Music at SYF

Larisa Stow & Shakti Tribe are here to wake, shake and create a vibration-raising WEvolution with their edgy blend of mantra-infused rock. Fronted by force-of-nature Larisa Stow, their music is an East-West fusion journey. Larisa's inspiring energy & stellar vocals combined with her band's impeccable musicianship have garnered main stage slots at numerous festivals such as Bhakti Fest, Lightning in a Bottle, Holi Festival of Colors and more. With four albums and several singles released, Shakti Tribe sends the listener off on a wild Bhakti carpet ride of ecstatic waves of music, mantra and pure devotion.

DJ Taz Rashid is known for his high-vibe music experience that gets people on their feet dancing and connecting with their highest selves. His energetic DJ sets blend ancient mantras with global bass, sacred beats, and other positive grooves that inspire individual and collective joy.

Taz regularly performs at yoga festivals, conscious gatherings, and spiritual events worldwide. His mission is to be of service, to inspire people to connect to their Divine selves through music, and to create unforgettable experiences through his uniquely curated performances.

LVDY (pronounced "Lady") is a Denver-based female folk duo composed of Kathleen Hooper and Aubrey Mable. Their harmonious vocals, acoustic guitar, and diverse instrumental arrangements create an uplifting sonic experience that inspires connection and community.

Known for their heartfelt performances and genuine stage presence, LVDY's music invites listeners to move, dance, and feel deeply. Their soulful folk sound combined with positive messaging has made them beloved performers at festivals, yoga events, and conscious gatherings across the country.

Lama Tashi Norbu is a Tibetan Buddhist monk offering sacred artworks such as Tibetan Sacred Tattoos, Tibetan Sacred Paintings, and Tibetan Sacred Chants on his path of sharing sacred Buddhist teachings.

Lama Tashi now combines art, meditation, musical chants of sacred Tibetan mantras and the creation of Tibetan sandmandalas on his many world tours. Lama Tashi has participated in numerous festivals throughout the Europe, Australia , Shanghai , Hong Kong , Macao , throughout USA , New York and California. Lama Tashi has been chanting Tibetan sacred mantras for many decades , improvising with other Tibetan and western musicians in performances all over the world. They have performed for HHDL in Dharamsala, India, as well as at Carnegie Hall in New York City, Several times on stage at the Time square itself and Olympic Gala Paris 2024 with some of the greatest musicians of the world such as Earth, Wind and Fire. Lama Tashi has devoted himself to environmental issues and is dedicated to sharing and preserving Tibetan art and culture and created several 17 feet reclaimed materials buddhas statue around the world . His resilience, bravey and dedication are unmatched as are his humbleness and respectfulness. He is truly an ambassador to Tibet.

Ananda Das is a beloved kirtan artist, multi-instrumentalist, and devoted practitioner of bhakti yoga who shares the transformative practice of sacred chant with authenticity and heart. With deep respect for the ancient traditions of mantra and kirtan, Ananda creates musical experiences that invite participants into the direct experience of devotion and inner connection.

His performances blend traditional Sanskrit mantras with contemporary musical influences, creating accessible yet profound experiences that welcome both newcomers and experienced practitioners alike. Through call-and-response chanting, rhythmic grooves, and heartfelt devotion, Ananda Das facilitates a collective journey into the universal language of the heart that transcends cultural and spiritual boundaries.

Ashwin Baliga is a US-based Hindustani Classical Vocalist and Educator. Ashwin began his music journey in California under acclaimed vocalist Mahesh Kale, and trained with him for several years. Thereafter, Ashwin continued his learning under Pt. Milind Chittal of Kirana Gharana – and is now one of his senior disciples.

Ashwin has performed at multiple venues across USA and India. Some of the notable performances include Shaktidham Yoga Ashram, Kinnigoli (India), Beloved Yoga Sanctuary in Reston, Virginia (USA), Washington DC South Asian Classical Music Festival, Bethesda, Maryland (USA), All America Kannada Convention, Richmond, Virginia (USA), India Music Experience Museum, Bengaluru (India), and Shadja Kala Kendra, Bengaluru (India).

Ashwin has also collaborated with sound healer Brian Eubanks and performed the world's first "Raga Bath" – integrating Hindustani improvisations (aalaps) into a meditative experience immersed in frequency-specific bowl sounds. Ashwin aims to extend the reach of classical music by integrating translation displays and contextual explanations into his performances and by rendering pieces across multiple Indian languages.

Darcy Nelson is a soulful musician, sound healer, and spiritual guide who blends sacred music with contemporary influences to create transformative sonic experiences. Her ethereal vocals and masterful instrumentation weave together elements of folk, world music, and devotional chants that open the heart and elevate consciousness.

Through her authentic presence and profound connection to music as a healing art, Darcy creates spaces for deep listening, inner reflection, and collective celebration. Her performances at yoga festivals and conscious gatherings are known for their ability to guide participants through a journey of sound that nurtures the spirit and awakens the soul.

Devapriya Nayak (Debu), born in West Bengal, India, embarked on his tabla journey at the tender age of three under the guidance of his grandfather, Chaudhury Kausalya Nandan, an accomplished pakhawaj and tabla player of the Punjab Gharana. His foundational training continued as a disciple of Pt. Radhakanta Nandi of the Benaras Gharana.

In 1981, Debu moved to the US for higher studies, where he continued his tabla taalim (training) with esteemed Maestros like Ustad Zakir Hussain, Pandit Anindo Chattergee, and Pt. Samir Chatterjee. He currently maintains a ‘Ganda Bandha’ shishya (a formal, traditional student-teacher bond) relationship with Pt. Samir Chatterjee.

Debu is a distinguished soloist and accompanist, having graced the stage with renowned artists such as Pt. Vinayak Torvi, Pt. Ramesh Mishra, Ustad Fahimuddin Dagar, Habib Wali Mohammad, Asif Ali Khan, Shahanaz Begum, Gaurav Mazumdar, Partha Bose, Mitali Banerjee-Bhawmik, and Tulika Ghosh, among others.

His tabla artistry was recently featured in "Probe," a collaborative project blending Indian Classical Music and Jazz. Debu and the members of Probe have also had the honor of performing at the prestigious Smithsonian Institution.

Beyond performing, Debu directs the Washington DC Chapter of Chhandayan, a tabla school dedicated to promoting tabla and Indian Classical Music within the Washington DC metro area. His latest CD, "Tabla Rising," encapsulates 16 years of concert experience, showcasing his collaborations with various vocalists and instrumentalists.

Johanna Beekman (RYT-500) is a multi-genre recording artist, sacred songstress, yoga teacher, and kirtan artist. She is loved for her rich, soulful voice, radiant spirit, and evocative, inspiring songs. Johanna's devotional music springs from her roots in gospel, blue-eyed soul, mantra and world music.

Johanna has studied chanting with kirtan artists such as Gina Sala, Shantala, Jai Uttal, Krishna Das and Ram Dass; voice with renowned improvisational jazz singer Rhiannon and Grammy award-winning gospel artist Isaiah Jones Jr.; and songwriting with the mother of women's music Chris Williamson. She holds a BS degree in Women's Studies with a focus in improvisational and musical theater and is also an advanced registered yoga teacher, with specialties in therapeutic, gentle, restorative, yin, and meditation.

Prem Vidu is a sacred music artist whose journey began in a home filled with harmony, rhythm, and the magic of barbershop chords. Though he started singing at five, percussion soon became his heartbeat, leading him to explore global rhythms and earn a BFA in Percussion Performance & Jazz Studies. His music carried him across the world—from Broadway’s Blast! in London to the steel pan rhythms of Trinidad & Tobago and beyond. Yet, it was the deeper call of music as prayer that truly transformed him, guiding him into devotion, shamanism, and plant medicine. In a sacred vision, he received a message that changed everything: "There is no shorter umbilical to your soul than singing." At 35, he returned to his voice, blending decades of musical experience with his spiritual path. Now, through The Band of Now, he leads kirtans that invite all to sing, heal, and awaken together. Jai Ma!

Sacred Liiight is an innovative musical collective that blends conscious electronic music with sacred sounds, creating immersive sonic landscapes that elevate and inspire. Their unique approach combines modern production techniques with traditional instruments, vocals, and ancient mantras to create a musical experience that speaks to both body and soul.

Known for their captivating live performances, Sacred Liiight creates intentional soundscapes that support meditation, ecstatic dance, and transformational experiences. Their music serves as a bridge between worlds—honoring ancestral wisdom while embracing the innovative potential of contemporary sound design to create experiences that awaken consciousness and inspire connection.

Soumya was born into a family of music lovers. His mother received some early training in the Sitar and vocal music. However, both his parents were avid music listeners and had a large collection of LPs and other recordings of classical music at home. His siblings and cousins were all learning Indian Classical music of some form by the time Soumya was a little boy and with lessons on the tabla, so began Soumya's initiation into Indian classical music.

He turned to playing the Sarod when he was eleven under the tutelage of the highly respected Pt. Samarendranath Sikdar, a senior disciple of the late Pt. Radhika Mohan Maitra of the Shahjahanpur Gharana. For nearly thirty years he has received extensive training under his guru in a multitude of north Indian Ragas, some of which are very rare and unique to his Gharana.

Experience the genre-blending "one-man symphony" of violinist Tyler Carson, aka “Fiddler on the Rock.” A classically trained soloist, Tyler fuses live looping, vocals, storytelling, and visuals to create original music and bold covers from Led Zeppelin to Taylor Swift. With CBS features, a Discover the Region cover story, and weekly sold-out Sedona shows, he’s making waves. For this special SYF performance, Tyler teams up with Prem Vidu (The Band of Now) on percussion—promising a powerful, collaborative set that will resonate long after the final note.

“Sheer brilliance! Tyler is a musical genius.”?
— Patrick Schweiss, Sedona International Film Festival

Viola Rose is a gifted vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, and songstress whose music weaves together folk, soul, and world influences into a tapestry of sound that speaks directly to the heart. With her crystalline voice and soulful presence, Viola creates musical experiences that invite listeners into spaces of authentic connection and inner reflection.

Drawing inspiration from nature, spiritual traditions, and the human journey, her songs explore themes of love, transformation, and the sacred feminine. Viola's performances blend original compositions with reimagined traditional songs, creating a musical journey that honors the ancient while celebrating the present moment in all its beauty and complexity.