"Journey to Agartha" is an original jazz composition by pianist and composer Arcoiris Sandoval, first recorded on her Sonic Asylum Trio's debut album First Voyage, released on MEII Enterprises in 2018 with Marty Kenney on bass and Allan Mednard on drums. The title references Agartha, a legendary subterranean realm from esoteric and science fiction traditions, fitting within the broader thematic imagination of Sandoval's Sonic Asylum project. The composition has gained particular distinction through its inclusion in New Standards: 101 Lead Sheets by Women Composers, a landmark anthology edited by drummer and educator Terri Lyne Carrington that seeks to expand the jazz canon by highlighting works by female composers. This publication elevated the piece from a deep cut on an emerging artist's debut to a composition with wider pedagogical and repertoire significance. Beyond Sandoval's original trio recording, veteran pianist George Cables recorded a notable interpretation of "Journey to Agartha" on his album I Hear Echoes, bringing additional visibility to the composition through his established stature in the jazz world. Sandoval, originally from Tucson, Arizona and based in New York City, is a two-time ASCAP Young Jazz Composer Award recipient whose Sonic Asylum Trio has performed at the Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, the Tucson Jazz Festival, and Winter Jazzfest. First Voyage won a Global Music Award, and "Journey to Agartha" stands as one of the most recognized pieces in Sandoval's growing catalog of original works.
