Antarayaami: Knower of All Hearts Nina Rao If you’ve listened to Krishna Das, or interacted with his work in any way including viewing the kirtan history-making 2013 Grammy pre-Award telecast, then you have been affected by Nina Rao. Since 1996, Rao has served as Krishna Das’s assistant, response singer, and kartal player. Additionally, she is [...]
Photos of Krishna Das at Bhakti Fest West 2012 shot by Kristina Clemens Kristinaclemens.com Chanting is called a practice for one reason: It only works if we do it. Chanting has been my main practice for years, but it took me a long time to realize that it’s only by doing it regularly [...]
Shankar, a Sanskrit name meaning “One who gives Bliss,” was the perfect surname for the late Ravi Shankar since he bestowed happiness to so many in his 92 years of life. Responsible for the introduction of Classical Indian Music to the West through his relations with The Beatles in the 60s, Shankar set the Western [...]
Be in the Bhav Released by White Swan Records Within the Bhakti Yoga community, the calendar year is now measured from one Bhakti Fest to the next. This is when friends and family from all parts of the world join together again in elated sound and celebration at this epic yoga and kirtan festival. With the [...]
Reflections on Pilgrimage There was The Beatles’ Sgt Pepper, The Beastie Boys’ Ill Communication, and now there’s is Pilgrimage by MC Yogi. Reaching #1 on the iTunes World Music charts upon release, MC Yogi’s sophomore album dives deeper into self-inquiry, spirituality, and Slick Rick stylings guaranteed to get your non-bhakta brethren break-dancing to the beat. I had [...]
MC Yogi is a phenomenon. The next big thing in sacred chant, he’s a rap artist with profound social awareness (check out his songs about Obama and Gandhi) and has a penchant for Hip Hop Hinduism (ala Ganesh, Hanuman, Rama, Krishna and others). Born Nicholas Giacomini in California’s Bay Area, MC is a musical navigator [...]
In the 70s, the Z-boys made Venice Beach famous for its quintessential lifestyle with skating and surfing. Now the hip-hop band Luminaries has increased the spotlight on the Westside as a hub of conscious and spiritual living on their full-length album "One." One features guest performers including kirtan artist C.C. White on "Surrender," I, Star [...]
From the moment I hit play on Hindi Zahra's new album Handmade I was transported to other lands. Although Hindi is a Franco-Moroccan singer, her music and production occasionally have undertones from the South Pacific of the 1950s. I was taken back to my youth watching reruns of the television show M*A*S*H with my father, [...]
When Krishna played his flute in the fields of India, the Gopis and Gopas lost themselves dancing and singing in ecstatic bliss. Fast-forward to a Trevor Hall concert in 2011 and you’ll find the audience reacting in a similar manner. It’s no wonder because when listening deeply to Hall’s newest album titled Everything, Everytime, Everywhere, [...]
Are you ready for a fresh spin on familiar mantras and melodies? This is what Donna DeLory has delivered with Remixes. This release is filled with versions of her mantras by a variety of DJs who deliver new flavor to classic favorites. Mac Quayle, Rara Avis, Eastern Sun, Desert Dwellers, Atom Smith, Dave Dale, and [...]