Festival season is here!

It’s a sacred music feast…

From Spirit Fest, to Kirtan Fest, Bodhi Fest, and our Golden Moon Aussie tour, 2013 sees us heading to Western Australia, Adelaide, Melbourne, India, China and Malaysia!

Songsters: stay tuned for the return of our Sacred Choirs in Sydney!

Carmella had the privilege of being invited to the stage at Deva Premal and Miten’s recent Sydney concert at the National Institute of Dramatic Art. “I was honoured to share the stage with Deva, Miten & Manose chanting the Hallelujah in the encore of their show. Such a joy to share space with these wonderful delightful souls who are forever opening and sharing the love with everyone.”

Hope to share the love with you too at one of these events soon.

Jaya Bhagavan

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Transformation through sound

“In all civilizations and in all initiations, we find the assurance that sound – in particular the absolute sound of the names correlating to the Divine – represents the most powerful of transformative energies known throughout creation” – Patrick Bernard

Amidst the barrage of tragedy and destruction that had it’s profound effect on so many in 2012, we are left to contemplate our relationships: to self, to nature, to truth, to others, to the Divine.

The quest to uplift consciousness seems more urgent than ever before. I pray that my offering and the offerings of all like minded souls, continues to grow, transform and be transformed, by our relationship to that divine ‘perfection’ – perfection that is, the very fabric of life. Highlights for 2012 included:

• New Release

The release of acclaimed new mantra CD RASA MANDALA, recorded in the hinterland of Byron bay with Grammy nominated producer Kamal Engels. It’s been wonderful to receive so many glowing reviews:

“Sinuous, sleek and elegant. In Carmella’s voice the galaxies spin” – Dave Stringer

“Carmella’s voice comes straight from her soul with love radiating from every note. You will want to give this CD to those you love” – Kate Clare McIntyre, Director YOGAWOMAN

“Rasa Mandala is the love child of Carmella’s superb voice and passion for Mantra and Dale’s luscious soundscapes – a unique, uplifting sound to soothe the soul” – Australian Yoga Journal

Songs from the CD have been picked up by various radio stations and compilation CD’s both here and abroad.

• Fabulous concert tours

Some of our many new friends at a Shanghai Kundalini Yoga school

Concert tours from Sydney to Byron Bay, Melbourne, New Zealand and China: Our tour of China was the inspirational highlight of the year, playing to packed Yoga Schools, venues and galleries in Beijing and Shanghai, we were blissfully surprised by the level of powerful and enthusiastic chanting that is quickly bubbling up across this vastly populated nation. Yoga is huge in China and chanting is now being received so beautifully . . .

• Great local festival tours

2012 also saw the inauguration of devotional music festivals in Australia such as Bodhifest in Newcastle, Byron Spirit festival, Chantfest in Melbourne of which I was honoured to be a part of.

• Featuring in YOGAWOMAN

I also had the honour of my music being included in the GROUNDBREAKING award winning motion picture YOGAWOMAN, which is currently playing to packed houses around the world. The CD is about to be released and features acclaimed female devotional singers such as Snatam Kaur, Donna de Lory, Shantala, and Australia’s own Sacred Earth.

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Greetings from Shanghai!!

I’M FEELING renewed and inspired by our current tour of China! From Shanghai to Beijing – we are holding kirtan in yoga schools, art centres, and schools, where the vibe is fresh, sweet and somehow wonderfully innocent.

As the economic boom continues to create massive change over here, ever increasing numbers of people are becoming aware of the importance of spiritual life. The chanting resonates deeply with the Chinese people and this is reflected in the deep sincerity, power and beauty of their voices as they respond in kirtans everywhere we go.

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Coming events in Australia

Voice in Yoga teacher training

I’m excited about my Voice in Yoga teacher training with Body Mind Life at Surry Hills in August 18 and 19.

Voice in Yoga is a dynamic discovery of the natural voice in union with mind, body, and spirit. It is from this union that self-expression and communication can become clear, conscious and liberated. Voice in Yoga utilises a unique approach which melds ancient yogic traditions with contemporary holistic sound healing, deep meditation and exploration of eastern and western vocal techniques.

This course offers 10 hours of teacher training credit which is accruable toward BodyMindLife’s 300/500 hour Yoga Teacher Training Certificate (recognised by Yoga Alliance)

Please press on the poster image (above) for more details.

Manly voice workshops

PLEASE JOIN US in Manly, Sydney, on August 12 for a wonderful day of voice workshops, where you will discover the path for taking song to unimagined heights! We will round off the day with a blissful evening kirtan.

Discover your own natural voice and the wisdom and techniques which Carmella has found in her 25 years of song, meditation, yoga, chanting, Taoist and singing practices. You will experience the purification of prana; release of emotional blocks; opening of the heart; connection with the self, others and ultimately the divine.

Rasa Mandala CD launch in Byron Bay

WE’RE INCREDIBLY excited about our new CD Rasa Mandala! We’re also incredibly excited about the CD launch party in Byron Bay this August. Please join us, tell your friends and bring your hearts and voices!

The doors open at 6:45 pm and the show starts at 7:30pm.

Tickets are $20 pre-booked and $25 at the door. Find out more at ku promotions.

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We’re having a party . . . and you’re invited!

Join us at Paddington Church for the launch of Carmella’s new mantra groove CD, Rasa Mandala!

Friday 4th May – Doors open 6:30pm – Book online here »

RASA MANDALA, is an exciting new musical collaboration, bringing together the talents of Australian Kirtan Artist Carmella Baynie with renowned instrumentalist Dale Nougher. This latest offering weaves a rich tapestry of dreamy electronic soundscapes and world grooves with ancient mantra. Rasa Mandala is laced with inspirational, uplifting anthemic charts and lush orchestration which will draw you deeper into the profound mysteries of kirtan and mystical trance-dance!

Together they have combined with the exceptional mastery of Grammy nominated producer Kamal M. Engels and the result is a fresh exciting new sound in contemporary chant music.

Joining us will be celebrity vegetarian chef Kurma Das, Priya Vrata – the author of “Food Yoga”, DJ Leigh Woods – who will be launching ”Tea Tonic”, a new coconut tea sensation.

Book online here »

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A busy spring ahead

THIS YEAR we launched “Born singing” and the “Sacred Choir” weekly gatherings across Sydney, Melbourne and New Zealand, practising Voice in Yoga and singing spirituals from around the world. Many excited participants are coming together to form “Sacred Choir” and our first performance in November at the “Earth Concert” at Petersham Town Hall, November 11.

We are currently in the studio working on my sixth CD, titled “Rasa Mandala”. We’re all very excited about our launch party in Sydney Jan 2012. More on that soon! More »