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Imagine a voice that connects your spirit to God. That is the talent of Krishna Das. Steeped in Hindu spirituality as well as having a remarkable connection to spirit, Krishna Das sings full-hearted to his guru Neem Karoli Baba.
In 1968 he was influenced by a group of his friends to visit Ram Dass in 1968. Inspired by his meeting with Ram Dass, Krishna Das then traveled in 1970 to spend two years as a devotee to Neem Karoli Baba in Northern India. When his visa expired, Krishna Das returned to the States two years later.
Krishna Das’ unique contribution to music is his avant garde approach in updating musical accompaniment to traditional Hindu chanting and singing, arising from his roots stepped in the traditions of jazz, blues and rock and roll. Krishna Das’ debut album, One Track Heart integrates and combines the classical genres of eastern music with western overlays.
In Krishna Das’ Flow of Grace (2 CDS AND book) in the first CD,, he painstakingly introduces the novice to the Hanuman Chalisa, which he has sung for over 30 years, placing slow and patient emphasis on the pronunciation of this extended song. The Hanuman Chalisa as sung by Krishna Das is a rollicking prayer to Hanuman, the devotee of Ram. It is a 40-stanza piece, replete with joy and devotion to the great God Hanuman, the magnificent representation of humility and bravery. The next CD of the Hanuman Chalisa contains the many renditions and styles of Krishna Das’ singing of the Chalisa, again integrating a straightforward kirtan approach with a more western rendition (“Good ole Chalisa”). For those who have sung this Chalisa, one recognizes the utter joy that springs forth from the heart of Krishna Das in reciting this prayer to Hanuman.
There is also a 73-page book that contains both pictures and stories of Hanuman, Krishna Das’ guru, Neem Karoli Baba and others.
This title of the CD Heart Full of Soul by Krishna Das is so reflective of the voice of Krishna Das. Together with a soulful deep voice reminiscent of a father’s influence, Krishna Das once again brings a full-hearted approach to his chanting. Again synthesizing the western influence, these two discs are set against a background of acoustic instrumentation. We also see the deep-seated desire of Krishna Das to bring kirtan outside of the traditional satsang into the world at large. The music by Krishna Das is so reflective of the influence of his guru, Baba Neem Karoli, that one imagines oneself in the presence of Maharaji, as he was respectfully called by his devotees, and feels the blissful connection that Krishna Das feels to his own Guru. This music will enrich your soul and open your heart.
Pilgrim Heart captures the essence of Krishna Das in his music: that of an open and young heart always voyaging on the path in search of connection to his spirit and Guru. Utilizing as a backdrop, drums, sitar, vocals and synthesizer we see again the merge between western sounds and Eastern “bhakti” philosophy. This time Sting is featured in two composition, one of which, “The Ring Song” is an amalgam of the 1950’s pop culture.
In any of the music of Krishna Das, you are treated to full-throated warm, encompassing sound that sings entreatingly and humbly to the Divine and at the same time touches deeply the heart and soul of any spiritual seeker
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Deva Premal was raised by a family that instilled spiritual values in her together with a deep love of both classical music and eastern wisdom consisting of mantra recitation and spiritual discipline. Bring those qualities together with an unbelievable voice able to carry people into ecstatic and silent states through her sound and you have Deva Premal. Both Deva Premal and her partner Miten who have lived and played together for over 11 years are able to uniquely intermingle the exploration of sound and harmony intermingled with devotion and awareness.
In the CD The Essence, Deva Premal weaves into her music a rich tapestry of ancient mantras, and blissful harmonies couched and held by a deep and spiritually evocative voice. Deva Premal invites you to remember how bliss comes through the renunciation of thought, and through her sound you are dissolved into a free space of purity, stillness and bliss. Chanting daily the Gayatri mantra since Deva Premal was five years old, you can hear the devotion Deva Premal brings to this familiarly loved chant on the first track of The Essence. Supported by her partner Miten on vocals and guitar, Rai Rishi on drums, hand percussion and keyboard, Maneesh on piano and keyboards and Reijj Junior on guitar, Deva Premal’s music takes you into ecstasy. There are no other words to describe the feeling of the essence that awaits us beyond this existence and Deva Premal’s voice successfully carries us into this special place where only bliss resides.
It is said that any mantra recited 108 times in a spirit of devotion brings to the devotee untold spiritual riches and insights. Thus, when this Moola Mantra was given to Deva Premal and Miten by Sri Bhagavan and Sri Amma, one of the gifts was the union of male and female energies promoting love and harmony. This moola mantra recitation is back dropped by the instrumentation of Jai Uttal,Benjay Wertheimer, and Manose with the instruments of sitar, bansur, flute, guitar, strings and piano. These evoke a richness of sound that parallels Deva Premal’s voice which has been described as a rhapsodic interlude of velvety sound. Allowing yourself to surrender to the voice of Deva Premal is a true spiritual experience of bliss.
Into Silence is a compendium of Deva Premal’s favorite and popular pieces of music from five of her past albums. Here you are treated to the familiar “Gate Gate,” “Om Namo,” “Om RamRamava,” and others. When Deva Premal sings, you cannot help but relax and surrender your mind to her rapturous and velvety voice. It is as if you sink into a different state of consciousness; you do not want to resist when Deva Premal carries you to your spiritual goal of peace and sacredness along the smooth and uninterrupted path of her voice.
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Snatam Kaur has led an unusual life—one of spirituality from the time she was a youngster. Both of her parents were schooled in the Sikh tradition and that influence has evolved over her life. In fact, along with her formal education, she received instruction in kirtan, meditation and Gurumukhi, the language of Sikh scriptures. She received lessons also in voice, violin, guitar and percussion, and the violin was a favorite instrument of hers. Not just eastern classical music, but Snatam Kaur was also trained in Western classical music. Snatam Kaur’s music thus brings to people a quality of combining both the best of the West and the East. The most unique element of course is that Snatam Kaur was raised in a deeply spiritual household where she was able to infuse her music with her aspirations to divinity.
When Snatam Kaur was a little girl, she was actually taught by the great Bhai Hari Singh. There she learned to bring great presence and awareness to her music. Snatam Kaur traveled to Singh’s home and became a part of his family while she was being tutored.
When she returned to the States, Snatam Kaur recorded her music with the Peace Family as the band’s lead singer. It was through their influence that she began to write her own songs and developed her singular sound and style, which has contributed to a fruitful career.
Snatam Kaur’s singular quality is allowing the music to wash over you and engulf you in a feeling of ecstasy. In the album Prem which is based on esoteric Sikh texts, you are enabled to enter a meditative state and feel cleansed of any obstacles in your spiritual life. Her voice moves you to the rapturous feeling of love, which is the meaning of Prem. You feel surrounded by divine love as Snatam Kaur’s music wraps around your soul.
In the wonderful album, Anand, Snatam Kaur creates an ambience where one can experience calmness and bliss, which is what ananda means in Sanskrit. Snatam Kaur ‘s voice is featured with guitar, piano, tabla beat, harmonium and sarod. Her accompanist, Manose, plays a wonderful harmonious flute, which meshes with the delicacy of Snatam Kaur’s voice. You are sure to feel the most divine peace when listening to Snatam Kaur.
With Snatam Kaur’s Live in Concert (CD&DVD), the CD features handpicked recordings and footage that arose out of her touring schedule from fall 2006 to spring 2007. We are treated to some of her wonderful selections that have been selected for their quality of excellence and inspiration. In the DVD documentary called “Path of Peace,” we see vignettes from Snatam Kaur’s life, as she travels from concert to workshops and concerts, and we are also treated to conversations conveying intimate insights into her spiritual life and her divine aspirations and realizations. We see that Snatam Kaur truly aspires to lead a committed spiritual life, both as a human being and as a gifted singer.
Snatam Kaur’s voice shows her mastery of sound healing as the vibrations and sounds bathe you in bliss and cleanse your being.
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