Jahnavi Harrison

Jahnavi Harrison, also known by her spiritual name, Jahnavi Jivana devi dasi,[1] is a British musician known for her mantra meditation music (kirtan). She regularly appears as a presenter on BBC Radio 4's Something Understood programme and BBC Radio 2's Pause for Thought.[2]

Jahnavi Harrison in 2019

Biography

Jahnavi Harrison was raised in a family of Bhakti-yoga practitioners at Bhaktivedanta Manor. She states that she aims to channel her creative expression as a musician as a path to self-realisation and service. She is trained in both Indian (Carnatic music and Bharatanatyam) and Western music, as well as dance, writing and visual arts. She gained a bachelor's degree in Linguistics and Creative Writing from Middlesex University in 2009.[3][4] Since then she has presented and taught mantra music and meditation globally.[3][5][6]

Harrison released her debut album, Like a River to the Sea in July 2015,[7][8][9][10] and featured on the Grammy nominated Bhakti Without Borders charity album (2016).

She presents regularly on broadcast media including for BBC Radio 2's "Pause for Thought"[2][11][12][13][14][15] and "Something Understood" on BBC Radio 4.

She co-founded "Kirtan London", a project that aims to make mantra music accessible and relevant to a wider audience through a variety of events and retreats.[16]

Recordings

Surrender (Krishna Keshava)

Willow Smith and Harrison present a unique, first-time collaboration. Surrender (Krishna Keshava)[17][18] is an ancient sacred song from India. The Sanskrit lyrics invoke divine peace, protection and grace. Harrison shared the release exclusively with Zoe Ball on BBC Radio 2.[19]

Like a River to the Sea

Harrison released her debut album, Like a River to the Sea in July 2015.[20]

Bhakti Without Borders

Harrison features on "Bhaja Govindam"[21] for the charity album Bhakti Without Borders, which was nominated for a Grammy award.[22]

Mantra Lounge Volumes 1, 2 & 3

Harrison has recorded tracks for Mantra Lounge Volumes 1 2 & 3.[23][24][25]

R I S E

In 2020, she released the EP R I S E, with Willow Smith. Wonderland magazine described it as "a[n] idyllic garden surrounded by angelic ethereal vocals and shimmering productions", with "birds chirping sweetly over melodic guitar strings".[26]

Reception

McKenna Rowe, reviewing Like a River to the Sea for LA Yoga, wrote that she was "moved and stunned by the beauty of the instruments and arrangements" of the songs. She found the album "a deeply satisfying masterpiece", not only for people who like devotional music.[27] Reviewing the album for Pulse magazine, Sanjeevini Dutta noted that kirtan was "the sound track" to Harrison's childhood. She called it "a first album of astonishing ripeness and sweetness," one that drew the listener "to a profound inner space," yet staying in contact with "life lived full of joys, sorrow and heartbreak."[28] Amardeep Dhillon, in Songlines magazine, called the music pleasant but unsurprising, the tracks being "soothing and uncluttered, with Harrison's violin weaving in between Celtic and Karnatic strains". In his view the album succeeds through the undoubted "depth of feeling, sincerity and love that come through".[29]

References
  1. Smullen, Madhava. "Second Generation Kirtan Leaders Commit to Initiation Vows". ISKCON News. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  2. "Pause For Thought - Pause For Thought: 'Let your heart be light.' - BBC Sounds". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2020-04-28.
  3. "Jahnavi Harrison | About". Jahnavi Music. Retrieved 29 October 2018.
  4. van Praagh, Anna (30 November 2014). "What's it like to grow up in a religious sect?". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 29 October 2018.
  5. O'Neill, Alix. "Why the millennial craze for chanting is the new clubbing". ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 2020-04-28.
  6. "Jahnavi Harrison". Elephant Journal. 2018. Retrieved 1 November 2018.
  7. "Like a River to the Sea by Jahnavi Harrison". Music.apple.com. Retrieved 22 August 2020.
  8. "Like a River to the Sea". Open.spotify.com. Retrieved 22 August 2020.
  9. "Jahnavi Harrison – Like a River to the Sea". jahnavimusic.com. Retrieved 2020-04-28.
  10. Jahnavi Harrison. "Like a River to the Sea". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 2020-04-28.
  11. "Pause For Thought - Pause For Thought: 'As frightening as change can be, I'm trying to focus on the state of mind that I really want.' - BBC Sounds". BBC.co.uk. Retrieved 2020-04-28.
  12. "Pause For Thought - Pause For Thought: 'Friendship, wisdom, community - love.' - BBC Sounds". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2020-04-28.
  13. "Pause For Thought - Pause For Thought: 'My teacher's belief in me pushed me to do something I never imagined possible.' - BBC Sounds". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2020-04-28.
  14. "Pause For Thought - Pause For Thought: 'I'm not too small to make a difference.' - BBC Sounds". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2020-04-28.
  15. "Pause For Thought - Pause For Thought: 'The ecology of my heart is what needs most urgent attention.' - BBC Sounds". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2020-04-28.
  16. O'Neill, Alix. "Why the millennial craze for chanting is the new clubbing". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 2020-04-28.
  17. "Surrender (Krishna Keshava) - Single by Willow & Jahnavi Harrison". Music.apple.com. Retrieved 2020-05-20.
  18. "Surrender (Krishna Keshava) de Willow - Streaming de música - Escúchalo en Deezer". Deezer.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 2020-05-20.
  19. "Pause For Thought - Pause For Thought: 'How a simple song can become a beacon of hope.' - BBC Sounds". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2020-05-20.
  20. "The pop culture that's comforting me now: Chrissy Metz". TODAY.com. Retrieved 2020-04-28.
  21. "Bhakti Without Borders by Madi Das". Music.apple.com. Retrieved 2020-04-28.
  22. Mishra, Ishita (17 December 2015). "'Bhakti without Borders' score a Grammy nod". The Times of India. Retrieved 30 October 2018. 'Bhakti without Borders' is a rather apt name for an album of bhajans that has been nominated for the 58th Grammy Award
  23. "Mantra Lounge, Vol. 3 by Various Artists". Music.apple.com. Retrieved 22 August 2020.
  24. "Mantra Lounge, Vol. 2 by Various Artists". Music.apple.com. Retrieved 22 August 2020.
  25. "Mantra Lounge, Vol. 1 by Various Artists". Music.apple.com. Retrieved 22 August 2020.
  26. "Willow Smith Jahnavi". Wonderland Magazine. 26 November 2020. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  27. Rowe, McKenna (2 October 2015). "Like a River to the Sea Music Review". LA Yoga. Retrieved 29 October 2018.
  28. Dutta, Sanjeevini (15 September 2015). "CD Reviews | Like a River to the Sea". Pulse (130 Autumn 2015): 24.
  29. "Asia Reviews | Jahnavi Harrison | Like a River to the Sea". Songlines (113): 56. December 2015. Retrieved 31 October 2018.
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