MEDITATOR started as a concept. James Downs (vocals) had an idea during summer 2017 after his old band broke up. He thought about creating a new studio project, using riffs and basic song ideas he already had in mind. “I approached a friend with a bunch of songs that had a special significance to me”, says James, “and that’s where the name MEDITATOR comes from: to meditate about themes, feelings, and events happening to us as humankind”.

The results of those first ideas was A Darkness Unknown, a concept album produced between 2017 and 2018, and the positive reaction of the album was the catalyst to move from a studio project to a live band. So, James started looking for new members and that’s when Nick Elder (guitar) enters the picture.

After a few live shows, some members had to step down. Far from losing momentum, James and Nick started writing material for a tentative new album, while actively looking for new musicians to play live. And, through mutual friends, they got around Josh Ray (drums) and Gregory Alexander (bass); who became immediately interested in being part of the band after listening to the material MEDITATOR already had. In 2021 Steven Bailey rounded out the line up taking on the rhythm guitar position for the band.

In parallel to playing live again, MEDITATOR started writing and recording new songs for a full album called World Watcher. “This album is inspired by a photograph”, says James. “It’s a metaphor about a person watching the state of the world and how people behave and do things, all caused by mental health. This person, this watcher, is trying to understand what could happen to humankind if it doesn’t change its course”.

With World Watcher completed, the plans were affected because of the global pandemic. This caused uncertainty and frustration among band members because the album was done but there wasn’t much they could do with it. “We had to take a step back and change our plans”, says James Downs, and MEDITATOR put its efforts on a new release date, while actively looking for a second guitarist so they could better represent the music when playing live. That’s how Jance Walker enters the band, whom James said “nailed down the rhythm guitar parts immediately”.

In October 2020, MEDITATOR released “Star Gazer” as the first single of World Watcher, and it was very well received by fans. This song “is a reflection about how people utilize social media to become famous and to idolize celebrities while neglecting what happens in their own lives”.

MEDITATOR has since then released 3 more singles from World Watcher, leading up to the full album release on June 25, 2021. “Our goal right now is to enjoy and have a good time making music”, says James Downs, “but at the same time, trying to create songs that have meaning and substance”.