Subway Bhaktis

The Subway Bhaktis are Rachel Zinman and Nyck Jeanes and producer and musician Kamal Engels. Rachel and Nyck are based in Byron Bay, Australia, where this album was recorded, but these chants and songs were first conceived when they were living in New York City from 2000 – 2004. Rachel was teaching ISHTA yoga in NYC and as part of her studies discovered the joys of chanting. She would often practice mantras in the subways – commuting to and from beneath the city – by making up melodies to help her remember them. At home with husband Nyck, with harmonium and guitar, these chants became musical pieces. In 2003 their friend, music producer Kamal Engels, came and stayed in New York. They shared some music; some laughs, and acted as his tour guide. Over the next year they were writing tunes, singing chants, and riding a lot of trains. They began doing Kirtans and people seemed to want recordings. Then in September 2004 Rachel and Nyck moved back to Australia via Sri Lanka, where music seemed also to flow freely. By early 2005 they were pretty determined to record these chants written on the subways and their Brooklyn apartment; in the coconut breezes of Sri Lanka and Belize; and in the wide green backyards of Byron Bay. Kamal was more than ready to help the manifestation and so The Subway Bhaktis were born. Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.