After the release of Jai Jai Jai, many people wrote in and asked for a longer version of Gayatri for meditation. I sent all my requests to seva, my sound engineer, asking him to whip something up. He wrote back and said, "Yes, I'm working on it. Do you have a bookend for this?" One song just wasn't enough; it needed a pair to feel complete.
Julie Rader had asked me to bless her new yoga center (Mukti Yoga) with some chanting. It was a festive occasion and I dressed with style ~ a neon green metallic kurta with hot pink pajama pants and curly-toe Indian sandals. When we got home from chanting and my landlord was waiting in the driveway, perhaps my garish outfit stunned him into silence, so I said nonchalantly, "How ya doin'? What'd'ya do, sell the place?" He said, "As a matter of fact, yes."
The Lokaha mantra was played in a spontaneous monotone at the Mukti Yoga blessing, and it was staying in my head. So even though we needed to find a place, pack the boxes, sell the furniture, I felt compelled to go in the studio and record "the bookend." I dumped percussion tracks from other projects, and mixed and matched grooves. I sang a scratch vocal. As the project progressed, I liked it more and more. And it was really helping me stay in a positive space. I invited a response choir and Katisse to do flute. The vibe was beautiful. We sang and added dub, echoes & effects and finished the track. I moved my boxes into a new house, pinned up some curtains on the windows, and finished the CD. I hope you like it.
all love, wah! more at... www.wahmusic.com
Editorial Reviews
East West Music Reviews/Mountain View, CA Hip elegance through music of perennial wisdom flows once again from the lovely voice of Wah! ... -Lee Starkey 6/25/04
Music Design Magazine/Milwaukee, WI Lokaha is the more energetic of the two, featuring nearly one half hour of joyous rhythms, harmonium swirls and, of course, the rapturous and lovely vocals of Wah! Gayatri calls to mind the meditative chants from SAVASANA, featuring a backdrop of airy synthesizer textures and subtle percussion. 5/5/2004
Mystic Radio/Encinitas, CA The luscious*chill*mix is absolutely divine and listeners love it. Wah! is, in my humble opinion, taking her music ever higher, ever deeper. Listeners from around the world request her music. (www.mysticradio.com) 5/12/2004
Fan Reviews
Graham Burns/ London, England I've been playing Lokaha in the car with the windows open: blasting out the Gayatri as my own small counter to being assaulted with rap and loud music on the streets of London! 6/16/2004
Br Christian/Los Angeles, CA When I heard the Gayatri mix, I thought to myself, "I know I have heard this before," but I didn't know why. After a moment of thinking, my consciousness became more omniscient and I realized what it was - I had heard it on internet radio (mysticradio.com) as I was casually listening some weeks ago. But I didn't realize it was you! 6/13/04
Oliver aka Jeremiah Shanti/Torrance, CA Thanks for releasing an extended version of the Gayatri mantra. It's very rare to hear a chant that's incredibly melodic and hypnotic. It's very lucious indeed. Makes me want to take off and expand like light. 5/26/04
Gena Kennedy/Nashville, TN I just wanted to let you know how much I've been enjoying the CD (Lokaha). I love it! I'm going to ask them to use it as part of the music in my yoga class. 5/13/04
Yogini Harriett/Harbor City, CA The CD sounds awesome! I play it at the end of the yoga classes I teach. 5/10/2004
Judith Dahn/USA Thank you for your beautiful music. When I chant, it is your CD's I pull out more than any other. I am soooo glad you did a longer version of the Gayatri Mantra on your new CD.... 05/09/04
more at.... www.wahmusic.com
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