Boulder, CO (Top40 Charts/ White Swan Records) In the four years since she recorded her last album, Love Abounds, kirtan singer-songwriter Brenda McMorrow has toured the world with her music, playing festivals near and abroad, connecting with a wider and very dedicated audience - and discovering something about herself along the way. Her new album, Igniting the Beauty (due for release by White Swan Records on October 1st), reflects the learning and personal growth she's experienced through exploring the vast territory of Bhakti Yoga, the Yoga of Devotion.
The album's title, taken from the writings of the medieval Abbess and mystic St. Hildegard von Bingen, speaks to the divine spark that exists within each one of us -- the miraculous, unique beauty that we all embody even when we're not directly aware of it. Devotional chant music - or kirtan -- can be a vehicle for this "divine ignition" within our hearts.
Each of the mantras selected for Igniting the Beauty holds a special resonance for McMorrow, and she is excited to share her musical interpretations of them with her growing audience. "I sing these mantras and songs because they help me remember the Truth of the love and perfection that I am, beneath the sometimes 'crazy-making' workings of my mind," says Brenda. "I hope that they can somehow serve others in revealing this for themselves as well."
While Brenda was the principal songwriter on and driving force behind Igniting the Beauty, she recruited many to assist in the endeavor -- starting with acclaimed producer Ben Leinbach, with whom she worked on her previous two White Swan releases, Ameya and Love Abounds. Guest artists on the new record include Grammy-winning cellist
David Darling, Todd
Boston on dotar, guitarist Philippo Franchini, percussionist/vocalist Narada Wise and backing singers Adam Bauer, Shannon Kingsbury and Beth Gatchell.
The most notable contribution, however, came from the nearly 250 people who enthusiastically supported the creation of the album by donating to Brenda's successful "crowd funding" campaign. The participation of so many fans provides real-time validation that Brenda is a viable force in the growing kirtan movement, and gave additional inspiration to the artist throughout her recording process. To her, "the whole project has felt extra special and very inspired because of it being such a blessed group creation!"
Igniting The Beauty was recorded in the spring of 2013 at Old Bull Studios in San Anselmo, California, in the expansive setting of Marin County. It includes McMorrow's personal renditions of traditional mantras, sometimes sprinkling the songs with English lyrics, and on one song -- "May I Awaken/Govinda Bolo" -- the singer offers up the lyrics in both English translation and the traditional Sanskrit. One other song, "Loka Samastha/Om Shanti," was co-written by McMorrow with Ben Leinbach.
Brenda McMorrow is a rising star in the world of sacred music, touring tirelessly and winning the hearts of more and more fans with her devoted travels. Igniting the Beauty promises to find a big, warm welcome in the hearts of many listeners far and wide who have been touched and transformed by her extraordinary performances.
Igniting the Beauty
Tracklist
1. Maha Lakshmi/Jai Ma 5:36
2. Sri Ram 8:10
3. Gayatri/Shine the Light 7:43
4. Loka Samastha/Om Shanti 6:35
5. Igniting the Beauty/Namah Shivaya 6:36
6. Ganesha Om 5:05
7. Anandamayi 6:22
8. May I Awaken/Govinda Bolo 3:54
Brenda McMorrow Fall 2013 Tour Dates
THU - Sep 19, 2013 Ashland, OR
With John de Kadt
Pranafest
TUE - Sep 24,
Nanaimo, B.C.
With John de Kadt
Om Town
FRI - Sep 27,
Kamloops, B.C.
With John de Kadt
Kamloops Hot Yoga
SAT - Sep 28,
Kelowna, B.C.
With John de Kadt
UU Church
THU - Oct 03
Seoul, South Korea
With John de Kadt
Korea Yoga Conference
FRI - Oct 11
Salt Lake City, UT
With John de Kadt
Mudita Yoga
SAT - Oct 12
Sedona, AZ
With John de Kadt
7 Centers Yoga
SUN - Oct 13
Phoenix, AZ
With John de Kadt
Gilbert Yoga
FRI - Oct 18
Santa Fe, NM
With John de Kadt
Dragon Rising
SAT - Oct 19
Albuquerque, NM
With John de Kadt
High Desert Yoga
SUN - Oct 20
Telluride, CO
With John de Kadt
Telluride Yoga
TUE- Oct 22
Crested Butte, CO
With John de Kadt
Yoga for The Peaceful
WED - Oct 23
Paonia, CO
With John de Kadt
Studio Bija
FRI - Oct 25
Idaho Springs, CO
With John de Kadt
The Yoga Room
SUN - Oct 27
Denver CO
With John de Kadt
Samadhi Yoga
WED - Oct 30
Lennox MA
With John de Kadt
Kripalu
THUR-Oct 31
Hartford CT
With John de Kadt
Vital Life Center
FRI-Nov 8
Newburyport MA
With John de Kadt
Roots to Wings
SUN - Nov 10
Buffalo, NY
Shakti Yoga
FRI - Nov 15
Toronto, ON
Yoga Sanctuary College St.
SAT - Nov 16
Guelph, ON
Dublin Street United
SUN - Nov 17
London, ON
Aeolian Hall
November 21-24 AND December 5-8
Bhakti
Heart Fire - Yoga of
Spirit and Song
DevaTree School of Yoga
February 1-10
Joy of Being - Yoga and Chant Retreat in India
