra member) Maia the Artiste repeats our culture is burning / sound the alarm over a tempest of intense, expressive energy, we are drawn into the eye of a cleansing, regenerative storm. The piece was recorded at Leaving Records’ regular Listen to Music Outside in the Daylight Under a Tree live series in LA, here for a California wildfires fundraiser event on Saturday, February 8, 2025.

“Pollen of the Earth” was recorded at the Earthstar Creation Center, in Venice, California in May 2025. The piece sees Niño and Williams in collaboration with LA indigenous group Aztlan Unearthed. It opens with mesoamerican percussion and flute in dialogue, a devotional and ancestral storytelling made magic by the sensitivity of their playing. Soon, birdsong, horns and wordless chants enter and the handdrum rhythms become more entrancing, carrying us on their movement. Saul Williams’ spoken word enters as the ceremony simmers down, rhythmic and lyrical in expressive baritone. The piece calls for awareness, care, activism, and courage, to truly be in tune with Earth and Spirit.

Carlos Niño is a recording artist, composer, band leader who has contributed to countless projects over many years of activity. In 2023 he produced André 3000's New Blue Sun. Saul Williams is a Grammy-nominated rapper, songwriter, poet, author, filmmaker, and actor. He is known for being among the world’s most outspoken and fearless poets and representatives of hip-hop. In 2025 Williams was a featured co-star in the highly acclaimed film Sinners. Aaron Shaw is among the brightest mult-talented musical beings on the planet. His debut LP And So It Is is released Feb 13th on Leaving Records.

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Side A - Elysian Invocation

Carlos Niño & Friends
featuring Saul Williams, Maia,
Nate Mercereau, Aaron Shaw,
Andres Renteria, Annelise Niño,
and Special Guest Leon Mobley

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Side B - "Pollen on the Earth"

Carlos Niño & Aztlan Unearthed
featuring Saul Williams

Aztlan Unearthed are:
Yaotl Mazahua, Joe Galarza,
Caxo, Bulldog, and Ce Tochtli

…

Produced and Mixed by Carlos Niño
Mastered by Matthewdavid McQueen

A - Recorded by Bear Glass at Montecillo De Leo Politi Park, Los Angeles, California for Leaving Records 'Listen to music outside in the daylight under a tree' Fire Aid Fundraiser, Saturday, February 8, 2025

B - Recorded by Ken Barrientos at Earthstar Creation Center, Venice, California, May 2025 and by Saul Williams at Home in Paris, France, December 2025

Thanks to Noah Klein, Living Earth, Alex Kelman, Kasey Lovelace, Jackie Radinsky, Dane Sandborg, and Anisia Uzeyman.