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Sat Kartar

Sat Kartar

About Sat Kartar

Sat Kartar’s chant music events are an experience, ranging from heartfelt ethereal devotion and longing, to groove-driven, spirited get-up-and-dance fun. Her voice wascharacterized by veteran music critic Alan diPerna, as “a crystalline vocal instrument, imbued with a welcoming, almost maternal warmth, and an evocative style of phrasing, reminiscent of Grace Slick.”

Born in Atlanta, Ga., Sat Kartar’s childhood was full of music. Her father frequently performed at parties and restaurants. She played piano at 5, guitar at 14, and picked out everything by ear, on piano and guitar, from the Beatles to the Spanish classical Malaguena. She trained in ballet, and other dance forms. In college, she was gigging at dances and activist rallies, singing cover tunes of singer-songwriters and folk artists. One big influence was Joni Mitchell, whose open tunings and unusual melodies were a doorway and vicarious permission to explore uncharted territory. Sat Kartar’s signature “wrong way leftie” open guitar tuning style, (she plays left-handed, with an upside down right-handed guitar) are an influence of Ms. Mitchell’s sound, and double, in Sikh classical kirtan, as counterpoint modal accompaniment for raga compositions. Sat Kartar

Sat-Kartar has led sacred music events worldwide for 4 decades. She was a member of the first Kundalini yoga chant band, the Khalsa String Band. Several world renowned chant artists and yoga teachers, who currently make recordings, tour and teach today, were part of the KSB alumni and include Guru Singh, Krishna Kaur, Gurudass Singh, Gurudass Kaur, and Amar Singh & Sahib Amar Kaur. This band toured with Yogi Bhajan throughout the U.S. and Canada, during 2003-2004.

Around this time, Sat-Kartar began what would be a life study of Northern Indian classical kirtan, with numerous Sikh musicians, called Ragis (Sikhs who sing devotionally in Eastern raga scales). “I wanted to bring the enchantment of this world of music to an American audience in a simpler form, so Westerners could appreciate the haunting beauty of these ancient scales.” In 1984 and '85, collaborating with veteran New Age producer Liv Khalsa, they created two timelessly beautiful recordings, Spirit in Blossom and Domain of Shiva, a group of hymns from the sacred Sikh texts, containing 4 raga scales. Symphonically orchestrated and ahead of its time, this music found a new audience, in the early stages of New Age Music movement. They also created two 31-minute meditations, which were re-mastered and re-released in 2009, called Ethereal Journey.

Sat Kartar's quest for spiritual musical expression found form in a genre of dance electronica. A chance meeting with musician-producers Akinchina Das and Lalita Dasi, whose background was also Indian classical, turned out to be instant musical chemistry, and the techno group Overlords of the UFO was born. Their vinyl EPs Imagine and Transcendental Overdrive, released in 1994 and 1997 respectively, drew critical acclaim in the international dance and DJ market.

In 2002, Sat Kartar began a decade of recording, and released a CD of chants for use with sadhana practice called Daily Practice. Co-produced with Dan Charnas, she and her band began extensively touring the Southwest with this CD, and garnered a regional following. She has since teamed with veteran producer Thomas Barquee for three recordings, Flow (2005), Listen (2007) and Call for the Beloved (2011). “Working with Thomas is a special experience. These recordings were new ground for me, a journey of faith into my heart.” In 2006 Sat Kartar began touring and offering music events internationally.

She has sung on recordings of many kirtan artists which include Krishna Das, Wah!, Dave Stringer, Antion Vikram Singh, Siri Ved Kaur. Her Flow and Listen recordings have been reviewed in Yoga Journal. Her music is also featured on several Spirit Voyage compilations, with Kundalini mantra and Sikh sacred kirtan. Her passion is to share this sacred sound current with those seeking it, in myriad music forms, in a manner, that it will be accessible for all who are seeking the deep peace and joy it can bring.