Mara🇧🇪

Bio For several years, Belgian artist Gert Stockmans has been channeling his search for calm and introspection into intricate ambient compositions under his Samatha moniker. Now he reveals more of Mara, the shadow twin of this project. Named after the figure in Buddhist tradition who personifies illusion and temptation, Mara explores what lies beneath the surface of calm. Rather than seeking catharsis, the project confronts emotional turmoil through darker textures, heavier atmospheres and a sense of unease that lingers beneath the music. Following the release of the debut single Seeker of Shadows in November 2025, Stockmans recorded a full Mara album under the guidance of producer Chiaran Verheyden. New single Gazing Back features Harm Peters (Psychonaut) on drums and Anthe Huybrechts on vocals. Anthe’s performance brings another emotional dimension to the track, deepening its atmosphere and capturing the feeling Gert envisioned for the song.