Spiritually inspired, Globally-tinged Folk and Americana music is what you’ll find on “Love Is The Best,” Dada’s second album overall. He seamlessly melds the rhythms of rock, country and Americana folk with the ancient wisdom of Yoga, bringing together such disparate strains to create a remarkable, eclectic music collection. There’s even a Bill Haley and the Comets-1950s style doo-wop song ~ which honestly is a bit of a surprise coming from an orange turban and robe wearing Yogic monk, but he performed this style of music flawlessly.
Overall “Love Is The Best” moves with a deeper spirit. Dada, much like Bob Dylan, U2, Johnny Cash or Bruce Springsteen, musically tackles topics that dominate our daily news, such as war and world peace, racism, economic and ecological issues as well as the need for open-minded spiritual discourse and real universal tolerance. Songs such as “From Zero To Hero,” “A Better Deal” and “Liberate Your Mind” bring these subjects into perspective. Also included on the album are two kirtan meditative tracks that feature mantra chanting. These songs were specifically written to assist the listener with their meditative focus.
This record and Dada’s music overall is a subtle work of simplistic beauty. I highly recommend “Love Is The Best.” But I would also suggest his first CD, “Brighter Than The Sun” – recorded in 2003 in Albania. With its acoustic, country-folk melodies and spiritual sensibilities, it makes for an excellent accompaniment to “Love Is The Best.” The radiant song “In The Stillness of the Morning” is worth the price alone.
Dada Veda’s website is www.dadaveda.com
reviewed by Michael Lohr (from New Renaissance Magazine, www.ru.org)
Dada Veda’s second album, Love Is the Best, is a most unexpected offering. Its eleven songs reflect Dada Veda’s message of self awareness, peace, and love. Finding that on an album by a trained yoga monk is not at all surprising. Dada Veda is a member of Ananda Marga, a global spiritual and social service organization founded by Shrii Shrii Anandamurti, whose mission is to bring self-realization and service to human beings all over the globe. Dada Veda’s monastic name is Acarya Vedaprajinananda Avadhuta, and the honorific “Dada” that he uses in the much shortened form of his name means “respected elder brother.” (more…)
You’ve got to love Dada Veda and his encouraging, uplifting messages that embrace the All. This singer-songwriter, monk, and yoga/meditation teacher hailing from Urbana, Illinois, released his second CD, entitled Love Is The Best, in August 2009. In a straightforward way, with folk sensibility and a country rock feel, Dada Veda communicates his belief in the power of positive thinking on the opening track, “We Are Never Alone or Helpless.” The optimistic “From Zero to Hero” is perfect for children, delivered in a way that holds attention with catchy beats and refrains.
Unexpected gifts are found throughout the CD, whether it be the blending of voices and harmonies on “Liberate Your Mind,” straight-up doo-wop wrapped in inspirational lyrics on “Open My Heart,” or an inspiring violin on “A Better Deal.” A favorite was “I’m Waiting For That Time,” with its universal heartfelt thoughts enveloped in lovely music that becomes infused with energy to end on a high note. The thing with Dada Veda’s message is that it is accessible to everyone and lives in that space where there is no controversy or competition between religions, just practical positivity for all. Also included is a chanting mantra (”Baba Nam Kevalam” = “Love is all there is”) set to moving background music. The final track, “Kiirtan Remix” is a futuristic, totally absorbing, danceable beat, that puts an upbeat, otherworldly spin on the Kiirtan mantra. Enjoy!
For more information about Dada Veda, visit his websites: http://www.dadaveda.com, http://www.myspace.com/dadaveda, http://www.sonicbids.com/dadaveda.
I have been in California for the past two weeks and have played at Country Joe’s Open Mic in Berkeley, the Cafe Espreso in San Jose, at a house concert in Los Altos Hills, and most recently at the Red Rock Cafe in Mountain View. Here is a video from San Jose:
For the past year I have been in NYC (though I did travel to many places all over the US) but now I have shifted my home base to Urbana, Illinois. I live a the Ananda Marga spiritual community in Urbana, Illinois. It is a three hour’s drive from Chicago and it holds the main campus of the University of Illinois. Our center here is very beautiful, sitting on ten acres of land and is part of the Ananda Liina eco-village.
I have already started my work here, giving yoga and meditation workshops as well as performing music for children and adults in two centers for people with special needs.
In addition the quiet rural location is great for recording and video recording. Here is my first video which was made at Ananda Liina, it is a cover of Bob Dylan’s Blowin’ in the Wind.
This week one of the icons of folk music passed away. Mary Travers was a member of Peter, Paul and Mary and throughout her life she worked for various social causes. Her music many people and she will be sorely missed. However, the music lives on in recordings and in video. Here is one of her inspiring performances:
In Case anyone is wondering what my new songs are all about. Below are some capsule comments that explain what I had in mind when I wrote each of the songs on my new CD. (more…)
The newest CD, Love is the Best, should be ready by July 1, 2009. You can hear four tracks on my MySpace profile. The first four tracks on my music player will be on the new CD. Check them out and let me know what you think.
