An eclectic mix of beats, layers, and chants.

Todays show is a flow of music and exclusive interview segments with Aykanna and the Kirtaniyas.

We kick off with some words and sounds from sacred-music duo Sukhdev and Akahdahmah Jackson. In this segment they talk about the ancient Arameic version of the Lord’s Prayer with reflections on it’s meaning, their individual and combined journeys coming to Kundalini Yoga, the experience of chanting collectively, yoga and kirtan festivals and festival culture, and their upcoming performance schedule.

The songs we hear are Bluezone and Ek Ong Kaur from the release Mother, Om Namo Gurudev Namo from Livelight, and Funky Divinity from Mantra Mala. We also hear the instrumentals Morning Ragga and Rising Oneness during interview segments, both of which can be found on their Livelight album.

Next we chat with Vijay of the Kirtaniyas, a four-piece kirtan band who have been noticeably active on the festival circuit in the past few years, and who have generated much appreciation from fellow chanters.

Vijay talks about his love for kirtan and how the group originally came to be, the adaptation of styles and moods in different venues and environments, their electronic kirtan project and collaborating with other artists, time spent in India and pilgrimage, the Mantras Beats and Bass tour, and their upcoming releases, including an album produced by world music fusion pioneer Cheb I Sabbah.

Musically in this segment we hear the tracks Govinda Jaya Jaya sung by Rasika, Radha Ramana sung by Vijay with production by DJ Drez, Braj Mahamantra also led by Vijay, and Gopi Lullaby performed by Sarasvati.

In addition we hear some excellent background sounds from Chinmaya Dunster and Eastern Sun.

(Aykanna and the Kirtaniyas will both be performing at Shaktifest in Joshua Tree, CA in mid-May)

Alternate MP3 Link – Mantra Radio – May 9th 2013.mp3

An eclectic mix of beats, layers, and chants.

The first track of this episode is a chant to Shiva or Nataraja, a name meaning the “lord or king of dance”. In parts of the Vedic literatures it is described that Shiva performs his Tandava dance, and in doing so dissolves the entire cosmic creation, making way for a new instance of the same to come into being. The vocals are sung by Nicolle Jensen, and the track is produced by the Desert Dwellers, released on an album entitled Muladhara Yoga Dub.

We hear next from MC Yogi from his recent release entitled Pilgrimage. This dubbed-out gem is called Temple Light and kicks off with these thoughtful words – “Temple light shining on the altar made of earth .. feel the one light shine across the universe”…

The second set starts with a song by Luis Camino and his Abya Yala project containing sanskrit poetry written by the great 16th century saint, Tulsidas. The words come from a book entitled Ramcharitamanas, sometimes referred to as Tulsi’s Ramayana. This book reveals details of the life of the avatar Rama and his feminine counterpart Sita. Next we hear Avari, with a song from the first Bloom Series soundtrack, entitled Of The Heavens, followed by another beautiful piece from the album Medicine Melodies, by Silvia Nakkach and Christopher Eickmann. The song is called Sri Narayani Amma, and features the chant “Sri Amma Namo’stu’te”. The word Amma refers to the Divine Mother, and Namo’stu’te is an offering of respect and love, opening oneself to receive blessings and divine guidance.

More chants to the Goddess follow, this time as Ma Durga, with a track entitled Sri Durga Stotram. This is sung by Tritha Sinha and comes from a release entitled Chitraanjali. The middle set of the show is capped-off with the Mayapuris and a reflective piece entitled Gopinath, which also features the instrumental talents of Shantala’s Benji Wertheimer. The song contains words written in the 16th century by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and expresses the feelings of total surrender in love to the Supreme, as demonstrated by Krishna’s one true love Radharani.

The show ends with the poetry and beats of Chances R Good from his release entitled Boomerangs, with a song called Who Am I? – a flow all about spotting and dissolving that pesky false ego. “Who is the question, Am is the Essence, I is the witness, abide with total presence” …

Alternate MP3 Link – Mantra Radio – April 4th 2013.mp3

An eclectic mix of beats, layers, and chants.

The first track of todays show, entitled Above All Else, contains poetry from the great mystic Kabir. He was born in India during the 15th century, externally living the life of a weaver, but internally absorbed in thoughts of, and dance with, his Divine Beloved. “All manner of men, the most wise and the ordinary, the priest and scholars, none can unravel your mysteries. Seeking to unravel your mysteries, they turn mad, drunk”. This song is performed by Shubha Mudghal from an album entitled No Stranger Here, which was co-produced by Business Class Refugees.

From Morley’s Rhythms and Improv release comes a track called Om Peme Jungne, performed and sung by legendary jazz drummer and percussionist, Hamid Drake. This ten-minute journey contains such mantras as “Om Ar Hum Vajra Guru Padma Siddhi Hum”, a Buddhist chant associated with Padmasambhava or Guru Rinpoche, and “Jai Ma”, a prayer for the Divine Mother in the sanskrit language.

We hear another beautiful track, Monk Invocation, from Silvia Nakkach’s release Medicine Melodies, which was co-produced with Christopher Eickmann. Next up is Dub Sutra aka Chris and Charlotte Proud from their release The Rise of Downtempo, a flow of subtle beats, spacey and melodic live instrumentation, and various chants. The track is called Ascentia and is layered in this episode with the Maha-Mantra, sung by Ilan Chester, and some chants to Ma Durga from Durga Stotram, performed by Tritha Sinha.

The last song of the show is by Dub FX (aka Benjamin Stanford) and comes from the first Bloom soundtrack, a collection of music from the series of the same name which documents the current state of transformational festival culture around the globe. The track is called One and contains words expressing and elaborating on the intrinsic connection in spirit, shared by everything, and everyone.

Alternate MP3 Link – Mantra Radio – March 28th 2013.mp3

An eclectic mix of beats, layers, and chants.

The Guru Granth Sahib, the main text of the Sikh tradition, and resource guide for some more recent sub-paths, begins with the words Ek Ong Kar Sat Naam Karta Purkh (etc). This root (mula) mantra is featured in this slow-but-steady paced, and gently unfolding remix of a Snatam Kaur track by Cheb I Sabbah, entitled Mul Mantra. The meaning of these Gurmukhi words can be explained as, “The creator of all is One. Truth his name. Doing everything, fearless, without anger, undying, unborn, self-realized, and realized thru guru’s grace”. The track comes from the release Kundalini Remix, released on the Spirit Voyage label.

Next up are our good friends the Desert Dwellers remixing a track by Deva Premal for her second Devasonic release. The song is a reworking of the bhajan, or song, Jaya Radha Madhava, written by 19th century Vaishnava saint and poet, Bhaktivinoda Thakur. This Bengali song describes some of the features of the divine personality Krishna (Madhava), and his life in Vrindavan surrounded by family, friends, and his eternal lover, Goddess Radha.

Renowned Argentinian composer, teacher, and sound healer, Silvia Nakkach brings a stirring dedication to goddess Saraswati from the beautiful release Medicine Melodies, for which she collaborated with fellow composer and musician Christopher Eickmann. In this sanksrit verse, beginning with the words “Jaya Jaya Devi, Charachara Sharey” some of the qualities of the Goddess of knowledge and art are revealed, such as her white lotus throne, and the beautiful way she plays the Veena, a stringed instrument still used today in Carnatic Indian classical performance.

Temple Step Project are back with Heart of the Whole, another track from their recent release entitled Embrace the One. The vocals are performed by Sufi musician Amir Paiss and are sung in the Hebrew language. In translation they explain a river of bliss flowing from the heart – an inconceivable spring giving life to everything, and a Source which is the home of the whole.

Dub legend Lee Scratch Perry is up next with the track Baby Krishna from his release Panic in Babylon. We hear the sanskrit words “Hare Rama, Hare Krishna” amidst shouts of the fall of babylon, or the end of materialistic concepts. In true rasta-style, songs of the eternal sisterhood of spirit prevailing over all forces of darkness. This set is capped-off by an inspiring and uplifting remix of Glorious Sun – Ya Allah by Laya Project, this one alchemed by the multi-talented composer and dhyaani/yogi Ferenz Kallos.

The show ends with the illustrious, industrious, elephant-powered MC Yogi from his most recent release which is entitled Pilgrimage. This track is a remix of Give Love and it goes a little something like this .. “Open up your heart, unlock the cage, turn the key and break the chains, love will always find a way, if you want love you gotta give love away”.

=) <3

Alternate MP3 Link – Mantra Radio – March 21st 2013.mp3

An eclectic mix of beats, layers, and chants.

The first track of todays show is a recording originally done by Gurunam singh, and remixed by the Desert Dwellers. The song comes from the Spirit Voyage compilation entitled Kundalini Remix, and contains the mantra Dukh Par Har Sukh Ghar Le Jaae, literally translated as “Thus comes relief from pain, and peace comes to dwell within”. It is a mantra for transforming sorrow into joy, and is also an offering to Har, or the Divine One. Closely followed is the track Caravaan from the excellent release Divaneh, a collaboration between Bahramji and Mashti. The whole album is a beautiful blend of Persian, Indian and Western sounds, and deep soulful poetry, some of which is based on the writings of 13th century Sufi poet, Rumi.

The next set kicks off with a catchy remix of Ma, originally recorded by Snatam Kaur and Guru Ganesha Singh. The word Ma refers to the Divine Mother, and is a call out for her nurturing, her protection, and her unconditional love. The track comes from a collection of songs reworked by producer and dj, Krishan, from a release entitled Bhangra Remix. Next up is the prolific and talented Chances R Good with a rain song, dedicated to our Earth Mother and her waters. The track is entitled Yanawana and can be found on his release Earth Tones.

Sadhu Nada brings us four sanksrit verses from Bhagavad-gita, accompanied by some simple and hypnotic sounds. The track is entitled Heart of the Gita and features verses from the tenth chapter of this ancient Vedic text, along with English translation. We cap off this set with a chilled out reworking of David Newman’s Ancient Spirals Shiva. This version is co-produced by Krishna Venkatesh, and contains various chants to Mahadeva, or Shiva, including Om Namah Shivaya. The track is from a recent album of remixes entitled ReBliss.

We close the show with a slowly evolving Maha-Mantra piece featuring the beautiful voice of Ananda Shakir, main vocalist for the kirtan group Shyamananda Kirtan Mandali. This is entitled Love in Separation, a title which illustrates the longing between the bhakta, or devotee, and the divine Beloved, and in this case also the longing between Radha and Shyaam.

Alternate MP3 Link – Mantra Radio – March 14th 2013.mp3