EarthRise SoundSystem latest album features musical guests Vishal Vaid and MaxZT. (Black Swan Records) The acclaimed production duo, Derek Beres and Duke “Mushroom” Schommer, aka EarthRise SoundSystem (ERSS), have combined their musical expertise to mix dozens of international and electronic artists. Additionally, they’ve released three acclaimed albums—two of their own music, and one featuring their remixes [...]
The debut from ex-punk-rocker-turned-yogi Raghunath served as my traveling companion on a drive along the rocky coast of Maine. The album’s broad strokes, energized layers, and variety of beats proved to be a fine sonic complement to the rush and fade of Atlantic waters. The artist/yogi (never without his harmonium) is beloved worldwide for his [...]
One meaning of the word kirtan (phonetically keer-ton) is 'praise'. A variety of kirtan chants, often as call-and-response were traditionally utilized as a method to pay respect to the Divine. In his fifth release, Safe Harbor: Healing Kirtan – Mahaprasad, master musician, poet, peace activist, award-winner, and healer Sudama Mark Kennedy delves soulfully into this [...]
Trevor Hall photo by Marina Chavez Close your eyes and listen deeply to the lyrics of KALA, the latest album from beloved Trevor Hall. In Sanskrit, kala means time. Trevor’s 13-track album guides us along a transformative journey of lessons learned, of pain and healing, and of the love, passion, and gratitude which [...]
Sacred musicians and husband and wife, Govind Das and Radha’s new album Lunar Mantras is truly an ocean of grace, a sweet musical remedy of bhakti (devotional) medicine. As the title suggests, the softness of the divine ma or mother energy is felt in every note. Lunar Mantras features eight angelic melodies with different sentiments [...]
Gabriel Braun's The Sound Temple Album encourages listeners to use their entire bodies to interpret his latest album. Gabriel Braun, a musician and sound healer, has been honing his craft to create his first solo project, The Sound Temple Album. This rich restorative experience combines crystal bowls, flutes, harmonium, and voice. While the idea of [...]
Like a River to the Sea uses traditional kirtan instruments to produce chakra-expanding sounds. Singer, violinist, and composer Jahnavi Harrison has an interesting backstory; she grew up in the Hare Krishna community Bhaktivedanta Manor, a beautiful country estate in the UK donated by George Harrison and the largest Hare Krishna community in Europe. At 19, she [...]
SoMantra: Where Soma and Mantra are One is more than just an album of catchy chants. It’s a tool to tap into one’s innate wisdom, mitigate daily stress, and resolve chronic pain. Scott and Shanti Medina, a husband and wife team who are the voices and writers behind this transformative approach, have been combining [...]
Hanuman has always resonated with me—his warrior attitude mixed with humor. It’s my approach to life, so I was eager to hear The Hanumen’s Leaps and Bounds. The group members are friends who are talented multi-instrumentalists trained in the sacred music of India and Africa: John de Kadt, Benjy Wertheimer, Gaura Vani, and bassist Purusartha [...]
Chapter of the Forest, a tranquil musical exploration of respite for the soul. (Vanguard Records) There comes a time in every musician’s life when retreating is not only crucial for one’s creativity, but essential for survival. Some of the things that can arise from this much-needed respite for the soul include: a sincerity that can’t be [...]