By Kirtaniyas. kirtaniyas.com
Kirtaniyas is a quartet of young men and women from Germany, the United Kingdom, Hawaii and California. The four met in 2009 on a bhakti yoga pilgrimage to Vrindavan, India, the birthplace of kirtan. Inspired to collaborate, they formed a band led by Vijay Krsna and began touring kirtan and yoga festivals around the world.
Heart & Soul is the group’s first album, funded in large part by the group’s growing fan base. The nine-track CD moves effortlessly through traditional chants such as “Hari Hari” and “Govinda Jaya Jaya”, arranged with guitar, harmonium, sitar and bansuri flute.
Jai Uttal makes a guest appearance on “Krsna Govinda”, his voice playing beautifully off the group’s escalating energy.
The result is a truly heartful devotional album that manages to simultaneously celebrate the exuberance of youth and demonstrate a deep respect for the ancient tradition of chanting. Heart & Soul invites you to sing along and get caught up in the spirit of this young band, which is one you’ll want to keep on your radar. ASHLEY MILLER
