Embrace

About the Album

A compilation of songs in English written for the Divine Mother Ammachi over a period of 5 years. Includes four brand new tracks – Can You Save Me, Embrace, Tapasya, and Stay. Guitar, harmonium, Rhodes keyboard, bass, drums & percussion. Proceeds from the sale of this CD donated to Amma’s charities.

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“An album of soft, thoughtful songs about peace and giving.”
MUSIC DESIGN

 

The Story Behind Embrace

The CD titled EMBRACE is a collection of songs in English written about Ammachi, a saint from Southern India. Over the last 13 years, her example as a spiritually expanded being has been a great inspiration for me. I wanted to contribute something to her ongoing relief efforts for disaster victims (Tsunami, Hurricane Katrina, etc) for which she has pledged over 23 million dollars. The proceeds from the sale of this CD will go directly to her efforts in this regard.

The CD titled EMBRACE is a collection of songs in English written about Ammachi, a saint from Southern India. Over the last 13 years, her example as a spiritually expanded being has been a great inspiration for me. I wanted to contribute something to her ongoing relief efforts for disaster victims (Tsunami, Hurricane Katrina, etc) for which she has pledged over 23 million dollars. The proceeds from the sale of this CD will go directly to her efforts in this regard.

In 1993, I was introduced to an electrician in Santa Fe, NM named Vyasa. He had been asked by his Guru to make a CD of devotees singing sacred songs. Inquiring how he was to accomplish this without any knowledge or training, his Guru said, “Buy a computer and hire professionals to help you. Let the devotees do the singing.” I was brought in as a musical consultant to help on this project and thus began my relationship with Amma.

The CDs, called “English Bhajans” were produced annually. Two types of songs were recorded – English translations of traditional bhajans (songs) or new songs written by devotees. I helped with both. In 2002, when Herb Graham Jr. was asked to oversee the annual recordings, I was asked to contribute some original songs. I wrote two songs and recorded them. I did the same in 2003. Wings of Peace was Volume VII of the English Bhajan series; This World was Volume VIII.

In 2004, I didn’t have time to be involved in the CD project but at the last minute they needed a song to make the CD complete. I offered Can You Save Me but was unable to produce the recording properly or add tracks to make it sound complete. When the opportunity arose to make this compilation, I jumped at the chance to make this song complete and present it to Amma.

The 2005 Amma tour left me with a heart wide open. Paul and I decided to record some songs I had written for Amma but never recorded, plus two new songs. It was a beautiful experience, we sat together in the control room and recorded all four songs in a week’s time. Production, editing and mixing happened over the next 12 months, in between work on Savasana*2, a new CD called “wah! remixed” and playtime.

Gena Kennedy from Nashville, TN offered to do the graphics for this project. Although she had never met Amma, she felt she had been introduced through the music, and wanted to help with this charitable cause. Good hearts have a way of finding each other, don’t you think? Gena found a beautiful Shree Yantra for the CD stomp and came forward with an exquisite looking package.

Seva mastered the project, doing no less than the impossible with varying mixes, sound quality, production and formats. And then we presented it to Amma in June 2006 with love and blessings. Her presence has helped me manifest a sweet embrace in my life and that has made such a difference.

praises,

wah!

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