A beat-loving Vedanta-inspired hip hop artist, MC Yogi has been called the man 'changing the face of devotional music in America. The Californian rapper, who also runs a yoga studio, is redrawing the musical map but he's not the only one. Yoga and hip hop, kirtan and electronica, stories of Hanuman and Krishna supercharged by loops and beats - they're all part of the new wave of yoga-inspired grooves and this week we'll hear some of the best.

Yoga of course these days is more than simply yoga-cise; for millions of people its a form of spiritual practice thats taken the place of traditional religion. And this is its devotional music. And with yoga studios around the world rapidly becoming venues for this new style of music, its fascinating to watch as the genre develops.

We start with Australian vocalist Carmella Baynie who is taking kirtan, the call and response chant of Hinduism, into a new direction - whats been called kirtronica, sanskrit chant with electronic beats. There's music that might have been inspired by savasana, the meditative period at the end of a yoga session from DJ and producer, Pravana. And contemporary sacred music from the American singer-songwriter Kirtana, a performer at New Thought churches and satsangs, including those of her guru Gangaji.

We also check in with the new album for Jai Uttal, Queen of Hearts, a reference to Radha, beloved of Krishna, the divine goddess of Hinduism. Jai, who has been pioneering new forms of devotional music for Western yoga devotees for more than two decades, calls himself a bhakta or devotee. He also says he's a musical explorer who's been chanting kirtan for more than 45 years. He's certainly an explorer of great renown, so when I met him earlier this year and he handed me this album, I felt honoured.

All our musicians this week are leading the new wave of yoga-inspired devotional music. They're part of a wider social movement - what the Canadian philosopher Charles Taylor has called the nova effect - in which traditional religious practices are renewing themselves by diversifying into new forms.

Track Title: Divine Love Artist: Carmella Baynie Composer: Baynie/ Nougher CD Title: Rasa Mandala Record Co/ Number: Independent Release GT001 Duration: 7.05 Homepage: http://www.carmellavoice.com Taking kirtan into a new direction - whats been called kirtronica, Sanskrit chant with electronic beats. Just one of the new musical genres created by the incredible growth of yoga in the West. Kirtan artist and composer Carmella Baynie, a yoga practitioner whos classically trained in Eastern and Western vocal music, with instrumentalist Dale Nougher. Carmella has studied, performed and taught sacred music for many years.

Track Title: Ocean of Milk ( He Natha Narayana) Artist: Jai Uttal Composer: Jai Uttal CD Title: Queen of Hearts Record Co/ Number: Nutone 0 6700 30928 2 1 Duration: 9.05 Homepage: http://www.facebook.com Sung in Sanskrit, a prayer to the Lord of the Universe, to Sri Krishna, (also Vishnu) who lies eternally at rest in an ocean of infinite blue, creating and dreaming the universes. Jai Uttal has been pioneering a new form of devotional music for Western yoga devotees for more than two decades. His new album Queen of Hearts (a reference to Radha, beloved of Krishna, the divine goddess) mixes reggae, ska, and samba rhythms, behind call and response, rock-oriented kirtan.

Track Title: Do You Hear the Music? Artist: Kirtana Composer: Kirtana CD Title: A Deeper Surrender Record Co/ Number: Wild Dove Music WDM105 Duration: 4.33 Homepage: http://www.kirtana.com American singer-songwriter Kirtana is a performer at New Thought churchesand satsangs, and dedicates this album of contemporary sacred music to her guru Gangaji.

Track Title: Uluwatu Artist: Pravana Composer: Lewis CD Title: Yoga Grooves Record Co/ Number: OWM042 Duration: 5.30 Homepage: http://www.oneworldmusic.com Music that might have been inspired by savasana, the meditative period at the end of a yoga session. Pravana (aka Simon Lewis) contributes keyboards, percussion, harmonium, didgeridoo, vocals and all of the programming, while his guests play the tabla, lyra, sarangi, ney flute, bansuri, and Guru Siki Charan contributes vocals.

Track Title: Hanuman Artist: MC Yogi Composer: MC Yogi CD Title: Pilgrimage Record Co/ Number: Black Swan Sounds/ White Swan Records Duration: 4.00 Homepage: http://www.mcyogi.com According to the the Canadian philosopher Charles Taylor we live in view of the nova effect, in which traditional religious practices are renewing themselves by diversifying into new forms. A perfect example of Taylors nova effect is Californian hip hop artist MC Yogi, a man who calls himself, only slightly tongue in cheek, a working-class mystic. Described by others as changing the face of devotional music in America. A beat-loving Vedanta- inspired rapper, who runs a yoga studio and is redrawing the musical map with his yoga hip hop. His new album out this week, is called Pilgrimage and this is a prayer to the remover of suffering, the Hindu god, Hanuman.

Originally posted here:
Yoga Grooves