If experimentalism is defined as "the philosophical belief that the way to truth is through experiments and empiricism", then The Mindful aim to be a musical expression of this belief. Founded by Brett Vaughn, The Mindful play with sounds, styles and musical approaches at will, making use of primarily rock and jazz influences while also offering funk and Americana vibes. Not merely instrumental-based music, The Mindful's colorful lyrics narrate a vast and varied display of songwriting prowess and discoveries.

Brett Vaughn grew up in a family of musicians, his father being a guitarist, grandmother a classical singer, and generations before them also being involved in classical music. With this upbringing, Vaughn was exposed to a wide variety of musical styles, and he eventually began playing guitar at age 11. Fast forward to age 21, when Brett Vaughn was accepted into Boston's prestigious Berklee College of Music; a school with a legacy that included legends of the jazz pantheon from John Scofield, Pat Metheny and Bill Frisell, amongst countless others of various disciplines. At this point, Vaughn's vision on his instrument as well as in composition transformed as he was ushered through true musical craft. Studying scores of Bach, Stravinsky, Mahler while also learning how to create jazz horn arrangements expanded his concept of how music could be made. Then there were the ensemble experiences, such as his first semester when he was under the supervision of Lin Biviano, Count Basie's high trumpeter in the 70's. The list of intense training experience goes on, but Brett Vaughn graduated with a purpose to take all that he had acquired and craft his own sound consciously and via osmosis.

The Mindful is the expression of this process. Listeners will hear and find all the steps along Vaughn's musical path; the broad scope and intensity of rock, the wonder of psychedelic music, the sophistication and boundary pushing of jazz harmony and melody, the raw emotion of American roots music, and the rhythmic syncopation of funk. Lyrically, The Mindful cover all the ways in which our lives are urging us to transcend beyond our limited, individualistic scope in favor of a larger purpose.