Suvarna This Dewdrop World CD

Suvarna is an English singer and violinist whose third album is a collaboration with multi-instrumentalist and producer Martin Phillipps (known for his previous work with such artists as Was (Not Was), Soul II Soul, and Khalèd). With help from percussionist and keyboardist Ravi and tabla player Ty Burhoe, Suvarna and Phillipps have created a stunningly beautiful album of contemplative devotional pop music, all of it original and using lyrics based on mantras and snippets of commentary from various Buddhist and Hindu texts. This is the kind of thing that could easily come across as cloying exoticism or mushy new age sophistry, but Suvarna's voice is so unaffected, the melodies so sweet, and the arrangements so nicely balanced between complexity and simplicity that the effect is instead one of perfectly realized East-West fusion; the results are equally well suited to meditation or long car trips. The title track and "What You Are to Me" (on which Suvarna sounds uncannily like Cocteau Twins' Elizabeth Fraser) are the most gently powerful songs here; "Deniz" and "Nanak's Song," while also lovely, are maybe just a bit too long to sustain their ideas. Highly recommended overall. ~ Rick Anderson

After the success of her first two recordings-the upbeat Fire of the Oracle and rhythmic Energia (by Infinity)- vocalist/violinist Suvarna takes her raga-based vocal improvisations into a more laid back, intimate space on This Dewdrop World. Her latest effort plays like an aural massage: the songs unfold naturally, drawing the listener into a relaxed world of lush sonic textures and mantric ambience far removed from the frenetic pace of daily life.This Dewdrop World features a world of instruments including kora, violin, saz, oud, mandolin and tabla, all expertly orchestrated by producer Martyn Phillips (Was Not Was, Soul II Soul, Khaled) to complement Suvarna's gracefully confident voice. Dedicated to "all who are striving for awakening," This Dewdrop World is sublime accompaniment for introspective journeys and a delicate musical acknowledgment of life's beauty. ABOUT SUVARNASuvarna's musical life began at the age of seven, starting with classical piano and violin training as well as choral and folk singing before playing in a Ceilidh band for several years. In Pune, India, Suvarna learned Indian raga singing and began playing a five-string electric, synthesizer violin. She experimented with this new instrument by playing music in a wide variety of styles for active and silent meditations.In 1998, Suvarna began to create a new, multi-layered sound of her own. The melodies are composed using the notes of an Indian raga, and the rhythm is a combination of electronic beats and ethnic percussion such as Indian tabla and frame drum. The middle layer is a rich keyboard sound with chord progressions attuned to the raga. Combining all of these elements creates music rich with the depth and atmosphere of Indian ragas, yet is familiar to Western ears. Suvarna conceived and recorded her first album, FIRE OF THE ORACLE, with her brother, Ravi, a world-class kora player and composer. Released in 2000 by Etherean Music, it received excellent reviews and was nominated for World Album of the year at the New Age Music awards. A track from this album was included on Claude Challe's SUN.Her second record, ENERGIA, was released in February 2003 under the band name Infinity, a group led by Suvarna and Ravi and featuring world-class percussionists Hossam Ramzy and Ty Burhoe. Hossam, known as the "Sultan of Swing," is an acclaimed Egyptian percussionist; Ty is a prominent disciple of tabla virtuoso Zakir Hussain. ENERGIA builds on the remarkable success and creative energy of FIRE OF THE ORACLE, adding exciting tabla rhythms and captivating melodies. The music's luscious and upbeat ambience is perfect for dancing and chilling out. Suvarna's latest project, THIS DEWDROP WORLD (released by White Swan Records), sees her moving into a more laid back and intimate