New Album Alert! Ram Dass Khalsa with Nirinjan Kaur and Manish Vyas

Ram Dass Khalsa producing his new album

Recently after Spirit Fest, we took a break at the Spirit Voyage house, surrounded by musicians and yogis, friends all. It was really a blissful time of recouperation after a lot of work for us at Spirit Voyage, and long tours and travels for many of our musical friends. Snatam Kaur, Mirabai Ceiba, Nirinjan Kaur, Simrit Kaur, Gurunam Singh, Harnam Singh, SatDarshan Singh, and Ram Dass Khalsa all spent time eating, laughing, singing and doing yoga with us at Spirit Voyage, as well as their tour managers and families. Such a blessing! A family united by the sacred sound current, deeply in love with God within each and every heart.

One of my biggest blessings was that I got to listen to Ram Dass Khalsa record Nirinjan Kaur's backing vocals for his new, yet to be named album. Ram Dass is one of the most talented musicians I've ever met, and Nirinjan's stunning voice was a glorious treat. The combination of the two was the icing on the cake of a delicious week.

Nirinjan Kaur recording for the new album

I've since heard some mixes of Ram Dass's new album...and you are going to love it! It's very fresh and has an extremely original sound. He is a talented producer, musician, and singer. A hat trick of musical talent, if you will.

Ram Dass took time to speak with me recently on behalf of all the Spirit Voyage readers. Here's our conversation.

RDK: What is the new album like?

RDS: The album is kind of the best parts of what I loved about Seasons of the Soul...it has a folk element and very organic and natural sound. It's also reminiscent of Mirabai's A Hundred Blessings. It has a deep spiritual sound but its very real. Then combining that with one of my favorite album...Sattva by Manish Vyas. It acknolwedges all the things we have in this world...prayer and love to sadness and fear. I try to take all those things and lift it up and try to meditate with that.

RDK: What are some of the mantras we can expect to hear on this album?

RDS: Aap Sahee Hoa, Ardas Bhaee, a Rakhe Rakhanahar with Akal, Sat Narayan, also a Sat Nam with the shabad Namo Namo, and I also have a Qawwal (a traditional Sufi style) song.

RDK: Who is singing backup with you?

RDS: Both Nirinjan Kaur and Manish Vyas will be singing with me. I do alot of my own harmonies. I think there may be some other people who sing on it but I'm not 100% sure yet! Maybe my fiance Lakshmi...we'll see.

RDK: What's the instrumentation going to be like?

RDS: I'm using a lot of Nylon guitar, a little mandolin, 12 string guitar, some piano, and tablas. So far there is a lot of guitar work. There's also cello and viola (my mom will be the viola). Clarinet and flute will be featured as well. There might be some glockenspiel on the Sat Narayan...it feels like a Disney winter in Russia. Ha ha! Perfect for a Winter Solstice.

RDK: Disney Winter in Russia?

RDS: Being the artist and the producer, I have to talk to myself in flowery artist language and practical producer language.

RDK: Who are your biggest musical influences?

RDS: Within this genre, Manish Vyas has been a huge influence. I'm also a huge fan of Mirabai Ceiba. My background is in string classical music, so Beethoven and Profokiev. I also was raised listening to Singh Kaur. My parents were in the dharma, but they also raised me with the Beatles, the Beach Boys and Simon and Garfunkel. It's a mixture of Americana and classical music with some of the best of the New Age category.

RDK: Is this your first album?

RDS: This is my first solo album and I'm also producing it. I've produced Seasons of the Soul as well.

RDK: Do you have a name for your album yet?

RDS: We're working on it. It feels like it will have the word Alchemy or Alchemist in it. Just a feeling I have.

RDK: When will it be released?

RDS: It will be available at Winter Solstice and ready in time for Christmas!