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MEDIA REVIEWS // MUSIC

Mother’s Calling

by Ambika

Mantrology

I first met Ambika more than 20 years ago

in a dive bar in New York City’s East Village.

She was standing in front of her band at the

mic, singing in a hypnotic Siouxsie Sioux kind

of way, clad in black PVC clothing, driving

the audience wild.

Fast forward to the present moment after

Ambika’s many trips to India to be with her

beloved teacher Sri Siddhi Ma at the Neem

Karoli Baba Ashram, and we have this com-

pelling kirtan album.

When they first met, Siddhi Ma asked

Ambika to chant all day at the temple when-

ever she was there; her voice was broadcast

through the loudspeaker system in the after-

noons. I believe it was typically the Hanuman

Chalisa, a 40-verse chant to Hanuman, the

embodiment of devotion.

Brooklyn Yoga School director Lily

Cushman produced this album; her brilliance

permeates the recording. She mixes the sounds

of locals chanting in India, women chanting

in Brooklyn, and all kinds of people chanting

with Ambika in NYC.

The collection begins with danceable

Durga incantations before segueing into

a slower mantra invoking Tara. A beauti-

ful Devi Puja Mantra is sung with Sanskrit

expert Manorama. After the goddess chants,

the listener is led through a series of Ram

mantras, most notably Ambika’s beautiful

rendition of the Hanuman Chalisa. It had

found its way into every fiber of her being,

and pretty soon it will be in yours too.

Ambika’s soulful voice penetrates every song

and leaves you with the feeling that the blessings

of the great saints are alive and well. Join in from

your home, car, head-set, or on your yoga mat.

Reviewed by Sarah Tomlinson, a Yantrika (Yantra

teacher and practitioner), yoga teacher, artist, and author

of books including Coloring Yantras: sarahyantra.com

Infinite Energy

by DTO

Buddha Music Group

Infinite Energy by DTO will inspire you to

boogie, breathe, and awaken your yearn-

ing to travel the world. Yet with this album,

you won’t have to leave your home or yoga

class, because the soundscape is a fusion of

world languages and electronic dance beats

with classical piano, cello, violin, sax, flutes,

vocal delights, and many more surprises. It is

a transcendent musical adventure. It is con-

scious world dance music that inspires you to

awaken your mind, body, and soul.

Award-winning producer DTO’s debut

album, Nameless Energy, was specifically

designed for an hour-long yoga sequence to

deepen your practice.

His latest release, Infinite Energy, features

seven singers from different parts of the

globe. Each one of the seven songs relates

to one of the seven chakras. The intention is

to awaken these energy centers and support

alignment in all areas of life.

For full disclosure, I’m one of the singers on

the album and I’m honored that it is my musi-

cal debut. (Aside from singing in the shower

or in my car!) “Shakti Vortex” is a heart

chakra tune with a Sanskrit rap that includes

an empowering message to honor the goddess

Durga. The song even features my father, Bhu-

pinder Behl, playing tabla and singing bols.

Some of other notable tunes include “Ethe-

real” (crown chakra) featuring Anne-Tyler and

Kiyoshi, “The Way” (third eye chakra) featur-

ing Sita Rose, “Gayatri Activation” (throat

chakra) featuring Sabrina Sapal, and more.

If you are looking for a danceable

soundtrack for the energy of the chakras, this

may just be the inspiration you’ve been look-

ing for to add to your playlist.

Reviewed by Hemalayaa, yoga teacher, transforma-

tional facilitator, and coach: hemalayaa.com

Chants for Meditation

by Kamini Natarajan & Ken Elkinson

August Son Productions

Even devoted yogis are familiar with that

sudden surge of emotion when someone cuts

you off in traffic or the slow-build frustra-

tion of commuting to work during rush hour.

Yogini and singer Kamini Natarajan believes

that traditional Sanskrit mantras have a pow-

er that can be harnessed to help combat these

and other daily stressors. In her latest album,

a collaboration with composer and producer

Ken Elkinson, Kamini presents mantras to

guide the listener on a journey toward greater

clarity and a calmer state of mind.

Trained in Indian classical music from an

early age, Kamini Natarajan has spent her life

honing her musical and vocal talents. Chants

for Meditation showcases these talents in 3-4

minute tracks. You can listen to just one for a

quick meditation or play the whole album for

deeper relaxation. While the mantras are in

Sanskrit, the English titles provide hints about

the content. For instance, “Tibet” is the popu-

lar Tibetan mantra “Om Mani Padme Hum.”

And “From Darkness to Light” is the “Om

Asatoma” mantra, which literally invokes the

transformation from darkness to light.

One of my favorites here is “Peace,” which

blends Kamini’s lulling vocals with some

gentle but playful percussion. All of the music

is distinctively Indian, and you’ll hear a vari-

ety of Hindustani instruments, especially in

the tracks “Invocation,” “Om,” and “Return

Journey.” The final track “Bliss” is an instru-

mental, providing the perfect introspective

ending to this meditative symphony.

The next time you prepare for a potentially

stressful drive, or whenever you’re ready to

unwind, play Chants for Meditation and you

might transform that energy into peace.

Reviewed by Alisha Maxine, a yoga teacher,

climber, world traveler, and handstand enthusiast:

yogawithalisha.com.