The Enigma VIII is the eighth album in the acclaimed Enigma Series by Shinnobu , released under Argáta Records in Costa Rica on December 1, 2019. With this album, Shinnobu marks a new sonic chapter of humanity’s spiritual evolution—an awakening of consciousness that mirrors galactic cycles of night and day.
Concept and Galactic Symbolism
This album expands on the idea that the fall of Atlantis marked a long spiritual night for humanity. Now, according to the vision behind this work, we are witnessing the dawn of a new golden age. Through sound, Shinnobu reflects the resurrection of ancient wisdom, reconnecting listeners with forgotten origins and universal truths. “What Once It Was” refers to this lost sacred knowledge, and the album aims to rekindle that remembrance through music.
Musical Composition and Vocal Alchemy
The sound palette of the album combines neoclassical, ambient, pop, and spiritual elements—woven seamlessly with epic female chants and ethereal Gregorian-style harmonies. The vocals play a leading role, channeling divine messages and invoking emotional release. Each track is designed not just to entertain, but to shift the listener’s vibration and open channels of insight and peace.
Gregorian chants, a hallmark in several tracks, are purposefully employed to elevate the mind into altered states. These ancient vocal traditions act as portals to the subconscious and collective memory, awakening soul resonance and tranquility.
Tracklist
- Only by Love – 10:31
- Stay with Me – 10:15
- In the Sky – 7:29
- Hypnotic Eyes – 8:57
- Bentween Light and Darkness – 6:07
- Buried in Your Past – 6:00
- Forgotten We Went – 8:45
- Crystal – 8:16
- For Ever and Ever – 6:42
- Shadows of My Being – 8:39
Earth Consciousness and Inner Reflection
Much of the album’s narrative speaks of the Earth as a living, conscious being. Shinnobu uses music as a reminder of our interconnectedness—not only with nature, but with the cosmos itself. The rhythmic waves and ambient progressions serve as a soundtrack for deep introspection, urging the listener to reflect on their relationship with the environment and with their inner self.
Titles such as "Only by Love" and "Forgotten We Went" suggest a return to emotional purity and a collective memory of who we once were—beings of peace, truth, and harmony.
Discography: The Enigma Series
A chronological and descriptive list of albums by Shinobu Entsu under the Shinnobu project.
| Year | Album | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | The Enigma I – (We Are One) | Debut album introducing mystical ambient themes. Produced with minimal resources, setting the spiritual and introspective tone of the series. |
| 2017 | The Enigma II – (A Moment With Myself) | Built on the debut’s foundations with more defined melodies and emotional introspection. A personal journey of self-reflection. |
| 2017 | The Enigma III – (Dancing with the Moon) | Explored a more rhythmic and enigmatic sound. Incorporates electronic dance elements with touches of house, while maintaining the mystical atmosphere of the series. |
| 2017 | The Enigma IV – (Journeys of Souls) | Breakthrough release featuring cinematic depth and Gregorian chants. Became viral for its spiritual tone and technical growth. |
| 2018 | The Enigma V – (Masterminds) | Defined the project's musical identity. Introduced more intricate layering and improved production quality. |
| 2018 | The Enigma VI – (The Return to the Origin) | Explored philosophical themes about returning to spiritual roots. Stronger structure and narrative tone. |
| 2019 | The Enigma VII – (Stars Seeds) | Delved into esoteric topics such as starseeds and cosmic origins. Featured meditative and space-like harmonies. |
| 2019 | The Enigma VIII – (What Once It Was) | Nostalgic and reflective. A return to childhood and ancestral memory. Blended melancholy with transcendence. |
| 2020 | The Enigma IX – (Seven Lights) | Explores mythic themes of Lemuria, Atlantis, and Mu. Merges sacred ambient, ritualistic soundscapes, and symbolic frequencies evoking mysticism and esoteric introspection. |
| 2021 | The Enigma X – (Other Kingdoms) | Focuses on interdimensional realities and metaphysical exploration. Symbolic closure of the series’ spiritual arc. |
Spiritual Utility and Mystical Tools
More than an album, The Enigma VIII is conceived as a sacred tool for meditation and self-healing. The compositions carry energetic signatures that guide the listener toward higher states of awareness. With calming rhythms and esoteric textures, the album becomes a sonic elixir—restoring balance and evoking a sense of divine presence in everyday life.
It encourages the listener to believe in renewal, the return of the light, and the reemergence of a human consciousness aligned with wisdom, unity, and planetary stewardship.
Legacy within the Enigma Series
Positioned as a transition point within the Enigma Series, this eighth volume synthesizes many of the spiritual teachings found in earlier works, while also preparing the ground for the more cosmic and metaphysical themes of later albums such as The Enigma IX and X. It is a sonic mirror for anyone seeking to remember who they are, where they came from, and what they are becoming.
Through its atmospheric complexity and emotional depth, “What Once It Was” emerges as one of Shinnobu’s most mature and meaningful works—balancing mysticism, ecology, and galactic vision with poetic finesse.
| Project | Shinnobu |
|---|---|
| Founder | Shinobu Entsu |
| Country |
Costa Rica
|
| Year | 2012 – Present |
| Genres | Ambient, New Age, Ethnic, Neoclassical, Pop, Rock, World |
| Labels |
Argáta Records, Universal Mystic Music |
| Works | The Enigma Series I–X |
| Official Website | www.shinnobu.com |