Krishna Das' New Retrospective Collection 'Laughing At The Moon' Out 3/3

By: Feb. 23, 2015
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Layering traditional Hindu kirtan with instantly accessible melodies and modern instrumentation, Grammy Nominee Krishna Das is widely regarded as yoga's "rock star." With a remarkably soulful voice that touches the deepest chord in even the most casual listener, Krishna Das - known to friends, family, and fans as simply KD - has taken the call-and-response chanting out of yoga centers and into concert halls, becoming a worldwide icon and the best-selling American chant artist of all time.

Watch + Share: Krishna Das on YouTube

His resonant baritone voice and energizing East-meets-West take on traditional Indian devotional chanting has become the soundtrack for a growing worldwide yoga movement throughout western culture for the past two decades.

Laughing At The Moon - out March 3rd on eOne Music - is a retrospective collection of some of KD best-loved chants. It blends a western rock album perspective with the deep resonance of the kirtan traditions to weave the stages of life's loves and longings into a journey of discovery, unified through pathways of song.

Born Jeffrey Kagel, a baby boomer from suburban Long Island, N.Y., few artists in the kirtan (call-and-response chanting) genre have impacted the musical mainstream in quite the same way as Krishna Das.

In the late '60s, Krishna Das traveled to India in 1970 where he became a follower of the spiritual teacher Neem Karoli Baba (Mahara-ji). In so doing, he found a musical vocation that would come to fruition at the dawn of the 21st century.

Given the name Krishna Das, KD began to chant as part of following the path of Bhakti yoga - the yoga of devotion. After two and a half years with Maharaj-ji, KD returned to USA - alas, only six months after his return, word came that Maharaj-ji had died.

He took solace in music, finding peace and strength in both his Bhakti yoga practice as well as in such heroes as Ray Charles, Van Morrison, Steely Dan, and Bruce Springsteen (whom he laughingly calls "the Bodhisattva of New Jersey"). KD also co-founded Triloka Records, a California-based label specializing in world music, releasing such artists as Jai Uttal, sarod virtuoso Ali Akbar Khan, and legendary jazz musician/composer Jackie McLean.
In 1994, KD started leading chants at Jivamukti Yoga Center, NYC, developing an ever-growing audience of yoga students that has led him to chant with people all around the world.

In February 2013, Krishna Das performed at the Grammy awards in Los Angeles, CA streamed online to millions of viewers. The award-winning film 'One Track Heart: The Story of Krishna Das' has been shown in over 100 US cities, over 10 countries worldwide and is available on DVD everywhere, and his album Live Ananda (released January 2012) was nominated for a Grammy in the Best New Age album category.

Tracklisting:
Hara Hara Mahaadeva
Govinda Hare
Rock In A HeartSpace
Shri Guru Charanam
Mother Song
Sita Ram
God Is Real / Hare Ram
Shri Hanuman Chaleesa / Gate of Sweet Nectar
Baba Hanuman

Website krishnadas.com
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