Gaura Vani & As Kindred Spirits | |
---|---|
Origin | Los Angeles, California |
Genres | World, Kirtan, Mantra Music |
Years active | 1998-present |
Labels | Equal Vision Records/Mantralogy |
Website | Official Website |
Members | Gaura Vani Shyam Kishore Vrinda Rani Jvala Mukhi Nistha Raj |
Gaura Vani & As Kindred Spirits (sometimes known just as As Kindred Spirits) is a musical project signed to Equal Vision Records' new sub-label, Mantralogy. They perform Krishna-conscious music.
As Kindred Spirits was founded in 1998 by Gaura Vani and Shyam Kishore to bring kirtan, a genre of spiritual music from India, to the United States. The music "combines traditional Indian kirtan music with Western elements such as 12-string guitar, gospel choruses, and hip-hop rhythms". [1]
Gaura Vani was born in Los Angeles, but at the age of six, moved to Vrindavan, India to study sacred music at a gurukula. There, he learned how to play traditional Indian instruments, such as the harmonium. He brought his knowledge back to the United States, where he formed As Kindred Spirits with Shyam Kishore, a professionally trained Indian percussionist/multi-instrumentalist.
The band performs regularly at yoga studios and temples, along with touring to larger venues and festivals, such as Lollapalooza. [1] They also tour internationally to countries such as Brazil and India. They also founded the first ever sold-out Chant4Change kirtan-festival in Washington, DC during President Obama's inauguration. [1]
In 2009, As Kindred Spirits became the first band signed to Equal Vision's new, kirtan sub-label, Mantrology. Their second album, Ten Million Moons, is the first release on Mantralogy. [2]
Gaura Vani - vocals, harmonium
Shyam Kishore - tabla, sarod
Vrinda Rani - bharatanatyam dancer
Acyuta Gopi - vocals
Ananta Govinda - mrdanga (khol) [brother to Acyuta Gopi]
Jvala Mukhi - backing vocals, tambura
Nistha Raj - violin
Various other musicians perform at various shows, most being local musicians.
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