We had the blessing of leading the Sadhana chants in the morning and rocking out in YTC that same evening. Thank you to all the amazing players who helped make this so much fun. I know it's a little lengthy, but there's a couple of treats towards the end. Counter clockwise from bottom left: Siri Kartar on pedal steel guitar, Pritham Hari on Guitar, Hari Atma on Bass, Guru Darshan on Drums, Sat Darshan on Keys and Lead Vocals, Akalpreet and Siri Rishi on backup vocals, Bachan Kaur on backup vocals and freestylin', Terrence on Dholak.
I know it's been a very very long time since I posted anything, but I feel like this opportunity was too good to ignore. I've been living in NYC for a bit now, interning at a recording studio. I got off a night shift there and decided to kill some time in Central Park while I waited until the time I was supposed to meet up with a friend. On my way through I saw an old guy playing trumpet on a bench with his case open in front of him. I thought of my first audio mentor Jason Goodyear and wished I had a way to record it. Than I remember I had my laptop with me! (I usually do). So I booted her up, started Logic and just let it go. While I was recording, my mom called me, and so I got that to. I wasn't very close, but trumpets are so loud, I think it turned out pretty cool.
Oh, and Jason, give me a call and leave a message.
I know I haven't posted in a while, but Bachan asked if I could did up this track for her and it was so beautiful, I figured I better. And I was even able to steel a picture from Bachan that actually goes with it. What more can you ask? There's a buzz at the beginning, but it goes away after a few seconds.
Everything Belongs To You - Bachan Kaur Khalsa Download
Leraine Sat Nam!!! I know it's been forever since I've posted anything (about half a year), but I'm still here, and with plenty of spiritually uplifting music live music to share. The Summer Solstice Sadhana here in Espanola just ended. I didn't record nearly as much music as I would've liked, most of the main events got recorded, but there were a lot of Yogi Tea Cafe performances that I really wish I could've captured on tape. I did get a few good one's though. One musician in particular I am very happy to have and be able to share, Leraine Horstmanshoff. She played in the Yogi Tea Cafe a few times as well as in the Rensabhai. Whether she was rocking out, or playing something soft and meditative, she did it with so much skill, as well as a lot of heart. One of the most amazing things she did, which I'm sad to say I wasn't able record, was play the didgeridoo and guitar at the same time. We (the sound crew) had to help her by making a little nook on the floor of the stage out of tape so she could keep the didge steady since both hands were busy with the guitar.
The first track is from Yogi Tea Cafe. When I was recording this, my computer crapped out during her intro, so I tried to edit the pieces I had into something smooth. The second 2 are from the Rensabhai. She played at a really magical time just before the Amrit Ceremony started and only the die hards were still awake. There was a group of us sitting together right in front of the stage she was on and there's one part where you can here us all singing together in unison. It was really beautiful.
I wish I had some pictures of her, or knew if she had a website I could link to. I feel bad for not putting more energy into getting to know her, if anyone does, please let me know or direct her here. And enjoy her awesome music! The above picture is from Prabhu's blog and is outside the tent and around the time Yogi Tea Cafe was happening.
I apologize for not posting for so long and I hope I haven't lost too many of you. Here's a recording from the Rensabhai (all night Kirtan/Music) that we had here in the Espanola Gurduara for New Years. That whole night was so beautiful, and so much inspiring and uplifting kirtan was played. Here's a small sample and a picture to go with it. I led the shabd and was very blessed to have Hari Bhajan Kaur and Bachan Kaur singing with me as well as Simran Singh playing the tabla. There's nothing like a good solid Jatha to lead the Sangat in Kirtan. I'll post more samples from that night soon. This particular shabd is a shortened version, the extended version, as well as the Kirtan of the entire night will soon be available here Akanni Sound Productions for purchase. Some friends and I are in the process of starting a record label under this name (yay!) so that we can get even more and better quality uplifting music out there, and so all the money that we make by selling these live recordings will go to make this dream a reality. The website is still under construction, but we are hoping to have everything up by March 1st. Dhan So Vela - Sat Darshan Singh and Friends Download
OK, going to talk about something that may be a little controversial, but what are blogs for, eh? I've had or witnessed a couple of independent conversations that dealt with opposite sides of the same issue. Both of them made me feel kind of sad and angry as well. I have one very close friend who is relatively new to Sikhism, and her family has mixed feelings about it. They are all very open minded and universal, but they perceive Sikhism as being somewhat limited and ritualistic. My friend has said, and I agree with her, that Sikhism seems kind of insular from an outside perspective. And they also don't understand why she would want to devote so much energy into Sikh music. It is hard for her because she's stuck between 2 worlds that don't really relate to each other.
I spent some of my weekend with Snatam and Guru Ganesha because they wanted me to record the intense Raag training that they had scheduled. It came up during one of the sessions that at a number of different Gurduara's that they visited while on tour, the Granthis or heads of the Gurduara wouldn't let them play if they were going to include their non-sikh tabla player.
What has happened to Sikhism that these kind of things happen?\nDon't get me wrong, I love being a Sikh, and nothing makes me feel more empowered than wearing my 5 Kakars and full bana, or when I do Panj Baniaa. But to me, Sikhim was founded on a few very basic principles. A sense of Seva, or selfless service, and very stong concept of all inclusion. The Siru Guru Granth Sahib is full of hymns written by a number of Hindu and Muslim saints, some that lived before Guru Nanak's time. Members of all faiths were always welcome in Gurduara and the Lungar kitchen, and Guru Nanak's own chela and Rhebab player was a devout Hindu. Sikhism has never preached that it wasn necessarily better than other religions or that other faiths aren't valid. The reason Guru Nanak Ji offered a new path was much of Hinduism and Islam at the time was so corrupt and the people weren't living their faith, not because the faith and philosophy itself wasn't also a valid path to God.
Above all though, Sikhism was founded on the Pillar of the Shabd Guru. The whole Universe as we know is just vibrations at different frequncies, different manifestions of God if you will. And it is when these vibrations vibrate at higher and more pure frequencies that we perceive them as sound. The Guru's of the Sikh faith understood this phenomena and gave us the tools to fully utilize it in the form of the Shabd Guru, the perfect sound current. As Sikhs we only bow our head to the Siri Guru Granth Sahib, and the logic behind this is that only the perfect sound current, or Naad embodied in our Guru can truly help one vibrate with and become one with God. This isn't to say that you can only find Naad in our Guru, but I would be hard pressed to find so much, so centralized anywhere else.
But to have a friend who says she almost felt guilty wanting to devote her life to the Shabd Guru because of how her family perceives Sikhism and what they may have told her, or to hear that members of other faiths are not allowed to help lead our Sangat in experiancing the Shabd through music, even though they have the talent and devotion to do so, it makes me a little sad
I should be optimistic though. All this is just a very small part of the Global Sikh picture. The Golden Temlpe in Amritsar is a place that members of all faiths feel comfortable to visit, not just Sikhs. At least half, if not more than half of the people that come through every day to bow their head have short hair and are clean shaven. And there are people like Snatam who have devoted their lives to sharing the Shabd Guru with as many people as possible. And on that positive note, here's a beautiful picture from Winter Solstice taken by Sita Kaur and a track I put together a while ago that I feel is appropriate to the topic. I was taking an Audio Production class and our teacher gave a lecture on the concept of silence and an amazing man by the name of John Cage ( John Cage's 4'33"). It really resonated with me, because I've been taught as a Yogi and a Sikh that the universe is always vibrating God's name, so there is never "true silence." The Unstruck Sound Current, God frequncy, is always vibrating in everything. It was a great opportunity to experiment with this concept, and so I did. I think I could do a better job today, but I'll let this stand alone. Silence by The River Download
I'll post more beautiful examples of the Shabd Guru being sung soon.
Uthat Sukhia Baithat Sukhia - Sat Darshan Singh and Friends Download
The second 2 tracks are Guru Nam Singh accompanied by Snatam Kaur from the Rensabhai. He got to play for the double time of his slot because the person scheluded after him wasn't feeling well and he played a number of really beautiful original devotional songs of his. It was so nice to get to hear him play for so long and to have Snatam sing with him. It really put me in a state of Anand.
Ardas Bhaiee - Guru Nam Singh feat Snatam Kaur Download Like a Calm Lake - Guru Nam Singh Download The last track is extremely talented Siri Vias Singh playing a very peacefull chant from the Rensabhai. He's a blues guitarist and he usually plays his guitar in open D. He didn't do any slide for this, but it has just a twinge of a bluesy feel to it. Another very blissful track. Sat Nam Wahe Guru - Siri Vias Singh Download
The chants on the first morning of Winter Solstice were led by Hari Bhajan Kaur previously of Tennessee, now of Florida near Kashi Ashram. She did all the chants from her Sadhana CDs, but it was really nice to hear them live. Her voice is so ambrosial. She was accompanied by Guru Nam Singh who also has an amazing voice and devotion. This is a short clip from the Wahe Guru chant. Wahe Guru, Wahe Jio Download
The chants on the third morning was one of my favorites. It was led Guru Ganesha Singh with back up vocal by Karta Kaur and Sat Jot Singh doing backup vocals and playing keys. They did some from the Grateful Ganesh Sadhana CD, some from live at 5, a few that haven't even been recorded and one from one of Snatam's very first album which was a Sadhana CD (good place to start). It was like a chronicle of Spirt Voyage from before it even was Spirit Voyage. This was the Guru Ram Das Chant they played which Guru Ganesha borrowed from Sat Jot Singh because it is so Beautiful. Guru Ram Das Chant Download
curtousy of Karta Kaur, from the engineers perspective
So here is the first in my Winter Solstice series of audio posts. One of my favorite things about the Solstice experiance is Yogi Tea Cafe (thank you Guru Ganesha). Every Solstice, winter or summer, there is live music in the food/hospitality area. It's always very organic, Guru Ganesha makes a loose schedule which is always subject to how late Tantric goes, and often people just jump on stage and sit in with each other. Spiritual jam sessions.
The first night was was mostly Guru Ganesha with Sat Jot (Gabrielle) on Keys and back up vocals, Siri Om Singh on percusion and back up vocals, and Karta Kaur on back up vocals. This particular track is just a portion of of a 50 minute jam based on Ma from the album Pure Ganesh. Ma Medley Download
Here's a sample out of the second night. Siri Om Singh. He played his drum and sang back up with most of the music at Winter Solstice. An awesome musician and great guy. We Got Work to Do Download
These three tracks are all from the last day of of the Yogi Tea Cafe at Winter Solstice. The first one is Hari Bhajan Kaur playing her classic birthday song "On This Day." The second track is me and Siri Vias or Doug playing some good ol' Tantic blues. And the last track is the etremely talented, first time Solsticer, Whitney. She's a profesional musician from Denver, Colorado who blessed the Solstice sound crew, and Winter Solstice in general with her amazing presence and music On This Day DownloadTantric Blues DownloadBlack Zero Download
I am going to continue posting some of my favorite recordings from Winter Solstice. I'm thinking of doing a Sadhana themed post, a Gurduara themed post, a Rensabai themed post, and maybe a misc. one. I'd like to put a cool picture with each one, but I don't have a camera and I've already used all the pics I was able to get my hands one. If you were at Winter Solstice and have some good pictures that I could use, send them my way. sdskhalsa@gmail.com.
Sat Nam and Seasons greetings everyone. I appologize for not posting for so long. I'm now in the airport on my way home from Winter Solstice. I was on the sound crew as usual and I was able to record most of the Sadhana's and Yogi Tea Cafe performances as well as many Gurduara's. Also between me and Dharam we were able to record the whole rensabai. Over the next week or so I will post all of my favorite selections.
It really was an amazing solstice. I'll talk more about it in detail in futere posts.
For now here's a picture of my rocking sound posse. I miss you guys already!
Sat Purkh kaur was the 2nd place winner of Spirit voyage idol by only a few votes. Even though she didn't win the contest, she's still well on the way to getting her beutiful and uplifting music produced. This video if from her second performance at Spirit Voyage Idol. If you want to hear more of her, she has almost half a dozen of her own tracks posted on her blog. satpurkh.blogspot.com Enjoy!
I decided some time ago that I Want my career path to involve music. I know that making a living as a musician alone can be hard, but my goal is more of an all inclusive one. I'm just as interested in helping people who have uplifting and inspirational talent get their music out as I am getting my own stuff published. I'm also almost stubbornly independent. I'd much rather learn how do something, understand how it works and get exactly what I'm looking for, rather than pay someone else to do it for me. So natural I fell into a path of production. I've studied the art and science of audio for almost 2 and a half years now. That coupled with 10 years of playing piano and other music experience, and some of the connections I've been able to make within the 3HO community (one I thing I can't say enough about how much I value), I think I'm well on my way.
My biggest regret in my musical journey is not taking more advantage of the Raag vocal training I received while I was in India. I started studying not long after the members of the Chardikala Jatha started, and If I had kept a steady discipline this whole time, I could have taken if very far by now. For me there's nothing quite like a Shabd of the Guru which is slowly developed in the Raag in which it was written by someone who has devoted hours a day for years to be able to give praise to god it this way. As Sikhs, we value Naad Yoga, or the union with a divine and perfect sound current as one of the highest and quickest way attain god consciousness, and Raag Kirtan is the highest of the high. I had the blessing and very unique opportunity to study this technology, I took it for for granted. I should count my blessings though. When I started studying, I already had a somewhat developed musical sense and some raw vocal talent, so I was able get al lot out of the short couple years I took it semi-seriously. Enough so that if I were to renew my practice, with enough discipline and patience, I may be able regain some of what I lost or could've had. To help renew my inspiration and devotion, here s a picture of our Raag Ustad and members of the Chardikala jetha playing at the Gurduara at Miri Piri Academy (where I went to highschool and was able to study Raag) a good four years ago or so. He's a teacher in it's a highest form. The picture was taken by Gurumustuk's brother Dharam Singh who's a natural photographer and is lucky enough to be in India studying right now.
And to continue the spirit and purpose of this blog, here's a recording of the Chardikala Jatha from about a year ago in the Espanola Gurduara. Ik Ardaas Bhaat Keerat Kee
I finally got some studio monitors a week or so ago. Now my little production space is finally usable. It's not the most ideal setup, but for listening to music and editing things to post on the blog, it's perfect. Now I need to work on making my whole room a creatively condusive space. It's kind of plain and I still have trouble keeping it clean. One of these days I'm going to open up my own studio and do it right.
And here's fun track that I put together about a year ago just for the hell of it. The drums were recorded almost 2 years ago when a friend and I were just messing around. Then last year I replayed the piano part, and my audio teacher Jason Goodyear (Santa Fe Sound and Milo De Venus) played a little guitar over it. It's not a great production, but it was fun to make and I still think it's fun to listen to. Praise You Download
No audio to post tonight, and I didn't do anything fun or exciting for Halloween either, but I did spend way to long carving this pumpkin out. A week ago I bought the Pumpkin Masters tiny knife carving kit, and I waited untill tonight to do anything with it. I did have a pretty bad case of carpultunel which just started feeling better recently.
Anyways, hope you all had a ghoulish good time this halloween.
Yogi Tea Cafe Summer '05 Snatam Kaur Khalsa and Friends
A few days ago I stumbled on this old recording that I never did anything with. This track really demonstrates the potential and magic that the Yogi Tea Cafe is capable of. It's really awesome to see a whole group of musicians and vocalists do something together totally impromptu and unrehearsed. This is a recording of Snatam at YTC in 2005 accompanied by Guru Ganesha Singh, a bunch of other singers, and some drummers that you can't hear to well because they weren't miked. I've been thinking about initiating some kind of Gospel project and this track is a great inspiration. It does a small jump at the beginning because I recorded this with my old laptop that had issues with Pro-Tools. It caused me to miss a few seconds of the song. I creatively tried to cover it up, but it still sounds weird.
If you have any other ideas or inspiration for a Gospel fusion concept, let me know. Amazing Grace
If any of you check MrSikhnet.com reguarly, you'll know that he posted clips of Dileep Kaur from the Spirit Voyage contest at Summer Solstice. You may wonder why he didn't post more of the performances from the competetion, since so many of them were so uplifting. If you know anything about video though, you know how long it can take to proccess hours of DV tape, especially for the web, and Gurumustuk already puts so much time into this stuff, he can't do everyting. I agree with many of you though, that these recordings should be shared and available, so I took it upon myself to borrow the original tapes from Gurumustuk and do what need to be done to put them on the web. The quality of these recordings doesn't really do the singers justice, mostly because the audio's a little distorted. Their ability to express their devotion to the Shabd Guru through music still shines through though.
I'm going to post Tej Kaur's first, because she was one of my favorites and, in my opinion, one of the most humble as well as powerfull contestants. I beleive she deserved to win just as much as anyone there.
Hello all. This post has nothing to do with audio, but I was talking to my friend Hari Singh today, and I've thought this before: I'm just as much of a visual person as I am a sound person. I just relate to have put more energy into my passion for audio. I can't deny my love of that which is aesthetically pleasing to the eye though. A blog that has nothing cool to look at is boring
And so, here's a picture
Saturday morning a big group of us, having spent the night at a friend's in Albuquerque, got up at 4 AM to beat traffic and went to The Ballon Fiesta. I don't own a camera, so I stole this picture from my friend Gurumustuk; photographer and webmaster extrodanare. He has plenty pictures posted here MrSikhnet and here flickr I could tell you how awesome it was, but Gurumustuk and his pictures do a better job than I could. Let me just say it was quite an experience.
Towards the end of August, we had the privilege to have master tabla player Murli (Hari Mander Jot's and all the tabla students at MPA's teacher) visit our community, teach, and play in Gurduara. He accompanied Chardikala Jatha members Hari Mander Jot and Sada Sat Simran, both singing. I hope you enjoy. Download Sunia Haraare Sajan
I've decided to start at the beginning (double meaning) and work my way to the present with my first few posts, and show some of the significant audio as well as compositional things I've done. This post is reflecting from March until the Summer Solstice of this year. You may wonder what happened in the year and half between "In The Beginning" and this. All that stuff can be found either on my Website or my Myspace Music account (links to the right). Those were more formal recording and multitracking projects, while I see the purpose of this blog as a chronicle of some of the more spontaneous things I've been able to participate in or even just witness and record.
And in that spirit, this post is dedicated to Music Night. Earlier this year between February and May, a group of us here in Espanola would get together almost every Tuesday evening in the Gurduara and just Jam. It was open to anyone who wished to come, and we never came with anything prepared. We would just play things we knew and also come up with stuff on the spot. This sometimes didn't go anywhere, but often it would lead to some great evolutionary composition. The first track below is a Wahe Guru chant where the tune evolved from the Raag of the Shabd we had just played (a Raag is a set of melodic guidelines, and a Shabd is like a devotional poem put to music). The second track is the same chant and tune played months later for Sadhana at Summer Solstice. It's really awesome to be able to record this organic creative process. I hope you enjoy. Download Wahe Guru - Summer Solstice Sadhana
I've been messing with recording audio for more than 2 years know, and this recording dates back almost exactly 2 years ago. I was taking the basic Audio Production class at SFCC at the time (Audio Production I) and a guitarist from the class Micheal Herman, my tabla playing Siri Chand and I all got together to just record ourselves jamming and see if it lead anywhere. Take a listen to the end result. Download In The Beginning
