Jaya Lakshmi is known for trailblazing new musical dimensions with her band Lost at Last, which toured in the western US from 1997-2004. The music was quite undefinable, a mix of electronica, live exotic instrumentation and percussion, with devotional chanting from different spiritual traditions such as Vedic, Native American, Sufi. Being the main songwriter for the band, she continued on after the band broke up to learn Ableton Live (a live electronica program) to re-mix her own music and compose new pieces somewhat similar to the Lost at Last sound, with live singing. All of the music is devotionally inspired, much in the kirtan style, Sanskrit prayers and songs from India in addition to original English lyrics. Thus, the new genre of ‘kirtronica’ has been born, growing steadily amongst God-crazy ravers.
Similar to the the Lost at Last sound, her new music is a mixture of house and tribal trance beats, with (recordings of) acoustic instruments like tabla, guitar, flute, and sarod. In the current duo format, Jaya Lakshmi sings live while Ananda runs Ableton Live. They lead the audience through an ecstatic dance journey that awakens their shakti, inspiring devotional trance states and deepening their connection with the divine.
“From the heart-opening strains of their sumptuous traditional kirtan to the wild blend of contemporary rhythms and sounds they call Kirtronica, Jaya Lakshmi and Ananda’s divine harmonies will keep you riding waves of devotion from the meditation hall to the dance floor, and most everyplace in between. ” ~ Janet Stone
Listen to some samples below!
Sounds True Records; Recorded by Lost at Last in Santa Cruz, CA
This album is actually the last Lost at Last album originally entitled “Tear the Walls Down”. Priyo on sarod, berimbau, nylon string & electric guitar, Jaya Lakshmi on lead vocal, keyboards, and Om on electronica, plus many talented guest musicians, such as Daniel Paul on tabla, Pony Vigil, Tone Freshwater and Karma Walker featured as Native American singers, Stephen Kent on didgeridoo, etc.
