Shiva's
Garden is just that type of band. Their self-produced sophomore release,
Under the Shiva Moon, displays depth and content uncommon to most bands
their age. Their blend of roots rock, folk and kirtan offers sweetness
and a cutting edge that dissolves musical boundaries and opens our hearts
in the process.
Shiva's Garden, the Boulder-based
band comes from a variety of musical backgrounds.
Singer and guitarist
Mira has been singing and playing since the days of her early teens in
the folk mass. A gifted arranger and songwriter, she spent several years
playing the Boulder folk scene.
Faith's Ukelele and angelic voice add
an uplifting lightheartedness to the music. Many beautiful new chants
manifested out of her devotion for the Gods and Goddesses.
Lead guitarist
Bhairava spent his teens and early twenties honing his skills in hard-rock
bands in the Buffalo, NY area.
New Jersey native Narada is a musical jack-of
all-trades. As a participant in "jam bands," he developed proficiency
on guitar, bass, tabla drums and mandolin.
Drummer and percussionist Hanuman,
drawing from his rock influences, brings vital energy and dynamic propulsion
to the mix.
Bass player Surya Das hails from Cleveland and lays down solid
grooves. Jazz, R&B, and rock all inspire his infectious lines.
Sundari
is a Denver native and classically trained on the violin. She contributes
elegant string work, harmonium, and lovely vocals.
Kamala is a naturally
gifted musician with a powerful vocal style.
Keyboard virtuoso, Kumara,
is a seasoned veteran of the road. His style adds a flavor of jazz and
R&B to the mix.
The band
formed in 1997 out of a collective wish to grow spiritually and shared
devotion to Sri Shambavananda. As a birthday gift to Babaji, some of
his students decided to write a song. Composed of sacred mantras, electric
guitars, African drums and three-part vocal harmonies, this offering became
the seed out of which Shiva's Garden would sprout.
The irony of Shiva's
Garden is that none of its members set out to form a band. They all had
set aside their musical goals in favor of a focused spiritual practice
and ashram life. But they say, "Wherever you go, there you are,"
and none of them could escape their musical karma. And now, the music
of Shiva's Garden has become a large part of their spiritual practice.. |
