Brenda McMorrow
White Swan Records
Brenda McMorrow’s Igniting the Beauty captures the sweetness of the sacred sound experience. The title itself speaks to the unique beauty we all embody, the beauty that ignites our heart fire when we chant and sing mantras.
Igniting the Beauty has a variety of moods and feelings. Brenda approaches “Ganesha Om” with a fresh perspective, combining the Sanskrit mantras with original folk and bluegrass arrangements. Other tracks feature Brenda’s personal renditions of traditional mantras sprinkled with English lyrics; one example of this is found in “May I Awaken / Govinda Bolo” where she weaves together the Sanskrit lyrics and their English translations. Her light and carefree vocals on “Gayatri / Shine the Light” emanate both meditative and soulful experiences. The strongest chant on the album, “Anandamayi,” is the ultimate sound nectar that provides the listener with a deeply-introspective sound experience. The harmonies within the track offer multiple layers of sound.
Brenda collaborated with acclaimed musician and producer Ben Leinbach, whose talents can be found on drums, percussion, and electric guitar as well as using his talents to record, mix, master, and produce the album.
The overall mood of Igniting the Beauty is devotional with a distinctly Americana feel for the sacred Sanskrit sounds. This recording expresses Brenda’s own experience with how the power of sound can be both expansive and heart-opening while carrying the vibration of pure joy.
Reviewed by Natalie Macam, a yoga teacher who leads regular charity yoga treks to the Himalayas in Nepal: tigerwaveyoga.com
Natalie Macam is a Yoga Teacher who teaches locally in Los Angeles: www.nataliemacam.com.