Intoxicating. That's the first word I think of when I hear the music of Wah!. Listen to her new album SAVASANA*2 and you'll know exactly what I'm talking about. Warm, sensual singing, quiet reverence and a tinge of joy that pervades the album from beginning to end… that's what Wah! brings to the table. She puts the “spirit” back into spirituality and captures the listener's mind and heart along the way.
Of course, to get to this point takes training and experience. Luckily, these are two things that Wah! has in spades.
Wah! received her academic training at Oberlin College and Conservatory in Ohio. She graduated with a B.A. in Performing Arts and a minor in voice in 1979. Around this time she also got the opportunity to experience world music first hand. With the Arthur Hall Dance Ensemble, she traveled to Ghana and Nigeria and spent some time living in a shaman temple.
Wah!'s world travels didn't end there; in the late 80's she traveled to India, where she received an education in classical ragas and jazz music. Soon after, she created yoga music for the Cherdi Kala label and later formed the Wah! Band, who at one point opened for Courtney Love's group Hole.
In the later part of the 90's, yoga centers were in the midst of a popularity surge. It was around this time that Wah! became acquainted with Krishna Das. She toured with him awhile, playing bass, violin and providing backing vocals. She also managed him from 1998-2001.
Since 2001, Wah!'s solo career has been her primary focus. Her albums CD KRISHNA, HIDDEN IN THE NAME, LOKAHA and JAI JAI JAI provided an enchanting and accessible blend of Sanskrit mantras, invigorating instrumentation and studio wizardry. Wah! switched gears for her 2002 album OPIUM, which eschewed mantras in favor of self-penned, soul-searching songs with pop and folk sensibilities. “I met Herb Graham Jr., who had just finished working with Macy Gray,” she explains, referring to the album's producer. “I had put out an album of English tunes in 1997 that didn't sell well… I wanted to find a true expression for that songwriting.” She succeeded; OPIUM was a stunning album of introspective songs and funky arrangements. She revisited the material earlier this year with the acoustic album UNPLUGGED.
Another successful release for Wah! was her album SAVASANA, originally designed for yoga sessions. Reflecting on the release, she says “[SAVASANA] was used in ways I never dreamed of… people used it to feng shui their living spaces, clear phobias, induce sleep, accompany healing treatments and even deliver babies.” She decided to try and tap into that wellspring of positive energy a second time with SAVASANA*2. “Joyousness arose from the project” says Wah!, describing the creation process. “The space of healing we created nourished everyone, including me.” The album features deeply relaxing music that includes Wah!'s lush vocals, flute, harmonium, violin, guitar, bass and percussion.
“[Chanting] is a way of sharing good energy” she says. “it connects you to an infinite energy, helps eliminate mind chatter and gets you into a heartspace… and it's fun!” Wah! says that it's her goal to help people connect with their true nature and achieve this sort of inner tranquility.
Wah! regularly tours around the country, performing at yoga studios, retreat centers and other venues. At present she is writing a book based on the weekend retreats she leads. In it, she plans to discuss her style of yoga, chant and meditation.
Copyright 1999-2006 Wah!
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