A song telling the story of the martyrdom of the Bab which is one of the key Bahá’í Holy Days. The lyrics were written by Duane Varan but the musical composition, vocals and instruments were AI-facilitated. The lyrics are as follows: When the Bab - was in His cell Sharing His final words from the citadel But the guards dragged Him away Seven hundred fifty soldiers prepared to do the deed It was a public execution that would proceed So They suspended the Prisoner against a barrack wall And placed...
Jul 03, 2025•3 min•Ep. 23
A song celebrating Abdul-Baha's contributions to social movements of His day (including race unity, world peace, the environment, and women's rights). For further discussion - listen to episode #6 of the Society Builders podcast series which explores this theme in greater depth. The lyrics are as follows: When ʻAbdu'l-Bahá - visited our nation He brought a whole new social conversation He worked through discourse and social action And His message got a positive reaction He brought a new strand t...
Jun 28, 2025•4 min•Ep. 22
This is a song composed to help commemorate the Ascension of Baha'u'llah in 1892. It is one of the nine sacred Bahá’í holy days. The song is based, in part, on this quote from Baha'u'llah: "The Ancient Beauty hath consented to be bound with chains that mankind may be released from its bondage, and hath accepted to be made a prisoner within this most mighty Stronghold that the whole world may attain unto true liberty. He hath drained to its dregs the cup of sorrow, that all the peoples of the ear...
May 26, 2025•4 min•Ep. 21
A song composed to celebrate the 'Declaration of the Bab', commemorating the birth of the Bahá’í dispensation. The lyrics were composed by Duane Varan but the voices, instruments and musical composition were generated using AI. The lyrics are as follows: The Bab paved the way for the Promised One of All Ages His Revelation ran for over 20,000 pages And for every page – a martyr gave their life For every page – His followers suffered in strife The more they tried – to extinguish His flame The bri...
May 21, 2025•3 min•Ep. 20
An exploration of the Ridvan 2025 message of the Universal House of Justice. This is best listened to after studying the message as it will then cue your memory on key constructs in the message. The lyrics are written by Dr. Duane Varan but the voices, instruments and musical composition are AI.
Apr 21, 2025•4 min•Ep. 19
A song about the Festival of Ridvan - a 12 day celebration each year commemorating the period, in 1863, when Baha'u'llah first declared His mission. The lyrics were written by Dr. Duane Varan but the voices, instruments and musical composition were facilitated using AI.
Apr 18, 2025•5 min•Ep. 18
A song inspired by study of the message of the Universal House of Justice on March 19, 2025 on the role of the Bahá’í home in society building. They lyrics are written by Duane Varan while the voices, instruments and musical composition are AI-generated.
Mar 20, 2025•4 min•Ep. 17
A song that explores the harmful effects of backbiting and defamation highlighting the need for an 'etiquette of expression' where people better regulate their communication. The lyrics are by Duane Varan but the voices, instruments and musical composition are AI-generated.
Mar 18, 2025•3 min•Ep. 16
This song explores the power of the Holy Spirit to transform us and give us capacities we never dreamed of. The lyrics are written by Duane Varan but the voices, instruments and musical composition are AI-generated.
Mar 15, 2025•4 min•Ep. 15
An alternative version of the "Society Builders" theme song for the Society Builders podcast series produced and hosted by Duane Varan. The lyrics are written by Duane Varan but the voices, instruments and musical composition are all AI-generated.
Mar 15, 2025•4 min•Ep. 14
This is an alternative version of "The Gift of Fasting" song (episode 12) adopting the bossa nova genre style.
Mar 14, 2025•4 min•Ep. 13
Song about the bounties associated with the Bahá’í fasting season which occurs in the 19 days leading up to the vernal equinox (start of spring), the start of the Bahá’í New Year (usually the fast runs from March 2nd thru March 20th). During this time Baha'is refrain from eating or drinking from sunrise to sunset. The lyrics are original and are based on Bahá’í Writings on fasting. The music composition, voices and instruments are AI.
Mar 04, 2025•4 min•Ep. 12
This is a song created to celebrate the Bahá’í New Year (Naw Ruz). Producing the song was deeply moving for me as I studied and reflected on the Bahá’í Writings about Naw Ruz. Although I haven't included any direct quotes from these Writings, you will see their influence in the lyrics. The second verse was fun - conveying what spring represents (the Bahá’í New Year coincides with the start of spring in the Northern hemisphere). My favorite part was getting the words vernal equinox into the song ...
Mar 03, 2025•3 min•Ep. 11
This was a song I produced at the request of some Malaysian Baha'is who wanted a song celebrating Uncle Yankee Leong, who was the first local person to embrace the Bahá’í Faith in Malaysia. The lyrics are mine but the musical composition, voices and instruments are all AI.
Mar 01, 2025•4 min•Ep. 10
This was a song I produced for a youth conference in Perth in 2024. The chorus builds on a quote from the Universal House of Justice in Ridvan message of 2024: "All must surge, but the youth must soar." It's a message speaking to the power of the youth in bringing about positive social change. The lyrics are mine but the music composition, voices and instruments are all AI.
Mar 01, 2025•6 min•Ep. 8
Song written to celebrate Ayyam-i-ha, the Intercalary days in the Bahá’í calender which is comprised of 19 months of 19 days (the 4-5 days left over each year are the Intercalary days of celebration).
Feb 28, 2025•3 min•Ep. 7
A theme song developed for the 'Ethical Business Building the Future' (EBBF)'s 35th Annual Conference in Istanbul. The chorus includes the theme: Every choice leaves a trace. This is a reference to this quote from the Universal House of Justice: "Every choice a Bahá’í makesas employee or employer, producer or consumer, borrower or lender, benefactor or beneficiaryleaves a trace, and the moral duty to lead a coherent life demands that one’s economic decisions be in accordance with lofty ideals,...
Feb 26, 2025•3 min•Ep. 6
A summary of the key themes explored in episode #36 of the Society Builders podcast series. The song explores four stages of learning in action: Action, Reflection, Consultation and Study and explores how our approaches to analysis should be centered on applying the Creative Word and the methods of science. This is based on a quote from the Universal House of Justice: “…the Bahá’í community has adopted a mode of operation characterized by action, reflection, consultation and study—study which in...
Feb 26, 2025•3 min•Ep. 5
A song summarizing the theme in episode #35 of the Society Builders podcast series. The song explores how we can unleash human capacity as individuals (through training institutes), as institutions and as communities - facilitating a culture cultivating the limitless potentialities latent in human consciousness.
Feb 26, 2025•3 min•Ep. 4
This song featured as a summary of episode #34 in the Society Builders podcast series. It explores the power of agency, empowering participation.
Feb 26, 2025•3 min•Ep. 3
This is the song version of the podcast introduction, sharing the overall rationale associated with the music collection. It invokes a Middle-Eastern flavor to reflect the origins of the Faith, but with a Western musical style.
Feb 26, 2025•3 min•Ep. 2
This first episode provides a short talk explaining the background and rationale to the Bahá’í Tunes podcast. It explores the role of AI-generated music and explains the author's aspiration in having individuals and communities use the music in the series freely across community events, social media posts, media productions, performances and the like.
Feb 26, 2025•13 min•Ep. 1
