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David Newman (singer)

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Birth name
  
David Newman

Years active
  
Since 1986

Also known as
  
Durga Das

Name
  
David Newman

Origin
  
United States

Record label
  
Nettwerk

Genres
  
World Music, Kirtan


David Newman (singer) wwwtorontokirtancawpcontentuploads201007da

Occupation(s)
  
Musician, singer, songwriter

Role
  
Singer · davidnewmanmusic.com

Education
  
Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law

Albums
  
Into the Bliss: A Kirtan Experience, Lotus Feet: a Kirtan Revolution

Similar People
  
Bhagavan Das, Jai Uttal, Donna De Lory, Wynne Paris, Wah!

Profiles

thinking of you by david newman official music video


David Newman is a sacred chant master, recording artist, singer/songwriter, best-selling author, and inspirational teacher. David, also known as Durga Das, travels extensively sharing his music, and teachings on the path of love as a vehicle for spiritual awakening.

Contents

David newman durga das mira performance


Biography

Newman's love of music began early when a relative bought him a guitar at age 13. He pursued a BA in Music, graduating in 1986 from Bowdoin College in Maine. He performed as a singer-songwriter until 1988 and then worked as a music publisher in Los Angeles from 1988 to 1990.

Becoming disenchanted with the business side of music, Newman moved to New York City to study law. During his time at Cardozo Law School, Newman began to study yoga and found himself devoting several hours a day to it, a practice which he found improved his focus and ability to respond to the stresses of his classes.

In 1992, less than a month after passing the bar exam and obtaining a J.D., Newman opened a yoga studio, Yoga on Main, in Philadelphia. He studied in the Viniyoga tradition, and also explored the teachings of other yoga lineages. He eventually integrated his studies and teaching experience to offer a style of yoga he named Inner Fire Yoga.

Over time Newman made the shift to practicing Bhakti Yoga and broadened Yoga on Main's focus from yoga center to a place of spiritual community, with a wide range of course offerings including meditation instruction and kirtan events.

Newman found in kirtan a spiritual practice that re-energized his interest in making music, leading to the creation of his first album, Soul Freedom, produced by Kit Thomas and Ben Dowling and released by Inner Fire Music in 2003.

In 2004 Newman met New York City producer and mix engineer Frank Wolf. Together they recorded Lotus Feet: A Kirtan Revolution. Lotus Feet was reviewed on the National Public Radio show All Things Considered on June 20, 2006.

Leap of Grace, Newman's third album, was a recording of an ancient Indian healing prayer called the Hanuman Chalisa. Also produced by Newman and Frank Wolf, Leap of Grace was released in 2005 on the Pranamaya Music label.

Newman and Wolf followed up in 2006 with the CD/DVD set, Into the Bliss, which includes a live recording of a kirtan event and an interview with Newman produced by Jennifer Young.

In the fall of 2007, Newman was approached by Nettwerk Records CEO and founder, Terry McBride, who had worked with Sarah Mclachlan, Avril Lavigne and Barenaked Ladies. A yoga enthusiast, McBride signed Newman to a record deal with a desire to bring kirtan music to a widening audience. McBride also brought on board other chant artists including Krishna Das, Wah, Jai Uttal, Bhagavan Das, Donna De Lory, Wade Morrissette, Reema Datta and Sean Johnson. With the purpose of releasing inspiring chant music, McBride revived a subsidiary label of Nettwerk called Nutone Music.

Newman's fifth album, Love, Peace, Chant, was released on Nutone in September 2009. Love Peace Chant was produced by Newman and Frank Wolf.

In 2008 Newman married devotional singer, recording artist and percussionist Mira, with whom he regularly tours. Mira's vocals and instrumentation can also be heard on many of his albums, including Love, Peace, Chant.

Newman's sixth album, To Be Home, was released on Nutone in April 2010. To Be Home was produced by Newman and three-time Grammy Award winning producer Trina Shoemaker.

In 2011 David founded the Stay Strong Project, which released a recording and video featuring prominent chant and yoga luminaries in partnership with Global Green USA in support of the Gulf Coast recovery and other environmental and humanitarian concerns.

David and Mira's daughter Tulsi was born in Spring 2011.

On March 20, 2012 David released his seventh CD entitled Stars produced by David and Bill Moriarty on White Swan Records.

In November 2012, David launched the second Stay Strong Project release entitled You Can Count on Me/Shyam Bolo including a video and single featuring David, Donna De Lory, C.C. White & others. All proceeds go to Global Green USA's Green School's Initiative.

In January 2013 White Swan Records released ReBliss, a remix of David's Stars CD in collaboration with composer, producer, Krishna Venkatesh.

On January 14, 2014 David released his ninth CD entitled Travel Well on Inner Fire Music/White Swan Records. It reached #16 on the iTunes Singer-Songwriter charts.

In April 2014, David's book "The Timebound Traveler" was released on Non-Duality Press. It reached #1 on Amazon's New Age/Mysticism best seller list.

On April 21, 2015 David released his tenth album entitled Love is Awake on Inner Fire Music. The project was a collaboration between David and two members of Paul Simon’s band: Bassist Bakithi Kumalo and percussionist Jamey Haddad. Love is Awake reached #1 on the iTunes World Music Charts.

On May 4, 2015 David released Song for Nepal to support the Seva Foundation’s Nepal Earthquake relief and rehabilitation fund.

On July 31st, 2015 David released his eleventh album entitled Acoustic Chant: Ukulele Kirtan Serenades on Inner Fire Music. The project was a collaboration between David and songwriter/musician Eric Bazilian, and features traditional sanskrit chanting alongside elements of Hawaiian, Appalachian, and American folk music.

David partnered with Chapin Coffee to release his artist signature ‘Love is Awake’ fair trade/organic coffee blend on October 8th, 2015. Each bag sold feeds three malnourished Guatemalan children.

On October 23rd, 2015 David and White Swan Records released Acoustic Chant: Ukulele Kirtan Serenades Songbook and CD, an educational resource including chord charts, sheet music and mantra translations.

On November 1st, 2016 David released a single and animated video entitled: "Peace and Love". The project's theme presented a positive and healing message connected to the 2016 US Presidential election.

In November 2016, David embarked on “The Mantra and Love Outreach Tour” in partnership with Call and Response Foundation, bringing mantras and healing music to addiction recovery facilities, psychiatric centers, nursing homes, institutions for autistic children, cerebral palsy, and homeless women and their children.

In 2017, David collaborated with ambient composer Michael Reiley McDermott on Lakshmi's Gifts, a groundbreaking recording combining Sanskrit mantras with binaural beats and sound healing technology. The EP was released under the band name "Binaural Mantras."

Musical style

David Newman's music embodies a devotional mysticism, distinctive musicality, and poetic intimacy, blending his craft as a singer-songwriter with his deep study and immersion into the ancient healing mantra tradition of the East. He incorporates a wide range of musical and lyrical elements and explores a vast palette of progressive influences from around the world. “David Newman is reminiscent of George Harrison, Dylan and Paul Simon when they are in Soul mode.” - LA Yoga Magazine. “At David Newman’s concert, the event’s volume knob seemed to go from low-level joy to full-on bliss, the kind you feel after climbing a gorgeous mountain or ending a tough run on a strong sprint. Strangers hugged and danced wildly.” - The Washington Post

Discography

  • Soul Freedom (2003) Inner Fire Music, Produced by Kit Thomas and Ben Dowling
  • Leap of Grace: The Hanuman Chalisa (2005) Pranamaya Music, Produced by David Newman and Frank Wolf
  • Lotus Feet: A Kirtan Revolution (2005) Inner Fire Music, Produced by Frank Wolf
  • Into the Bliss: A Kirtan Experience (CD/DVD) (2006) Inner Fire Music / Divine Light Pictures, CD Produced by Frank Wolf and David Newman, DVD Produced and Directed by Jennifer Young
  • Love Peace Chant (2008) Nutone Music / Nettwerk Records, Produced by Frank Wolf and David Newman
  • To Be Home (2010) Nutone Music / Nettwerk Records, Produced by Trina Shoemaker and David Newman
  • Stay Strong (single and video) (2011), The Stay Strong Project, Nutone Music / Nettwerk Records, David Newman and Various Artists
  • Stars (2012) White Swan Records, Produced by David Newman and Bill Moriarty
  • You Can Count on Me/Shyam Bolo (single and video) (2012), The Stay Strong Project, David Newman Music, David Newman and Various Artists
  • ReBliss (2013) White Swan Records, David Newman and Krishna Venkatesh. Produced by David Newman, Krishna Venkatesh and Bill Moriarty
  • Travel Well (2014) Inner Fire Music/White Swan Records. Produced by David Newman, Philippo Franchini, Frank Wolf, Mira, and Bill Moriarty
  • Love is Awake (2015) Inner Fire Music. Produced by David Newman, Tom Spiker and Philippo Franchini
  • Song for Nepal (single) (2015), Featuring Eric Bazilian and Mira, Inner Fire Music
  • Acoustic Chant: Ukulele Kirtan Serenades (2015) Inner Fire Muic. Produced by Eric Bazilian and David Newman
  • Acoustic Chant: Ukulele Kirtan Serenades Songbook & CD (2015) White Swan Records
  • Peace and Love (single and video) (2016) Inner Fire Music
  • Lakshmi's Gifts (EP) (2017). Band Name: Binaural Mantras. White Swan Records
  • David Newman has also authored compositions appearing on the following releases:

  • “He Ma Durga”, The Lover and the Beloved (2004) Anja Music, Recorded by Donna De Lory, Written by David Newman, Donna De Lory and Jeremy Toback
  • "Bathe in these Waters", Sanctuary (2009) Nettwerk Records/Nutone Music, Recorded by Donna De Lory, Written by David Newman
  • "Guru Om", Sanctuary (2009) Nettwerk Records/Nutone Music, Recorded by Donna De Lory, Written by David Newman and Donna De Lory
  • "My Friend", A Living Prayer (2006) Inner Fire Music, Recorded by Mira, Written by David Newman
  • "From Sita with Love", A Living Prayer (2006) Inner Fire Music, Recorded by Mira, Music by David Newman
  • "Ma Amriteshwari", A Living Prayer (2006) Inner Fire Music, Recorded by Mira, Music by David Newman
  • "The Unchanging", The Unchanging (2013) De Lory Music, Recorded by Donna De Lory, Written by David Newman and Donna De Lory
  • Media

  • NPR Audio Review of ‘Lotus Feet: A Kirtan Revolution,’ All Things Considered, ‘Lotus Feet’ Brings Indian Tradition to U.S. Pop by Marika Partridge, June 20, 2006
  • The Yoga of Kirtan: Conversations on the Sacred Art of Chanting (book and accompanying CD) by Steven Rosen
  • Lifestyle piece on WashingtonPost.com, Kirtan’s call-and-response chanting draws a growing number of Washingtonians by Michelle Boorstein, January 08, 2013
  • References

    David Newman (singer) Wikipedia