Satya-Franche & Ma Kirtan- A New York based ensemble of spiritually- minded musicians, led by Satya, who join together in the practice of NamaSanKirtanam or kirtan. Call and response chanting is a powerful form of meditation using sound and voice as its anchor; through chanting the Divine names, we are able to quiet the mind and open the heart.
Satya Franche began her singing career as a child in Montreal as a student of Carmen Mehta, eventually earning two degrees in music, from Grant MacEwan, Edmonton, Alberta, and Berklee College of Music, Boston, Mass. She has worked extensively both in live performance and in the studio. In the 80's, she recorded a pop album entitled "As We Were" with her group, So Sudden. Her kirtan journey began in 2006, when she formed Satya Franche & Ma Kirtan, inspired by her mentor Krishna Das and the guidance of her Satguru, Sri Neem Karoli, and his great disciple, SiddhiMa. Satya-Franche draws her no-holds-barred style of leading from the influences of the Western kirtan wallahs as well as her experiences of kirtan in India. Satya has recorded and performed with many of todays kirtan leaders including, Krishna Das, Shyamdas, Durga Das and Mira, Prema Hara, Sri Kirtan, Nina Rao, Girish, Wynne Paris, Gauravani, Brenda McMorrow, and recently Lee Harrington, Shyama Chapin, Ambika Cooper, and Shambu Das. She has toured in India, Canada and the Northeastern States with the late Ma Chetan Jyoti, one of kirtan's great voices. Her collaboration with violinist, Shivanananda Sharma [director of the CJ Ma School, Rishikesh, India] continues.
Currently, Satya leads kirtan throughout the Eastern seaboard, incorporating her vocal skills with a sense of enthusiasm, and clear love for the practice, that today makes her a popular chant leader. She accompanies many of the musicians and local groups in the area, including Devadas, Shubalananda, Tom Lena, and the Solar Dynasty Band.
Satya's debut kirtan CD was released in 2009 entitled "Love is in the Name" and she is currently working on her second one entitled "Faith in Hand" due to be released soon. Satya beckons all to join in and reap the benefits of this practice of Bhakti yoga- by combining voices and hearts we help to make the world a more loving and tolerant place. Aum Shanti.
Website: www.satyafranche.com
