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)

Born in New York City, Dada Veda hitchhiked to California in search of enlightenment during the Summer of Love (1967-1969) phenomenon. There he discovered yoga and was exposed to bhajans or devotional songs and kirtan, the mantra chanting most people associate with some forms of Eastern meditation, including yoga. He began playing guitar and singing as he led chanting sessions, even before he was trained as a monk.

Less than a decade ago, Dada Veda starting writing songs. His first CD, Brighter Than the Sun, combined the spiritual with social justice and ecological issues, and sent him on tours throughout North America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. That recording introduced an unexpected element that also marks his sophomore CD, Love Is the Best. That element is a definite country influence that a fan dubbed as Country and Eastern Music. However, neither of these albums has the sophistication that fiddle player Tim Carbone has often called on in his work with Railroad Earth or his former band, the Dharma Bums.

Produced and arranged by Ryan Sam, Love Is the Best also has rock, pop, and country gospel influences. Dada Veda, who plays guitar and handles the lead vocals, is supported by Diipak who played the violin. The other instrumentation comes from Ryan Sam himself playing bass, piano, electric and acoustic guitars, and drums, as well as adding background vocals.

The result is startling, especially when looking at Dada Veda’s photo on the album. Listeners just don’t expect to hear that voice and that music coming from his face, which looks venerable and wise in its full beard and orange turban and robes. Though Eastern musical and spiritual influences have pervaded mainstream music since the Beatles, there are many new North American groups who are writing original music with Eastern chanted lines or instrumentation, such as Gaura Vani & As Kindred Spirits from Washington DC or Bhadra Collective from Toronto. These groups, though, sound very Eastern.

Dada Veda, however, is about as American as you can get, right down to his John Sebastian meets Sister Hazel delivery. That combined with his spiritual content make this CD unexpected. That may have been the intention. The very nature of the two musical ideas—Eastern and Western—is programmed to shake up ingrained minds. Once listeners get past the shock of the two divergent concepts, they may be more open to Dada Veda’s lyrics.

Love Is the Best is happy music. The songs are all upbeat and have melodic choruses that will leave listeners humming long after the CD is ended. And the messages of love, brotherhood, and even vegetarianism are worthwhile. But make no mistake, the songs are not subtle or cleverly poetic. They are forthright and carry listeners along with their positive messages. These are teaching songs that are meant to inspire and get people thinking about spiritual matters. Or to put it in another context, they are similar to church camp songs, only with more expanded themes.

That said, it is the more country gospel rooted songs that are the strongest. The first track, “We Are Never Alone or Helpless,” is straight out of the old-time camp meeting, with a bass and drumbeat, and a chorus similar to “Will the Circle Be Unbroken.” The third track, “Liberate Your Mind,” also has a familiar chorus, sounding like “Accentuate the Positive” and then dips into the sweet gospel harmony. It also has a slick electric guitar break in the middle. The vegetarian song, “A Better Deal,” also sounds familiar like a cut from the Broadway play, Big River. It is enhanced by the tasteful violin that is a mix of classical and country fiddling. That work is countered with tablas and piano that sound odd together at first but soon melt into an enjoyable mix.

The other strengths of this album are in the last two cuts, “Good Old Kirtan” and “Kirtan Remix.” The first is a traditional kirtan or chant using the phrase, “Baba Nam Kevalam,” which means “Love is all there is.” It starts with voices and adds a strummed guitar with synthesizer overtones and synth tablas. These droning sounds add to the chanting, but it is an odd mix of organic elements (voices and guitar) and electronic elements that sometimes fight each other. The “Kirtan Remix,” with only a vocal, is a synthed-up version that could be called a “switched-on kirtan.” It actually works, even for some listeners and meditation practitioners who find electronic elements distracting during a chant.

And then there is the doo-wop tune, “Open My Heart.” It is just fun. The title cut, “Love Is the Best,” however, is not as strong as others in the CD making it a curious choice for an album name.

Dada Veda’s Love Is the Best is a most unusual excursion into Eastern spiritual thought. Because of the mix of ideas and musical styles, perhaps the CD should have been called, Open My Mind.

Review by Janie Franz

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.

- Lily Emeralde and Emma Dyllan

Phosphorescence Magazine

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.

My next stop in Denmark for another conference and then to Stockholm for a concert. Here is a poster for the concert.

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.

About the Songs on “Love is the Best”

We Are Never Alone or Helpless

This was inspired by my spiritual teacher who said “You are never alone or helpless the force that guides the stars guides you too.” The whole philosophy of yoga is contained in this sentence.

From Zero to Hero

The difference between success and failure is very small. We all have the capacity to turn the “zero” into “hero.”

Liberate Your Mind

We’ve got to break free from narrow ideas whether they are in the political, social or religious spheres.

I Know You Can’t be Far

This is a spiritual love song (bhajan) and describes the fleeting nature of mystical experience.

I’m Waiting for That Time

A song of longing for a time when we have social justice and harmony on this small planet.

A Better Deal

The ethical side of vegetarianism is the subject of this lighthearted tune.

My Heart Will Go on Loving You

This was written as a spiritual love song, but it can be enjoyed on other levels as well.

Open My Heart Wide

A spiritual love song (bhajan) done in the style of 1950s rock ’n’ roll. A first?

Love is the Best

This song was originally written for my kindergarten kids. Now it has been transformed into a song for kids of all ages.

Good Old Kiirtan

This is a song that can be played, listened to and sung before silent meditation. The meaning of the words (mantra) is “Love is all There Is.”

Kiirtan Remix

Mantra music with the beat of today.

You can order the CD now at : http://www.dadaveda.com/dadavedamusic.html