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Inspired by the deep devotional mood
of Indian singing and music, Jaya Lakshmi began leading
kirtan
with harmonium and 12 string guitar
and writing her own devotional songs in the early 1990's
on the island of Hawaii, shortly after receiving harinam
initiation from Srila
Govinda Maharaj, a great Vaisnava saint from West
Bengal, India, who graciously bestowed on her the name
"Jaya Lakshmi", which means "victory to the goddess
Lakshmi", the Hindu goddess of fortune and spiritual
wealth.
Her
ecstatic singing and kirtan leading, often accompanied by other talented
artists, has had a powerful effect amongst various communities in the islands
of Hawaii, the West Coast, and Europe, always creating a deep sense of intimacy
with the divine. She has a unique style that blends beauty, power and purity to
create a truly transcendental sound driven by her deep connection with spirit.
Singing mostly original and some traditional chants and songs in Sanskrit in
the Gaudiya Vaisnava tradition of ‘harinam sankirtan’ (call and response
chanting of the Holy Names), she includes chants from other Vedic traditions in
her kirtans as well. She also performs her original songs in which Sanskrit is
woven in with English lyrics. Because of her pure mood, deep sincerity, passion
for God and remarkable musical talent, Jaya Lakshmi is rapidly becoming well
known and loved as one of the few touring female kirtan leaders in the West.
Jaya Lakshmi is also well known as the lead singer and
songwriter for the band 'Lost at Last' (renamed 'One
at Last' in 2004) a popular high energy tribal trance
experience that toured extensively in the western US
from 1997- 2005. In One at Last, Jaya Lakshmi expresses
many singing styles and honors diverse spiritual traditions,
singing prayers in several languages, including Native
American, Arabic, and Sanskrit. Under the name Lost
at Last, the band created 2 CDs: "Lost at Last
1" (1997, independent ) and "Lost at Last
2" (2001, RCA Windham Hill). In September 2006,
One at Last released "Are You Dreaming?" on
Sounds True Records. One at Last is currently no longer
performing, as the members have become more dedicated
to their solo careers.
Her four solo studio albums ‘Ocean
of Mercy’ (2003), ‘Jewel
of Hari’ (2004) and
'Sublime' (2008) and 'Radiance' (2009) are available
on Sequoia
Records, all magnificently embellished by the fine
guitar and sarod work of Deva
Priyo and tabla master Daniel
Paul. On 'Sublime' also featured are bansuri flute
player Manose,
Ananta
on violin, Yoko Silk on cello, and Luna
Marcus on support vocals. 'Sublime' is an enhanced
CD, with 2 videos and 2 bonus tracks. All CDs are also
available on her website, www.jayalakshmi.net.
As a vocal artist she is featured on Steve Gordon’s
“Drum
Prayer” (2002, Sequoia Records) and William Ackerman's
"Hearing
Voices" (2001, RCA/Windham Hill records).
At present she is working on her fifth studio CD which
is due for release February 2010, and continuing to
explore her vision of uniting the devotional mood with
electronic dance music. Jaya Lakshmi lives in Eugene,
Oregon with her two daughters.
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