It wasn’t my first yoga class, but it was definitely the first that felt fully aligned with where I was at, especially compared to the last time I tried to keep up at a Lifetime Fitness class that was way above my grade level. Vickers’ approach, on the other hand, felt grounded, accessible, and built with intention.

A former A&R rep with over a decade of experience in the music industry, Vickers has spent the last few years shifting his focus toward mental wellness, launching BALM, a mindfulness initiative geared toward the music community. And while the André 3000 class was a one-off series, his commitment to helping others—especially Black men—connect with themselves through meditation and movement is just getting started.

The actual idea to make New Blue Sun the soundtrack to these sessions, though, came from Balu, a recording artist and leader in the men’s wellness space in Toronto. “​​That was actually all Balu,” Vickers says. “He came to me with the initial idea, and it aligned with me perfectly.”

The serene nature of Andre’s music makes it an excellent fit for yoga.

As the class began, New Blue Sun didn’t come on right away. There was some other instrumental music beforehand, in the same ambient atmosphere. Then, Vickers started the album without referencing it, smoothly transitioning right into his lesson. 

Vickers began with an intention-setting exercise and a guided meditation, which led into the warm-up, during which all participants drank a small cup of sage tea placed in front of each mat. 

Soon enough, the flutes of André Benjamin blended into the background. After the first 10 minutes of Surya Namaskar (Sun Salutation), the aura of one of the greatest MCs in human history playing a woodwind instrument quickly wore off. 

This is not his first time blending music and mindfulness. His journey into this space is tied to his relationship with the music industry. He saw a family member involved in music struggle with their mental wellness, and he attributed a lot of that to the industry. 

“Not knowing how to deal with the mental stresses of this thing, especially as a shy person, an introverted woman, she didn’t know how to deal with these things. So something there, I think, attributed”

While working with an artist as an A&R, they developed the idea to do a wellness day as part of the rollout. The album was focused on mental health, so it seemed like a good fit. They never got the funding to make it a reality but the spark was there to share his enlightenment with the others.

“I would just go to different modalities, go to sound baths, try different things and just see, what does wellness look like, and how do I feel doing it? So, like, I would go and I would feel amazing. I like everything I’m feeling right now, everything I’m doing, I need to share this with I need to get it out to people, how about I build something that can, specifically cater to people?”

He’s done just that. His service is unending, his next public offering is called Eudaimonia, an all encompassing Sage Tea ceremony that will feature yoga, meditation and a soundbath. The idea of being a guide is something he is leaning into as someone who has spent most of his career behind the scenes, this growth is welcomed. 

Vickers continues his quest to hold space for Black men. With the New Blue Sun yoga series in the rearview and the Eudaimonia on the way, the enduring quest for mindfulness continues.

For more information, check out Jamal’s Insight Timer.