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Jai Anand (née Julie Yannatta) is the founder, owner, and now, an artist on Be Why Music. The California-based, multi-Grammy-winning record label is dedicated to releasing music that uplifts humanity. She is also a yogi and the founder of Club Kundalini, a global digital community of yoga teachers and students whose purpose is to heal the planet by exploring and applying the wisdom and sacred technology of Kundalini Yoga and Sikh Dharma. Club Kundalini was launched earlier this year on the Clubhouse app and has developed into a community of over 3000 people.
“This is stunning,” says noted KCRW DJ Chris Douridas
Ra Ma Da Sa
“The two ventures have long roots in my life and through the years have grown together to culminate in my first release for the label,” said Jai Anand. “Working with Japanese musician and arranger Heday Ikumo, we created a lush, symphonic rendition of the Ra Ma Da Sa mantra. Also known as the Siri Gaitri mantra, Ra Ma Da Sa is said to embody the radiant healing energy of the cosmos. Part of my practice also includes mandala art, so I also created the cover at for the single.”
Recorded at the famed Apogee Studios in Santa Monica, California, Jai Anand tapped Billboard Top-10 New Age Artist Joss Jaffe for his tabla chops. The track was mixed by Brandon Duncan, acclaimed engineer known for his work with the likes of Bruce Springsteen, The Rolling Stones, and Nick Cave.
The track is off to a strong start with noted DJ and music supervisor Chris Douridas giving the track a sneak peek spin on this show on LA’s trendsetting NPR station KCRW on November 21st. Douridas said of the track “This is stunning.”
Jai Anand
After living in various parts of the U.S., an extended stint in Finland where she recorded and sang in a rock band, completing college and a law degree, Jai Anand directed her lifelong love of music into working in the business. Settling in Los Angeles, industry icon Jeff Ayeroff hired her at the indie label Shangri-La Music, where she became General Manager. In 2007 the pair executive produced Instant Karma: The Amnesty International Campaign to Save Darfur benefit album, an anthology of John Lennon covers for which Yoko Ono donated the publishing.
In 2012, they released a follow-up — Chimes of Freedom: The Songs of Bob Dylan Honoring 50 Years of Amnesty International. The 76-track collection features an unparalleled assemblage of well-known artists who covered songs from Dylan’s catalogue. Bob Dylan also donated his publishing and together, the two albums have raised over six million dollars for the charity.
Be Why Music
Leaving Shangri-La Music in 2010, Jai Anand launched Be Why Music, distributed by Warner Music Group’s Alternative Distribution Alliance. She released the work of artists in various genres but, in time, came to embrace her affinity for music that lifts and inspires. In addition to growing the label, from 2013-15 she also served as president of SandbagUSA, the US division of Radiohead’s merchandise company.
In 2017, Be Why’s release of White Sun II won a Grammy for Best New Age Album. In 2019, her release of Opium Moon’s self-titled album won the same award. With the label’s recent signing of Jim “Kimo” West, who won the award in 2021, Be Why Music now has three Best New Age Album winners in its artist family.
Be Why Music recently released Snatam Kaur’s “River Ganga”, featuring Krishna Das, Deva Premal, C.C. White Soul Kirtan, Manose, Todd Boston and Ramesh Kannan, benefitting the WASH Alliance, an interfaith environmental group based in India serving the Ganga and her people. Now, with the release of Jai Anand’s own interpretation of Ra Ma Da Sa, and in the spirit of Sat Nam, the sacred seed mantra of Kundalini Yoga from which great things are said to grow, she continues to entwine her passions to share healing light with the world through yoga and music.
Find more from Jai Anand:
Links to the song on major streaming services are at Ra Ma Da Sa. For information on Be Why Music please see https://bewhymusic.com/. For info on Club Kundalini, please see https://www.clubkundalini.net/.
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