tag:joelveena.com,2005:/blogs/the-latest-from-joel-veena-20a8e590-89b6-4022-b212-f135927389e3?p=2The Latest from Joel Veena2024-02-20T19:29:45-05:00Joel Veenafalsetag:joelveena.com,2005:Post/73545132024-02-20T19:29:45-05:002024-02-20T19:29:45-05:00Video: Raag Kirwani full performance Harkat Studios, Mumbai<div class="video-container size_xl justify_center" style=""><iframe data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="CdFbx0_NT_o" data-video-thumb-url="" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/CdFbx0_NT_o?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></div><p> </p><p>This is a video of the main raga from my first ever self-produced concert in Mumbai! It was a great success, I drew a small crowd in one of the biggest performance cities in the world and made several new fans. It was a special highlight to be able to perform for friends and family in the city, many were watching my concert for the first time.</p><p>The concert took place on February 25th, 2023 and was the final concert of a long India tour (my first since the lockdowns). It took place at Harkat Studios in Versova, Mumbai and I was blessed to be accompanied by my longtime collaborator Rakshanand Panchal on tabla. Rakshanand actually accompanied me on my first ever performances in Mumbai: he was the tabla player for the CD release event for Unexpected Blessings at Title Waves in Bandra and we also played together at House Concerts Mumbai.</p><p>I had a great feeling about this concert afterwards and received hearty congratulations from many, I hope that this recording brings you and yours some joy as well.</p><p>This concert is livicated to Rocky the cat, who joined the spirit world the night before the concert; a huge Mancoon cat from Vermont who always enjoyed listening to ragas on slide guitar while we lay in the grass at my friend Gray's house.</p><p>Joel 'Veena' Eisenkramer - Indian slide guitar<br>Rakshanand Panchal - tabla</p><p>Audio recorded by Joel 'Veena' Eisenkramer using the Zoom H1<br>Mixed by Joel Veena at Root Cellar Sound, Vermont USA <br>Video recorded by Kanchan Kalra<br>Video edited by Joel</p>Joel Veenatag:joelveena.com,2005:Post/73545122024-02-20T19:27:57-05:002024-02-20T19:28:25-05:00Deep Dive: Understanding & Appreciating Hindustani Classical Music<img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/559600/f1e105f4bc9ecef2778a8b91082cdc1f970b85a6/original/deep-dive-poster.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><p> </p><p>Woohoo!<br><br>I'm finally doing something that I have talked about for a long time: holding workshops about understanding and appreciating north Indian classical music.<br><br>I am excited for this first series of workshops and I hope you will join me. <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.hartsne.org/event-details/deep-dive" target="_blank"><u>These will be a series of 3 workshops, each about 1 hour 15 minutes long, held over Zoom in which I will explain and present the different facets of Hindustani music so that you can become an (even more) informed listener.</u></a> The idea is to give you the tools and basic knowledge to be able to follow along in a Hindustani music performance and understand what's going on, things like:</p><ul>
<li>What is a raga?</li>
<li>What is the tabla doing? Why?</li>
<li>What instruments am I hearing?</li>
<li>What do you mean when you say 'sixteen beat cycle'?</li>
</ul><p><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.hartsne.org/event-details/deep-dive" target="_blank"><u>Read the full description of the workshop here.</u></a><br><br><br>The truth is that the music is deep and multilayered but, like all structures, is constructed of smaller identifiable parts. Once we can hear the structures, a new world of comprehension and depth becomes available to us. It can also be a path towards personal development: learning something new and creating a closer relationship with a hobby. Even if you've already got the basics down and have been listening to this music for years, we're starting at the very beginning and building understanding from the ground up. So this is your chance to get your questions answered and really dial it in.<br><br>You don't need to be a musician and no prior experience is required. It will be interactive in parts. Everyone will receive access to a recording of each session afterwards so don't worry if you can't attend live.<br><br>Please, share this with your friends and family who may be interested. This workshop could be a great gift to someone who has been interested in Indian music for awhile.<br><br><br>I'm looking forward to this!</p><div style="text-align:center;">
<br><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.hartsne.org/event-details/deep-dive" target="_blank"><u>Learn more and book tickets here :)</u></a>
</div>Joel Veenatag:joelveena.com,2005:Post/73496042024-02-11T14:37:18-05:002024-02-17T11:43:14-05:00New Concert Video: Raag Yaman full performance from India Habitat Centre<div class="video-container size_xl justify_center" style=""><iframe data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="6vdZsBZGj4M" data-video-thumb-url="" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6vdZsBZGj4M?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></div><p> </p><p>I'm pleased to share this video with you. <a class="no-pjax" href="https://youtu.be/6vdZsBZGj4M?si=HsFlujDocNy63NfV" target="_blank" data-cke-saved-href="https://youtu.be/6vdZsBZGj4M?si=HsFlujDocNy63NfV">This is a full performance of the evening raag Yaman from our concert at the India Habitat Centre in Delhi, India from just about 1 year ago February 12 2023.</a><br><br>You will hear my fumbling Hindi introduction (with translation in the video description below the video) followed by an alaap and then compositions in jhaptaal (a cycle of 10 beats), teental (16 beats) and a sawaal-javaab (question - answer) section at the finale where all three of us trade phrases and bring the piece to its climax.<br><br>Man, this concert was a lot of work to put together and, now with enough time and distance passed, I am able to appreciate more fully what we accomplished and be happy to share it with you. This was my first ever self-produced concert in Delhi, capital city of India, and carried special significance as the India Habitat Centre is where I have watched so many masterful performances over the years. It's been a goal of mine to be considered a worthy enough artist to be booked there; where classical musicians who have trained since their early childhood grace the stage as a norm. Initially, this concert was booked for 2020 but was cancelled.<br><br>Amit, Gaurav and I were able to rehearse once all together, in a flat I rented on AirBnB in Darya Ganj, before the concert. Amit and I have been playing together for years and Gaurav and I have also performed together in the past (<a class="no-pjax" href="https://youtu.be/_rxdgQHrwhQ?si=8jABwaTAzCPNVKWX" target="_blank" data-cke-saved-href="https://youtu.be/_rxdgQHrwhQ?si=8jABwaTAzCPNVKWX">back at ICCR Delhi in the Aadhyan Festival</a>), so we clicked pretty well. Amit was able to hang with me some of the days leading up to the concert and we practiced together in the flat as much as my energy allowed, I was still recovering from a cold I caught while traveling to Surat earlier. <br><br>This was the small stage of IHC (known as Amaltas Hall or "The Theatre") and our team was responsible for the production of the event entirely. The venue provided the stage, sound, sound person and an usher. Thanks to my friend Puraskar Nirwan, we roped in Indian indie music mogul Manu Matthew (founder of House Concerts India) to introduce us. He happened to be at the venue next door attending to a photo shoot. Vidhi helped me to communicate with a flower vendor nearby and they delivered the giant garlands of marigolds you see encircling the stage. It was thrilling to be getting calls leading up to the event, saying that all the reserved passes were gone and asking if I thought there would be space if they came anyway. There was plenty of space, I'm not sure where all those passes went, but we still had a decent turnout of about 40 people.<br><br>Let me know how you enjoyed the concert in the comments or you can reply to this email, your feedback is always a big highlight to my day.<br><br><a class="no-pjax" href="https://joelveena.bandcamp.com/subscribe" target="_blank" data-cke-saved-href="https://joelveena.bandcamp.com/subscribe">The entire concert, start to finish, is available as a high fidelity download via the Joel Veena Patronage Hub! Subscribers have already had the album added to their library. </a></p>Joel Veenatag:joelveena.com,2005:Post/73399562024-01-25T11:39:02-05:002024-01-26T09:09:14-05:00New music out: Raga x Poetry x Lofi beats<p><iframe width="315" height="560" src="https://youtube.com/shorts/yvHHdNtaqTg?si=PuQGDJY4iRngG828<Shorts_video_code>" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Now for something completely different..!<a class="no-pjax" href="https://onerpm.link/971092304818" target="_blank"><u> A lofi remix of 'The House in the Woods'</u></a>. 'Lofi' music uses sounds from the early days of electronic music playback to invoke nostalgia. Some find it relaxing and you'll find copious playlists featuring 'lofi music to study to.'<br><br>This is not music to study to necessarily. Rather, I thought of how to put this raga poem into another setting where some listening ears may be more familiar: that is, into a beat-based composition with the familiar crack and thump of the snare and kick. It is also a step towards the hip-hop tradition, where poetry and narrative is presented over a beat.<br><br>The remix was created by Blue Glass Productions out of Antigua, WI and myself. Blue Glass did a great job of grasping the concept of raag quickly; all of the melodic elements added (bass and synths) adhere to the melodic structure of Charu Kesi.<br><br>Our track falls squarely within the category of "fusion" music, as we are intentionally "fusing" multiple mature styles together to create this outcome. The foundation for the piece was Gordon and my recording of The House in the Woods, which combined spoken-word poetry and the exposition of raag Charu Kesi on the Indian slide guitar. The melodic aspect of this piece is wholly raga-based; that is to say that all of the melodic elements utilized adhere to the structure of Charu Kesi (in the key of C, the scale would be C D E F G Ab Bb C). For the "lofi hip-hop" aspect of the fusion, Blue Glass added bass guitar, electronic drums and some synthesizer sounds. The bass line and all synth notes utilize the notes of Charu Kesi, but function more in their traditional roles as supporting elements of arrangement. The rhythmic aspect of this piece is entirely drawn from hip-hop: there is no taal or rhythmic cycle like what is used in Indian classical music and the beat (known as a "break") is a simple 4/4 pattern. The pattern used invokes classic hip-hop that utilized the MPC sample machine's ability to sample sections of records, loop the samples and then layer them to re-imagine drum parts from different recordings.<br><br>This music is an example of how concepts from Indian classical music can be implemented in other artistic forms to enhance the effectiveness of expression and draw in extra-musical elements of association to increase the music's impact. Or at least that's what I think.<br><br>What about you?<br><br>I would love to hear your feedback about this experiment in music.</p>Joel Veenatag:joelveena.com,2005:Post/73268932024-01-01T19:14:11-05:002024-01-01T20:16:19-05:00Thank you for your support in 2023 <p>Happy New Year!<br><br>Thank you all so much for your support in 2023, with your blessings I continue on this path.<br><br>My primary focus in my art now is to tip the balance towards the good in the world: to promote love and understanding, peaceful gatherings and to speak truth to power using the platform given to me by my dear listeners. As always, it's music to strengthen and enhance our experience of life.<br><br>The wicked acts of some threaten to overcome the whole world's joy, still I feel like reflecting on some good things.<br><br>I created a brief video message about the milestones of this year, ending with a prayer, I hope you enjoy watching it and look forward to your comments and continued connection in 2024.</p><p> </p><div class="video-container size_xl justify_center" style=""><iframe data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="AXIjUya-9Wg" data-video-thumb-url="" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AXIjUya-9Wg?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></div><p> </p><p>Here's a summary with links:</p><p>2023 Milestones</p><ul>
<li>Two concert tours: in California, USA and across India</li>
<li>My first ever self-produced concerts in two of the most important cities to me: Mumbai and Delhi. Both were well attended despite having no sponsors, every single detail from sound to the stage to the design of the space handled by myself and my small team. <a class="no-pjax" href="https://youtube.com/shorts/UHQM-Z9hraM?si=dbz5gXwQHX-fhAbq" target="_blank" data-link-type="url">The Delhi concert was at India Habitat Centre</a> and all the advance passes were reserved before the day of the concert.</li>
<li>Performed for the first time ever in the city of <a class="no-pjax" href="https://youtube.com/shorts/3_zeRofbnXw?si=Xang-lF9XIO6X3Bo" target="_blank" data-link-type="url">Surat, Gujarat</a> and Phoenix Arizona, all well-attended successful concerts. </li>
<li><a class="no-pjax" href="https://joelveena.com/home/blog/7148045/received-the-first-annual-meenakshi-hariharasubramani-award-for-excellence-in-music" target="_blank" data-link-type="url">I received my first ever award for music: the 1st annual Hariharasubramani Award for Excellence in Music from TaalMagic in Bangalore. </a></li>
<li>I performed at one of my top "dream venues": that is <a class="no-pjax" href="https://youtube.com/shorts/o-tMzT6bipg?si=Mc0KD-LyffQXcnAJ" target="_blank" data-link-type="url">the Phoenix Gharana festival in Phoenix, Arizona USA. I played pretty decently and got a lot of encouragement and support.</a>
</li>
<li>Self-produced and released the first-ever album combining contemporary spoken word poetry with Hindustani ragas:<a class="no-pjax" href="https://joelveena.com/raga-poems-by-gordon-korstange-joel-veena" target="_blank" data-link-type="url"> Raga Poems with Gordon Korstange.</a>
</li>
<li>Self-produced and released my original composition in raag Megh, <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rFlVXVXwKrU&feature=youtu.be" target="_blank" data-link-type="url">Never Too Late for a Shower of Rain feat. Mir Naqibul Islam</a> on digital platforms worldwide. </li>
<li>My original track<a class="no-pjax" href="https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/joelveenaandamitsinghal/milap" target="_blank" data-link-type="url"> 'Jai Love' with Amit Singhal and Suraj Nirwan crossed 100k streams on streaming platforms.</a>
</li>
<li><a class="no-pjax" href="/patronage-hub" target="_blank" data-link-type="page" data-link-label="Patronage Hub">Self-produced and released 4 full-length concerts on my patronage hub for subscribers</a></li>
<li>Started teaching online with <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.hartsne.org/music-lessons" target="_blank" data-link-type="url">Halcyon Global Music Institute </a>
</li>
</ul>Joel Veenatag:joelveena.com,2005:Post/72778152023-09-23T21:37:37-04:002023-10-16T11:00:27-04:00Now Offering Classes in Hindustani Music<div class="video-container size_xl justify_center" style=""><iframe data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="i5rUuvnRgXg" data-video-thumb-url="" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/i5rUuvnRgXg?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></div><p>In partnership with Halcyon Arts New England, we have launched a Global Music Institute:</p><p><i><span><strong>Our mission is to provide an intimate space, via concerts and workshops, in which students and lovers of music can connect directly with master musicians and skilled practitioners from the world’s great musical traditions and burgeoning cross-cultural forms.</strong></span></i><br><br><br><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.hartsne.org/music-lessons" target="_blank"><u>Check it out here and sign up for a class! These also make great gifts.</u></a><br><br>We have launched with myself and bowed instruments specialist Michael Harrist as co-directors. If you ever wanted to add some of this incredibly rich traditional music to your repertoire, now is a great time to do so from the comfort of your own home.</p>Joel Veenatag:joelveena.com,2005:Post/72778142023-09-23T21:33:44-04:002023-09-23T21:35:24-04:00 New Album: Raga Poems with Gordon Korstange out September 29!<figure class="table"><table style="border-width:0;" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody>
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<figure class="table"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding-top:9px;vertical-align:top;"><figure class="table" style="float:left;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:0 18px 9px;vertical-align:top;"><div class="video-container size_xl justify_center" style=""><iframe data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="E1nFWSRGxZI" data-video-thumb-url="" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/E1nFWSRGxZI?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></div><p><br><br><a class="no-pjax" href="https://onerpm.link/513389955377" target="_blank"><u>I'm excited to announce that my collaboration with poet and flutist Gordon Korstange, Raga Poems, is set to release on digital streaming platforms September 29, 2023!</u></a> <br><br>Raga Poems is a collaboration with poet Gordon Korstange presenting spoken word poetry set to ragas and accompanied by Indian slide guitar and bamboo flute. In the tradition of innovators like Robert Bly (who Gordon toured with) and Jack Kerouac, we present the offering of a special experience: traveling together in the world of word and sound and the consequent meaning we may draw from it.<br><br>I created a little preview with the album art and music for social media, <a class="no-pjax" href="https://youtube.com/shorts/8DhcDWOm2Es?si=OLkPElYS5VVLgYdm" target="_blank"><u>you can watch it here.</u></a><br><br><i><strong>You can help with the success of the new release:</strong></i><br><br><a class="no-pjax" href="https://onerpm.link/513389955377" target="_blank"><u>1. Pre-save the album on your preferred digital platform (Spotify, Apple, etc.) so it will be automatically added to your library on release day.</u></a><br><br><a class="no-pjax" href="https://youtube.com/shorts/8DhcDWOm2Es?si=OLkPElYS5VVLgYdm" target="_blank"><u>2. Leave a comment on our little promo video and share it with a friend</u></a><br><br><a class="no-pjax" href="https://joelveena.bandcamp.com/subscribe" target="_blank"><u>3. Sign up for the Joel Veena Patronage Hub and receive this upcoming release, all my previous and future recordings plus exclusive full length concerts on Bandcamp ($10/month)</u></a><br><br><br>Stay tuned! There's a full-length album in the works and I'm looking forward to launching our new teaching platform with Halcyon Arts New England, the Global Music Institute, in a couple weeks. Thank you all for your support.<br><br> </p>
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<strong>All the very best to you and yours,</strong><br><br><strong>Joel 'Veena' Eisenkramer</strong>
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</tbody></table></figure>Joel Veenatag:joelveena.com,2005:Post/71480462023-02-03T05:59:00-05:002023-02-03T06:00:29-05:00Concert at India Habitat Centre, DELHI February 12<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/559600/bcbe313b321dd40b589823e411ca75e0967af75c/original/joel-veena-india-habitat-centre-poster-2023-smaller.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p>Thrilled to invite you all to this concert at IHC, <a contents="REGISTER FOR FREE HERE" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.habitatworld.com/events-update/booknow.php?id=497" target="_blank">REGISTER FOR FREE HERE</a></p>Joel Veenatag:joelveena.com,2005:Post/71480452023-02-03T05:56:57-05:002024-02-12T09:22:58-05:00Received the first annual Meenakshi Hariharasubramani Award for Excellence in Music<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/559600/6d457b9323ff12e48a9d8709afdf78760c591f47/original/dsc1862.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span class="font_small">From L to R: Anand HS, me, Anshu Anand and Shahana</span></p>
<p>Something exciting and totally surprising happened at the recent concert at the TaalMagic Annual Concert in Bangalore (<a contents="you can still watch the live-stream here" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://fb.watch/isEtZ_y0Wf/" target="_blank">you can still watch the live-stream here</a>):</p>
<p>I was incredibly honored to receive the first annual ‘Meenakshi Hariharasubramani Award for Excellence in Music’ - this award was created this year in honor of Anand HS’ parents (TaalMagic founder and my co-performer in the concert). </p>
<p>This has been an amazing year of acknowledgment for my years of dedication to Hindustani music and this one has totally surprised and moved me. In a field where the vast majority of our efforts are not visible to the public, this type of recognition gives the energy and encouragement to continue striving. I will give my best efforts to continue my growth so as to bring forth the music that can help and inspire all. </p>
<p>The event itself was a wonderful showcase of TaalMagic Trust’s work teaching and promoting Indian classical music. Vidhi and I had a great time staying with Anand Anshu, Shahana and Aniket and family, we enjoyed a lot; eating delicious home cooked food, playing badminton, singing karaoke and even talking about football (I tried 😅) . </p>
<p>In addition to the honor and recognition that this award bestows, when I hang it on the wall back home in Vermont it will also remind us of all the precious memories of a great time shared together.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Give thanks for life!</p>Joel Veenatag:joelveena.com,2005:Post/71468282023-02-01T05:46:08-05:002023-02-01T05:46:08-05:00I Met VM Bhatt & Swapan Chaudhuri + Tour!<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/559600/aa93dfb627d32b97c3dd15875c996e7839b3bba2/original/vm-bhatt.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p>With Pt. Vishwa Mohan Bhatt (center) and Guruji Pt. Alok Lahiri (right) from the Alaap Festival in Madhyamgram </p>
<p>"During a fateful study-abroad trip to Delhi in 2007, a chance encounter with a CD by Indian slide guitarist VM Bhatt led Joel..." </p>
<p>Many of you may know that my bio on various promotional materials throughout the years has started with this line. Finally, in the end of 2022, I got to meet the musician that inspired my choice of instrument in pursuing Indian classical music. The picture is blurry because of the chaos going on backstage at the end of the maestro's performance: he is really quite the celebrity and was just mobbed with admirers trying to take pictures and ask him questions. Thanks to Guruji, I got a brief introduction before he was on his way. I am satisfied I had the opportunity to tell Vishwa Mohan Bhatt that I listened to his CD 'Classics for Pleasure' and started originally learning from his disciple Dr. Ranjan Kumar of Delhi. </p>
<p>However, it's abundantly clear to me that I am on the right path learning from my current teacher and hence being associated with some of the finest artists of India. I also have no interest in following any other artist's slide guitar style: what I have developed over the years through my own hard work combined with the new techniques I am learning from Guruji and his student Tanmoy Mondal are where it's at for me. </p>
<p>This all transpired at a totally packed classical music concert called 'Alaap Festival' put on by the Gharana organization in Madhyamgram in West Bengal, India a few weeks back in December. This concert was partially organized by my teacher Pt. Alok Lahiri and so I enjoyed access to the backstage and front row seats. One of the highlights was listening to tabla legend Pt. Swapan Chaudhuri's tabla solo as the culmination of the night. </p>
<p>Also, it happened again..! A fan of my music identified me in the crowd and came up to introduce themselves. A fellow musician no less: Ms. Garika Bannerjee, an Indian slide guitarist studying with Pt. VM Bhatt. <br> </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/559600/dea617a6a170e81a114f1b970927e0a640026105/original/garika.jpeg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p>Garika Bannerjee, a slide guitarist studying with Pt. VM Bhatt and me </p>
<p> </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/559600/8c2505b560723a124ef08c69207deec4e6b711ab/original/riku.jpeg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p>Me with a senior student of Guruji's, the excellent sarodist Sayam Panja in his home in Jujarsaha, West Bengal </p>
<p>After the concert, I spent part of the week with Guruji’s senior disciple Sayam Panja and enjoyed the generous hospitality and beautiful surrounds of his home in nearby Jujarsaha. I drank in this rich composition that we are to perform in the upcoming concert and saw lots of beautiful birds! All here for the winter season. </p>
<p>I am clearly in the right place with the right people. </p>
<p>Back to the city, I went with Guruji and fellow student Jean from France to attend an amazing concert from backstage in Kolkata: there I got to witness sitarist Mita Nag’s brilliant performance in raag Patdeep and again I got to meet and listen to Pt Swapan Chaudhuri’s solo performance. This tabla solo was totally inspiring, mind-bending; these tihais (patterns of rhythmic phrases repeated three times) that end just before saam (first beat) have me thinking more deeply about rhythms and rhythmic composition.</p>
<p>I met tabla legend Tanmoy Bose, just briefly but a caught a vibe of kindness and mastery. </p>
<p>Finally, I am back with Howrah city, preparing for the concert on 14th Jan when I will perform with the senior students in the instrumental ensemble; not to be missed if you are in the area! This composition is quite unique in the classical repertoire and has my chops honed to a new level. It starts with a blistering taan (melodic run) that I previously thought was impossible to pull off without considerable time warming up. We had our final rehearsal today though and it's sounding quite excellent. </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/559600/a43c50391f5914891e8ba71f1f6af43a3213a615/original/swapan.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">L to R: Pt. Swapan Chaudhuri, Jean Desaire (sarodist from France) and me </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/559600/bac0e06103dfb32d7d32a002e5f5dfc94c830c84/original/tanmoy-bose.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">L to R: me, Pt. Alok Lahiri (Guruji), Tanmoy Bose and Jean Desaire </p>
<p>-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-- <br>In other news, I've added two more dates to my India tour! Incredible that opportunities keep coming my way. Check out my full tour below: </p>
<p>14 January - Ramgopal Mancha - Annual Sur Sangam Classical Music Concert - Howrah, India </p>
<p>21 January - Social Gatherings House Concerts - Surat, India </p>
<p>29 January - the Indian Music Experience Museum - Taalmagic 1st Annual Program, presenting Joel Veena with Anand HS on tabla - Bangalore, India </p>
<p>12 February - India Habitat Centre (theatre) - Joel Veena & Amit Singhal present 'Milap' with Gaurav Mahto on tabla - Delhi India </p>
<p>25 February - Harkat Studios - Ragas for Peace & Happiness, with Rakshanand Panchal on tabla - Mumbai, India </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Thank you for your continued support, </p>
<p>Wishing you and yours a happy New Year, </p>
<p>Joel 'Veena' Eisenkramer </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p>P.S. Don't believe the hype: Indian classical music is not a "dying art form" - see in these pictures below: packed concert halls and a room full of young students (they can really play, especially the girl in the pink). </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/559600/b9651047d5fd81f14293832e0fee01f68326de7c/original/students-in-howrah.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/559600/052f407798d8514b4c59a324cf2529715d808c53/original/classical-crowd-1.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/559600/bcd9b8704da089f27128c71db091893d079bb805/original/classical-crowd-2.jpeg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Did you know? </p>
<p>I just added another full-length concert recording to my patronage hub: my performance at Omega Institute for Holistic Studies with Mir Naqibul Islam on tabla. </p>
<p><a contents="For less than the price of a sandwich every month ($5/month) you become a sustaining force in the creation of my music and get access to exclusive content like these full-length concerts plus my entire discography via hi-fidelity download and streaming on the Bandcamp app. " data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://joelveena.bandcamp.com/subscribe" target="_blank">For less than the price of a sandwich every month ($5/month) you become a sustaining force in the creation of my music and get access to exclusive content like these full-length concerts plus my entire discography via hi-fidelity download and streaming on the Bandcamp app. </a></p>
<p>Thanks! <br> </p>
<p>Brattleboro, Vermont 05302 </p>
<p>Add us to your address book </p>
<p>Want to change how you receive these emails? <br>You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.</p>Joel Veenatag:joelveena.com,2005:Post/71468272023-02-01T05:34:33-05:002023-02-01T05:34:33-05:00Season's greetings from India: Tour 2023<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/559600/1bb6e623a12b3ffc87889b70e4e9f3a823e1341f/original/cbrw6503.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p>At the 68th Sawai Gandharva music festival in Pune, India - pic by Mr. Sanjay Kelkar, who has been taking portraits at the festival for the last 30 years. </p>
<p>Season's greetings from India! </p>
<p>I reached Mumbai in the beginning of the month and have been spending my days meeting family and friends, traveling, meeting concert organizers and fellow musicians, and attending some of the most incredible performances of my life. </p>
<p>I am feeling a deep sense of affirmation for my path in this music as, at each event I have attended so far, something incredible keeps happening: fans of my music have identified me in the crowd and taken time out to personally greet me and appreciate my concerts and recordings. Some have been following my music for some time on the internet, like young Sarvesh Raghoji and his lovely family, who were always in attendance for my online concert series during the lockdowns of 2020, <a contents="Ragas for Peace &amp; Happiness" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://joelveena.com/blogs/the-latest-from-joel-veena-20a8e590-89b6-4022-b212-f135927389e3/posts/6682603/why-am-i-playing-concerts-for-free-every-week-f2b3c9bf-201e-4e3c-89de-92526e8d97cc" target="_blank">Ragas for Peace & Happiness</a>: </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/559600/e5fe26464f14982f27a48f37fb911e02be5ac269/original/rgjt9129.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p> </p>
<p>From L to R: Namita, Sarvesh Raghoji, me, Vidhi and Mrs Raghoji at Sawai Gandharva festival 2022 </p>
<p>Here are some of my reflections on attending the festival, written December 18, 2022: </p>
<p>Vidhi and I attended the first two days of Sawai Gandharva festival in Pune this week and it was an incredible and affirming experience. </p>
<p>It was my first time attending this historic music festival, started 60+ years ago by legendary singer Bharat Ratna Pt Bhimsen Joshi in honor of his guru Sawai Gandharva and guru’s guru Ustad Abdul Karim Khan. </p>
<p>What was most amazing was that, despite never attending this festival in my life, I arrived to be greeted by my friends and peers! Sarvesh Raghoji and family, who listened to nearly all my Ragas for Peace and Happiness live streams in 2020, greeted me immediately and showed us the good places to sit, we caught up like old friends. I also met Ajit from Kansen Club on Twitter (the excellent handle for all classical concert listings across India), last we met was in Bangalore at my concert with Gordon Korstange at the National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA) in 2019. I met fellow slide guitarist Manas Goswami. Also Vidhi and I met Chaitanya Nadkarny, who works on the wonderful Ragya app, to plan future concerts and discuss strategies for growing the audience of Indian classical music. </p>
<p>Living a lot of the time in Vermont, where most people only have a vague idea about my work in this music, it was moving and a huge boost to be welcomed by this lovely musical family; music-lovers, musicians, organizers. We sat together on the ground in the huge open air of Maharashtriya Mandal, munched on bread pakora and drank cha. </p>
<p>Musically the highlight was far and away the brilliant soul stirring performance of master violinists N Rajam, Sangeeta Shankar, Ragini & Nandini Shankar - the raag Darbari they played was a beautiful dream that we never wanted to end. We heard one violin, in one voice, played by four masterful personalities. I think my sur (tuning) has improved after just listening to this performance 🤯. The support the musicians showed each other on stage set a new standard for jugalbandi (collaboration) in my mind. The tabla accompaniment by Mukesh Jadhav was perfect: a calm and powerful storm that held the lofty strings in the heavens. </p>
<p>I hope to make this an annual tradition as I had so much fun and got great energy and inspiration. </p>
<p>-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-- <br>In the past week, I have attended more concerts and traveled to Howrah where I am receiving taleem (training) from Guruji, Pt. Alok Lahiri, and preparing for the the annual Sur Sangam Academy of Music concert on January 14th, 2023. </p>
<p>Actually, the days have been so packed that it's really too much for one email. So tune in next time to learn about how I met my original inspiration, Pt. Vishwa Mohan Bhatt, and received the blessings of tabla legend Pt. Swapan Chaudhuri. </p>
<p>In the meantime, if you are in Delhi or Bengaluru please mark your calendars and tell your loved ones about my upcoming concerts: </p>
<p>29 January - the Indian Music Experience Museum - Taalmagic 1st Annual Program, presenting Joel Veena with Anand HS on tabla </p>
<p>12 February - India Habitat Centre (theatre) - Joel Veena & Amit Singhal present 'Milap' with Gaurav Mahto on tabla </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Wishing you a merry Christmas and happy holidays from Howrah! From L to R: Guruji, Jean from France, Somdutta Chatterjee, Guruma, me and Abhisek Lahiri. </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/559600/84fa4e1312d7ec2fcdd70a7adf02b5b692804340/original/ealb7572-edit.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />Thank you for your continued support, </p>
<p>Wishing you and yours a joyous solstice season, </p>
<p>Joel 'Veena' Eisenkramer </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p><a contents="Did you know? There are currently 9 exclusive offerings on my patronage hub including several full length concerts, not available anywhere else. Subscribers also receive access to my ENTIRE DISCOGRAPHY via hi-fidelity download and streaming via the Bandcamp app. " data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://joelveena.bandcamp.com/subscribe" target="_blank">Did you know? </a></p>
<p><a contents="Did you know? There are currently 9 exclusive offerings on my patronage hub including several full length concerts, not available anywhere else. Subscribers also receive access to my ENTIRE DISCOGRAPHY via hi-fidelity download and streaming via the Bandcamp app. " data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://joelveena.bandcamp.com/subscribe" target="_blank">There are currently 9 exclusive offerings on my patronage hub including several full length concerts, not available anywhere else. Subscribers also receive access to my ENTIRE DISCOGRAPHY via hi-fidelity download and streaming via the Bandcamp app. </a></p>Joel Veenatag:joelveena.com,2005:Post/70500422022-08-31T10:00:32-04:002022-09-11T12:57:39-04:00Interior Landscapes album out now!<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/559600/03908f100a5b73b9459dbe20393f8de613d61f59/original/interior-lanscape-cover-small.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p>I'm happy to be able to share with you a very special recording from earlier this year. The album 'Interior Landscapes' features two tracks of alaap, a collaboration with Amit Singhal, recorded and produced by myself. The tracks are available on all digital streaming platforms as well as right here on my own website.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><a contents="STREAM INTERIOR LANDSCAPES" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/joelveenaandamitsinghal/interior-landscapes" style="" target="_blank">STREAM INTERIOR LANDSCAPES</a></p>
<p> </p>
<p>Liner notes:</p>
<p> </p>
<p>By April of 2022, it had been nearly two years since Amit bhai and I had played together in person. Post-pandemic, my visa was restricted and I had only 28 days to visit family in Mumbai, receive taleem from Guruji in Howrah and meet friends in Delhi. We rented a restored 1920s flat for 3 days in central Delhi and set up microphones around the large living room. We sat on the carpet day and night catching up, discussing the state of the world and our plans to live in it, drinking tea and recording alaap in various ragas. Our simple set up yielded a beautiful sound, representative of the calm and thoughtful exploration that was occurring. We played in a gentle way, cautious to try and let the landscapes of our minds and spirits come out from the interior and ring out in the empty hall. These tracks are the music of a previously suppressed and dormant creativity, returning to find the world drastically changed but still thirsting for true music. </p>
<p>This is Interior Landscapes.</p>Joel Veenatag:joelveena.com,2005:Post/70328032022-08-07T19:48:32-04:002022-08-07T19:48:32-04:00Interior Landscapes Releases August 31<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/559600/03908f100a5b73b9459dbe20393f8de613d61f59/original/interior-lanscape-cover-small.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p><strong>Interior Landscapes</strong> is releasing August 31, 2022 on all digital platforms. This album features two alaap recordings from Amit and my reunion in Delhi earlier this year. We rented out a large restored 1930s flat in the center of the city, set up microphones around the room and spent three days recording and catching up. Mostly what we were doing was attuning ourselves again to playing with each other after such a long gap. In years earlier, Amit and I spent a lot of time playing together, practicing and fine-tuning our duet style. This resulted in two albums: Chintan and Milap. Interior Landscapes is less prepared but perhaps deeper musically, it's the true musical stories of two good friends, long separated, reunited in music. </p>
<p><a contents="Spotify users, pre-save the album here " data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/joelveenaandamitsinghal/interior-landscapes" style="" target="_blank">Spotify users, pre-save the album here </a></p>
<p><a contents="Or get it right now on the patronage hub" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://joelveena.bandcamp.com/subscribe" target="_blank">Or get it right now on the patronage hub</a></p>Joel Veenatag:joelveena.com,2005:Post/70328022022-08-07T19:46:38-04:002022-08-07T19:46:38-04:00New Concert Recordings Available on my Patronage Hub! <p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/559600/8164f38c09e87311802a741c27c8804e43890f9f/original/bandcamp-exclusive-tracks.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p>I'm thrilled to share with you that there are now 8 (EIGHT) exclusive releases available on my Bandcamp patronage hub. </p>
<p>For those you don't know.... <br> </p>
<ul> <li>For $50/year you get all of these exclusive releases, plus my entire discography of already released music and everything I make in the future. </li> <li>All the music is yours to keep forever as a high quality download AND it's streamable online in your browser and via the Bandcamp app for iOS and android. </li> <li>On top of that, you get the satisfaction of knowing that you are supporting my art in a meaningful way. </li>
</ul>
<p>WHAT'S NEW is that my concert with Jake Charkey and Mir Naqibul Islam is now available via the patronage hub. The whole concert! The sound quality is really excellent and I'm really happy to be able to share this landmark performance with the world. It was a good-sized audience in Putney, Vermont, but I know there are many of you far and wide who would have loved to be there. Now you can listen to it to your heart's content. </p>
<p>With ample patronage, I will be able to focus more time of practicing, composing and performing. It's through patronage of the arts that most of the great artists in history were able to create their finest works; I'd like a shot at that too. </p>
<p>Check it out below, I really appreciate your support! </p>
<p> </p>
<p><a contents="Joel Veena Patronage Hub" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://joelveena.bandcamp.com/subscribe" target="_blank">Joel Veena Patronage Hub</a></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Wishing you and yours the very best, </p>
<p>Joel 'Veena' Eisenkramer</p>Joel Veenatag:joelveena.com,2005:Post/69904872022-06-09T16:47:07-04:002022-08-07T18:09:20-04:006/25 Putney Vermont - Concert of Indian slide guitar, cello and tabla with Jake Charkey and Mir Naqibul Islam<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/559600/8bd3a9c32d912c309d8e42522adfd28d868bb369/original/brm-gig.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p> </p>
<p>I'm pleased to announce that I will be performing with two of my good friends and musicians who I respect and inspire me on June 25 in Putney, VT: <a contents="Jake Charkey, one of the only people performing Hindustani music on the cello" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://youtu.be/etaCfBkGG1c" target="_blank">Jake Charkey, one of the only people performing Hindustani music on the cello</a>, and<a contents=" Mir Naqibul Islam, the hardest working tabla player in NY" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://youtu.be/CgUZ5ajxhJY" target="_blank"> Mir Naqibul Islam, the hardest working tabla player in NY</a>. This is a special concert being presented as a collaboration between NextStage Arts and Brooklyn Raga Massive. Jake, Mir and I will present a one-hour program of evening ragas played on cello, Indian slide guitar and tabla. We will present music in the traditional, north Indian style that we have learned from our respective gurus for over a decade. Jake is a disciple of <a contents="Vidushi N Rajam" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/N._Rajam" target="_blank">Vidushi N Rajam</a> and Mir is a representative of the Farukhabad gharana, having learned from Pt. Ashoke Paul.</p>
<p>The performance will be followed by a concert of Carnatic jazz fusion by the <a contents="Arun Ramanurthy Trio" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://youtu.be/1In0-AJsXuY" target="_blank">Arun Ramanurthy Trio</a>. </p>
<p><a contents="GET TICKETS HERE " data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.flipcause.com/secure/cause_pdetails/MTUyMDY1" target="_blank">GET TICKETS HERE </a></p>
<p>Saturday, June 25 <br>NextStage Arts <br>15 Kimball Hill <br>Putney VT</p>
<p> </p>Joel Veenatag:joelveena.com,2005:Post/69295892022-03-23T02:45:32-04:002024-02-17T11:43:14-05:00Regarding my stage name 'Joel Veena'<p>Many people have asked me about the name 'Joel Veena', wondering if it is the name of an instrument or a person, and I am writing this in way of explanation. In winter of 2016 I started to perform under the pseudonym Joel Veena. It was suggested to me by my musician friends in Delhi to take a stage name because my surname, Eisenkramer, is not so catchy and has always given presenters difficulty in pronouncing it (my father is also a professional musician and performed for some time as Peter Michaels). </p>
<p>The word 'veena' comes from Sanskrit and refers to a plucked stringed instrument, of which there are many varieties and variations throughout history (including the contemporary Saraswati veena in popular use in Carnatic music and the Rudra veena played in Dhrupad music). I decided on Joel Veena as an act of respect for this amazing instrument and music. Rather than changing the name of the Indian slide guitar to reflect my identity and contribution to the music, I thought to change my own name. My deep study of this music and instrument has indeed changed me as a person and altered my destiny so profoundly, I can safely say that many of the great blessings of my life started to come to fruition when I dedicated myself to the earnest study of Hindustani classical music. The name is an acknowledgment that I am transformed: I truly believe that this music has so much to offer us in this modern time and that the Indian slide guitar has a unique role to play. Since the Indian slide guitar is an evolution of the guitar, originally modified from the Hawaiian guitars brought to Calcutta in the 1930s, this instrument is especially accessible and fascinating to a very broad audience of people. While many people in countries outside of India curious to learn Indian classical music find sitar and sarod intimidating, the Indian slide guitar is seen as more familiar. Guitar has become the people's instrument the world over and finding strings and accessories for the instrument is relatively easy to do in countries all over the world. </p>
<p>I mean no disrespect to any of the pioneers of this instrument who wish to call it by another name that credits their innovation; especially Pt. Vishwa Mohan Bhatt, whose recordings were the first to inspire me to try and learn this instrument. As a college student in Delhi in 2007, I bought a CD 'Classics for Pleasure' and it led me to seek out and study this music. I don't wish to debate the name of the instrument but merely to clarify the reasons and intention behind my own name. </p>
<p>I continue on this path as a perpetual student and strive to be the best representative of the instrument that I possibly can. I travel regularly from the USA to Kolkata to take taleem from my guru <a contents="Pt. Alok Lahiri" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://youtu.be/kwKn1YKynDA" target="_blank">Pt. Alok Lahiri</a>. I promote artists from south Asia in the US and provide a platform for their performance in my locality. I help to connect Indian artists with venues to provide letters of invitation for their tours. I act as a resource for Americans trying to learn Indian classical music in the US, connecting students with teachers in India, arranging for instruments and trying to help western students understand more about the culture of music in India. I help students who cannot afford to import an instrument from India to modify their own guitar so that they can get started and try it out. My performances in the west always have an educational quality to try and increase appreciation and understanding of the music in other countries. My goal in the next 10 years is to create an organization which facilitates the healthy and continuous artistic exchange of Indian classical musicians in the US and in India and south Asia, providing platforms, visa assistance, educational outreach and access to authentic teachers. </p>
<p>I was not born as this person but have been transformed by the music and the instrument. I have dedicated my life to these pursuits and will continue to do so as Joel 'Veena' Eisenkramer. I offer my humble pranam to the great artists who have gone before and wish to be reported as 'present' in the roll call of those who are serving this music with their all in the 21st century.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>- Joel 'Veena' Eisenkramer</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p>-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=</p>
<p><a contents="Join the mailing list and stay updated on my latest concerts, recordings and writings :)" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://eepurl.com/gSZk5X" style="" target="_blank">Join the mailing list and stay updated on my latest concerts, recordings and writings :)</a></p>
<p>- <a contents="Support my work with a donation" data-link-label="Tips" data-link-type="page" href="/tips" target="_blank">Support my work with a donation</a></p>
<p>- <a contents="Join the patronage hub on Bandcamp and receive all my recordings, plus exclusive unreleased material!" data-link-label="Patronage Hub" data-link-type="page" href="/patronage-hub" target="_blank">Join the patronage hub on Bandcamp and receive all my recordings, plus exclusive unreleased material!</a></p>Joel Veenatag:joelveena.com,2005:Post/69295882022-03-23T02:41:49-04:002022-03-23T02:41:49-04:00Snowy Afternoon Raga Patdeep, live at Shanti Mandir, Walden New York<p><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="96XEOOSYZbg" data-video-thumb-url="https://img.youtube.com/vi/96XEOOSYZbg/mqdefault.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/96XEOOSYZbg?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="480" width="640" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></p>
<p> </p>
<p>Patdeep is a late afternoon raga, we performed as the snow was settling down and the sun was setting. You can watch the full concert on Shanti Mandir Walden’s YouTube page, all beautifully produced by Dipanshu.</p>
<p>It was a great experience performing at Shanti Mandir - I stayed for the weekend and really enjoyed talking with the everyone there, soaking in that peaceful ambience. Being immersed in an environment where everyone was primarily thinking about spiritual topics and meditation was something special. </p>
<p>Give thanks for life</p>Joel Veenatag:joelveena.com,2005:Post/69022082022-02-19T19:50:50-05:002022-09-11T12:57:39-04:00Hurray, an in-person concert! March 12 at Shanti Mandir, Walden, New York with Ehren Hanson<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/559600/ef00defe3f805fc6713204f9e613e38552db1e4f/original/veena-march12-2022.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p> </p>
<p>Man, am I excited to play an in-person concert or what..! <a contents="You will also be able to watch as a live-stream on the Shanti Mandir YouTube channel" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.youtube.com/user/shantimandir1008" target="_blank">You will also be able to watch as a live-stream on the Shanti Mandir YouTube channel</a>. Looking forward to playing for you!</p>Joel Veenatag:joelveena.com,2005:Post/68561512021-12-31T16:12:47-05:002021-12-31T16:12:47-05:00New Year's Eve 2021: Free Streaming Concert Tonight @ 6pm EST<p><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="SJBbtnR1Fb8" data-video-thumb-url="https://img.youtube.com/vi/SJBbtnR1Fb8/mqdefault.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/SJBbtnR1Fb8?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="480" width="640" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></p>
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<p>Happy New Year! </p>
<p>As a way to say 'thank you' for your support of my music during 2021, and as a general prayer of thanksgiving, I will be performing a short live-streaming concert this evening at 6pm EST. </p>
<p>It's very last minute, as I just thought of it now, but I hope that you can join us. The event is free. If not, the video will remain on YouTube for you to watch at your convenience. </p>
<p>Click the video above to watch live, click here or tune in on Instagram. </p>
<p>If you'd like to be involved with supporting my work in the coming year, <a contents="go ahead and send a donation" data-link-label="Tips" data-link-type="page" href="/tips" target="_blank">go ahead and send a donation</a> or click the link above to <a contents="learn about my patronage hub" data-link-label="Patronage Hub" data-link-type="page" href="/patronage-hub">learn about my patronage hub</a>. The patronage hub is a really cool service I have set up that gives you access to all the music I make, plus unreleased concerts and recordings, for a small yearly fee. The yearly fees help me to create more art and focus on what makes my music authentic and impactful, instead of chasing $$s. </p>
<p>My very best to you and yours, </p>
<p>Joel 'Veena' Eisenkramer</p>Joel Veenatag:joelveena.com,2005:Post/67900222021-10-28T21:52:36-04:002022-03-03T11:41:19-05:00Music Featured in FabIndia Clothing Ad<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="IQpygWEQ184" data-video-thumb-url="https://img.youtube.com/vi/IQpygWEQ184/mqdefault.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/IQpygWEQ184?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="600" width="800" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></p>
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<p>So joyful and cute! Check it out, my song 'The Peacock feat. Suraj Nirwan' featured in the latest kids clothing ad from Fab India. Fab India is a popular clothing brand all across India and the world. Last year, I licensed three of my tunes to them for playing in their 100s of stores. It's been a great experience, <a contents="friends have told me they've heard 'Bhim' while shopping! " data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://joelveena.com/single/39634/bhim">friends have told me they've heard 'Bhim' while shopping! </a></p>
<p>Advertising aside, I really like how the music and images move together and draw a smile across your face. I hope this does a little bit to lighten your day. </p>
<p>Good job everyone involved. Special thanks to SongDew for setting this up. </p>
<p>Give thanks for life!</p>Joel Veenatag:joelveena.com,2005:Post/67877622021-10-26T19:26:26-04:002021-10-26T19:27:52-04:00'Reminder' Video from Stone Church featuring Mir Naqibul Islam<p><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="iLv4RpFtbAw" data-video-thumb-url="https://img.youtube.com/vi/iLv4RpFtbAw/mqdefault.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/iLv4RpFtbAw?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="600" width="800" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></p>
<p>How is everything going? </p>
<p>It's been awhile since I have been in touch with you all following a brief busy period. I actually had the privilege of playing three in-person concerts recently: the Valley, a private music festival in Putney Vermont, at the Stone Church in Brattleboro and at Omega Institute in Rhinebeck, New York. All three of these concerts I was accompanied by the excellent tabla-playing of my friend Mir Naqibul Islam. </p>
<p>Above is a video taken from our Stone Church concert. Remember my last email about my brand new original song 'Reminder'? In the studio version, you heard virtuoso jori player Jasdeep Singh's interpretation of my song, now in this live version you can hear how the song sounds with tabla accompaniment instead! <a contents="(There's also great clip on Instagram of Mir's solo during the song when we performed at Omega Institute" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CUYjGLkpqWO/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link">(There's also great clip on Instagram of Mir's solo during the song when we performed at Omega Institute</a>) <br> </p>Joel Veenatag:joelveena.com,2005:Post/67421352021-09-10T09:42:25-04:002021-09-10T09:42:25-04:00New Music: 'Reminder feat. Jasdeep Singh' Out Now!<p style="text-align: center;"><a contents="New music out today! 'Reminder feat Jasdeep Singh' is an original instrumental tune performed on Indian slide guitar and jori. This melody is to remind us that the source of strength is struggle and resistance and to take heart that we can rise to the occasion. " data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://smarturl.it/reminderjv" style="" target="_blank"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/559600/2a330c168d54c278df23cceff328b99780d1cccf/original/reminder-cover.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></a></p>
<p><a contents="New music out today! 'Reminder feat Jasdeep Singh' is an original instrumental tune performed on Indian slide guitar and jori. This melody is to remind us that the source of strength is struggle and resistance and to take heart that we can rise to the occasion. " data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://smarturl.it/reminderjv" target="_blank">New music out today! 'Reminder feat Jasdeep Singh' is an original instrumental tune performed on Indian slide guitar and jori. This melody is to remind us that the source of strength is struggle and resistance and to take heart that we can rise to the occasion. </a></p>
<p>The song is now available on all digital music platforms. We recorded remotely, me first recording a scratch track and then sending it to Jasdeep bhai @jas.deepsingh in the UK. He recorded his part, then sent it back to me. I then went to my favorite studio @guilfordsound and cut the final take. @dangus_rex made us a great mix. @bionicmastering with the mastering. Photo by @vidhisjukebox . Link in bio. </p>
<p>So happy to finally share this song with you all. Please let me know what you think, add the track to your playlists and share with your dear ones if you dig it. </p>
<p>Give thanks for life!</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>Joel Veenatag:joelveena.com,2005:Post/66826012021-05-06T12:55:49-04:002021-08-14T12:32:37-04:00New Music on Right Brain Records: Guitar Improv Summit Vol 2<p><iframe style="border: 0; width: 100%; height: 120px;" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=1357118051/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/tracklist=false/artwork=small/track=4256700439/transparent=true/" seamless=""><a href="https://rightbrainrecords.bandcamp.com/album/guitar-improv-summit-vol-2">Guitar Improv Summit Vol. 2 by Joel Veena</a></iframe><br>
<span data-bind="html: message">Hi everyone,</span></p>
<p>I’m pleased to share with you that I have brand new music featured on Right Brain Records’ latest release: Guitar Improv Summit Vol 2. I recorded a piece specifically for this project and am quite pleased with how it turned out. The requirement of Right Brain Records was that all the music on the compilation be completely spontaneous, without any premeditation. Indian classical music is based in improvisation in the first place but I took extra care while recording to try and avoid the typical phrases and approach of the raga I selected. To achieve this, I recorded a few different takes throughout the day, only deciding on the raga just as I was sitting down. The take I selected is an improvisation in the morning raga, Bhairavi.</p>
<p>I hope you check out this great collection of improvised music. Thanks as always for your support.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><a href="https://rightbrainrecords.bandcamp.com/album/guitar-improv-summit-vol-2"><strong>Listen now on Bandcamp</strong></a></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
Joel Veenatag:joelveena.com,2005:Post/66826022021-04-07T12:35:51-04:002021-07-08T16:06:05-04:00New Music: First-ever Collaboration between the jori and Indian slide guitar<p>After what feels like a long time, I’m excited to be sharing new music with you.</p>
<p><a href="https://smarturl.it/bhimpalasi">Stream and purchase the new track here.</a><br>
<iframe style="border: 0; width: 100%; height: 120px;" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/track=1855632084/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/tracklist=false/artwork=small/transparent=true/" seamless=""><a href="https://joelveena.bandcamp.com/track/raga-bhimpalasi-in-jhaptaal-feat-jasdeep-singh">Raga Bhimpalasi in Jhaptaal feat. Jasdeep Singh by Joel Veena</a></iframe></p>
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<p>This rendition of afternoon raga Bhimpalasi is the first known collaboration between the 20-stringed Indian slide guitar and the jori:</p>
<p>The jorī traces its origins to the 18th-century dukkar baaj (a style of playing developed around the kettle drums used in folk music) and developed further in the Punjab region of south Asia. The drums gained favor in the royal courts and darbars of maharajas as it was able to effectively accompany a wider array of genres than that of the pakhawaj.<br>
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The jorī gave birth to what has now become the most popular form of Hindustani percussion, the tabla. Due to the tabla’s great versatility and popularity, the jorī has declined in popularity during the modern era to the such a rarity that its intricacies are maintained by only a few artists.</p>
<p>Here, the jori is played by one of today’s leading exponents and researchers of the instrument: Jasdeep Singh. Singh has published numerous papers on the history of the drums and their usage (<a href="https://www.jasdeep.co.uk/publications" rel="nofollow ugc">www.jasdeep.co.uk/publications</a>) and also builds the drums himself.</p>
<p>Jasdeep Singh and Joel Veena connected over social media during the end of the year in 2020 and started discussing the possibilities for collaboration. In particular they were inspired by the historic early performances of Pt Vishwa Mohan Bhatt and tabla maestro<span class="bcTruncateEllipsis"> <span class="bcTruncateMore"> Sukhvinder Singh ‘Pinky’; one of Jasdeep Singh’s early gurus. With lockdowns still in effect in their respective countries (the UK and USA), Joel and Jasdeep proceeded to produce this track in their own homes, on either side of the globe.</span></span></p>
<p>Both artists were pleasantly surprised by the results: thanks to their natural musical affinity for playing together and the benefits of technology, the impact of the deep bass of jori and singing highs of the slide guitar ring true to the tradition of the music and also open doors to new sounds.</p>
<p>“We’re already working on more music together. I feel really blessed that Jasdeep and I became connected. Hopefully by the time concerts are able to start again, we will already have worked out a very unique and special repertoire for jori and Indian slide guitar that we can take to the stage and tour. I can’t wait for you to hear this music in person.”<br>
– Joel Veena </p>
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<h3 class="credits-label">credits</h3>
<div class="tralbumData tralbum-credits">released April 7, 2021<br>
Composition in Bhimpalasi by Pt. Alok Lahiri, arranged by Joel ‘Veena’ Eisenkramer</div>
<div class="tralbumData tralbum-credits">Indian slide guitar – Joel ‘Veena’ Eisenkramer<br>
Jori – Jasdeep Singh
<p>Recorded by Joel Veena & Jasdeep Singh<br>
Mixed by Joel Veena, Root Cellar Sound, Vermont USA<br>
Mastered by Tom Hutten, Bionic Mastering, Vermont USA<br>
Album art by Sumeru Salla, Design & Story</p>
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Joel Veenatag:joelveena.com,2005:Post/66826032021-01-01T15:51:28-05:002021-07-08T16:06:05-04:00Why Am I Playing Concerts for Free Every Week?<p><span style="font-size: large;"> Back in March of this year, I started a weekly live-streaming concert series with my musical compatriot Kees van Boxtel from Netherlands. <a href="https://joelveena.bandcamp.com/album/sacred-groves-peace-at-home">Our effort we dubbed ‘Peace at Home’ and we performed 10 concerts that resulted in our album by the same name, released in April, 2020.</a> At the time, it seemed like the world was falling down around our heads as we spent long, meandering days cooped up inside. There was no one on the streets, suburban Mumbai was eerily quiet and each day the news was worse. Like many, I felt helpless and generally hopeless. What help is a musician in a global health crisis? The concept of Peace at Home was to offer some moments of respite, calm and strengthening through the wonderful power of Indian classical music. The encouraging and thankful support we received from the public over social media caused me to continue the project with my own weekly series, called Ragas for Peace & Happiness. This started in May of 2020 and continues today. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLg8btlA6uGBvSwwEmzdCxZ8-IE6iU_-ZI"> Since March, I have produced and performed 30+ live-streaming concerts to date.</a> All of these concerts have been made available completely for free, <a href="https://joelveena.com/tips">requesting donations from those who are able.</a> Many musicians and peers have asked me why I’m “giving away concerts for free” and expressed that they are worried for me, that because my music is available for free, that no one will pay for my music going forward. This is an intentional choice I have made, rooted in my philosophy of music and life, and I will attempt to explain it here.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: large;"> My music is an offering and a process at the same time. It’s an offering to the world, to this existence; a reality that has given me life and the power to positively affect people through my art. I am grateful for this life and I wish to spread that vibration. My music is a process in the sense that I am practicing in order to transform myself to be more in tune, more in harmony, more connected, in better relationship with humanity and the natural forces of our planet and universe. My goal through my music is to develop myself so that I can understand and transmute the pain, suffering, and negativity of our collective experiences for the benefit of all beings and energies. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: large;"> The forces of global capitalism and the free market do not value such an endeavor because the transformation and evolution of our minds and hearts is not a product that can be bought or sold. As musicians, the market encourages us to sell recordings, concert tickets and merchandise. But the monetary values of each are all mixed up and have nothing to do with the energy, intent and efficacy of the art created. One of my albums, over an hour of music you can listen to over and over again for the rest of your life, sells for $9.99 USD on iTunes. A typical concert ticket may cost $20-$30 USD for a two hour concert. These days artists are charging around $35 USD for T-shirts with their likeness or logo on them. What absolute mayhem. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://joelveena.com/shop"> The albums that you can buy of my music online</a>, many of them we spent 50-100 hours of work on and contain original, creative music that you can hear literally no where else. There are expenses for studio time, production, promotion, design and musicianship. In a concert, you’re hearing the spontaneous expression of thousands of hours of collective preparation, study and experimentation. And the T-shirts? Mostly they’re printed and shipped by other companies and have little to do with the artist beyond the graphic design. The point is, a system of capitalism is not capable of rewarding my artistic efforts and it’s naive to think that it can ever be otherwise. The best we can hope for as musicians, is that our art will be valued enough by the market economy so that we can sustain ourselves while we pursue the true purpose of our music.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: large;"> Simply put, charging money for my weekly series ‘Ragas for Peace & Happiness’ doesn’t match up with the goal of this project and also has limited scope to compensate based on the value of the concerts. The concerts are for morale, for peace and calm and to explore the special qualities of Indian classical ragas that heal and bring connection. Charging money for these would actually diminish the desired effect because I would be narrowing my audience to those who are able and willing to pay for an online concert. I want to reach people who have no idea about classical Indian music. I want to reach people who are lost. I want to reach people who need help and people who just enjoy listening while doing something around the house. I want to reach people who can appreciate and relate to the mission behind the music as well as the sound itself. All are welcome! </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: large;"> I still need to eat and survive myself and when someone financially supports my music they are allowing for my material existence. <a href="https://joelveena.bandcamp.com/subscribe">Just as importantly, when you buy a download, CD or pay for concert tickets, you are sending a message, you are speaking, saying “Yes, this music is important to me and I want the artist to thrive to continue to create this art.”</a> With so many ways to consume music without paying a penny to the artists, it is becoming increasingly crucial to support artists directly. It is most beneficial for the artist and the audience to be directly connected with each other, for the energy and money to flow between them, without anything in the middle. My weekly live-streaming concerts are an attempt at cultivating this relationship with my audience and creating a new channel for how we connect. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: large;"> In short, my weekly series ‘Ragas for Peace & Happiness’ is available for free because that is the way that it will most effectively achieve its goal: to grow good relationship, to calm, strengthen, inspire and share in music and tradition. <a href="https://joelveena.com/tips">When I receive donations during my streams,</a> that gives more power to the endeavor and helps to sustain me materially. Charging a fee upfront however, would be a hindrance to all of this: creating barriers for people who don’t have the means to pay or aren’t willing to pay while not really addressing the issue of fair compensation for all the art anyway. It’s time to transform the way we relate to each other and to music so that we can create the world we want to be in. The concept of Ragas for Peace & Happiness has been carefully incubating along these lines and now has expression. Let it be known.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: large;">Last, I want to say, all this time performing from my room has really helped to hone my skill…I can’t wait for you to see my stage shows in 2021! Tatasthu. </span></p>
<p>— Joel ‘Veena’ Eisenkramer, Dec. 27, 2020</p>
Joel Veenatag:joelveena.com,2005:Post/66826042020-05-15T08:16:19-04:002021-07-08T16:06:05-04:00Ragas for Peace & Happiness – Live Weekly 11am EDT (GMT-4)<p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/joelveena/">WATCH on YOUTUBE LIVE</a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.facebook.com/joelveena/live">WATCH on FACEBOOK LIVE</a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.twitch.tv/joelveena">WATCH on TWITCH</a></p>
<p>Weekly live-streaming concerts to strengthen, focus and calm. Ragas for Peace & Happiness is my personal offering to you and to the world. It is also an opportunity for us to spend time together in community and in exploring the traditional manner in which a raga unfolds.</p>
<p>Each performance of a raga is unique, the artist’s personal interpretation based on the current time, space, mood and environment. When you join my live sessions, you become a part of the music making endeavor and help to give life to this art form.</p>
<p><a href="https://joelveena.com/tips" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Enjoying the music? Leave a tip – thanks very much for supporting my music!</a></p>
<p>I am currently live-streaming concerts every Sunday at 11am EDT or 8:30pm IST (<a href="https://www.thetimezoneconverter.com/">Time Zone Converter here</a>)</p>
Joel Veenatag:joelveena.com,2005:Post/66826052020-05-07T01:06:39-04:002021-07-08T16:06:05-04:0017 Musicians from 9 Different Countries: Collaboration with Indian fusion stars Maati Baani!<div id="pl-1038" class="panel-layout"><div id="pg-1038-0" class="panel-grid panel-no-style"><div id="pgc-1038-0-0" class="panel-grid-cell">
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<p>Hello everyone,</p>
<p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FyuOkfEFfN4">I'm excited to share with you my work with the band Maati Baani in their latest release, 'Karpur Gauram'</a>. This is a very inventive and exciting composition played by 17 different musicians from 9 countries all over the world. What we all have in common is that we are in "lockdown" due to the virus and that we are not letting that stop the artist's message of hope from reaching our listeners.</p>
<p>If you check out their YouTube and other channels, you will see that Maati Baani is a very popular fusion group and they make really great music. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxpqd3woRxY">I've been a fan since I watched their early collaborations with Kutchi folk singer Mooralala Marwada</a> (who I actually got to perform on the same stage <a href="https://www.facebook.com/bless.up86/videos/10102813689799948/">when I visited Kutch back in 2017!</a>). I was pleasantly surprised when guitarist and composer for the gorup, Kartik Shah, reached out to be over Facebook. He told me that he and his partner (the singer in the video) Nirali Kartik had been enjoying my live-streaming concerts a lot and asked if I would be interested in working on a collaboration with them.</p>
<p>I recorded my parts in our bedroom studio here in Mumbai using Vidhi's DSLR camera and my phone. It's been so quiet here since the lockdown I was able to record the audio using a decent condenser microphone.</p>
<p>Hope you enjoy the video!</p>
<p>Wishing you all the very best,</p>
<p>Joel 'Veena' Eisenkramer</p>
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<p>Thanks to all who tuned in! Below is the video. I performed</p>
<p>Raga Malkauns, alap jod and jhala</p>
<p>Jai Love (Dhun in Raga Desh)</p>
<p>Amazing Grace --> The Peacock medley</p>
<p>Raga Bhairavi, tarana</p>
<p>I really enjoyed performing for you all. We had some technical difficulties in the beginning and the audio is coming from only one channel in this video. Watch this page and I will be updating it with the proper audio.</p>
<p><a href="https://joelveena.bandcamp.com/patronage-hub">If you haven't yet, please check out the Patronage Hub and stay in touch.</a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLg8btlA6uGBuFBy5aM7Xiju5DxbQDMklM">My daily streaming series, Peace at Home continues tomorrow. See the full playlist on YouTube here.</a></p>
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</div></div></div>Joel Veenatag:joelveena.com,2005:Post/66826072020-03-28T08:02:05-04:002021-07-08T16:06:06-04:00Support My Work: The Patronage Hub<p><span style="font-size: large;">Namaste everyone,</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: large;">I’m excited to announce <a href="https://joelveena.bandcamp.com/patronage-hub">my new Patronage Hub.</a> This is a way for you to connect more deeply with my world of music and support my music in a meaningful way. </span></p>
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<p><span style="font-size: large;">Since the 16<sup>th</sup> century, Indian classical musicians have been supported by patrons of the arts from maharajas in their courts to folks hosting baithaks, house-concerts, in their homes. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://joelveena.bandcamp.com/patronage-hub" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">When you sign up as my patron through my patronage hub, you receive immediate access to my entire catalog of recordings (some 5 albums and several singles to date) through the Bandcamp app for iOS and Android as well as high fidelity downloads that are yours to keep forever.</a> All future recordings will also be automatically added to your collection once they are released. You can stream them anytime you want, burn them to CD, make cassettes, anything you’d like. </span></p>
<p><a href="https://joelveena.bandcamp.com/patronage-hub"><span style="font-size: large;">In addition to that, you’ll have access to exclusive content from me including unreleased recordings, concert videos, concert posters and lots of liner notes and details about all my musical endeavors. There’s also a special messaging board where patrons can communicate directly with me, ask questions about the instrument, about the ragas, about all the good food I get to eat at my in-laws in Mumbai…This is an organic hub that will be growing and adding more content as time goes by as well.</span></a></p>
<p><span style="font-size: large;">As you already know from following my musical journey, I’m really dedicated and passionate about the Indian slide guitar and promoting Indian classical music. This music is my life and I’ve come a long way from being a 21-year-old college student wandering around Delhi, searching for a teacher, to last year performing for 20-thousand at the Kumbh Mela. I’m really proud to be an artist who is connecting with the young people of India and I’m continuing to grow this audience and appreciation for Indian classical music in general through teaching lecture demonstrations in classrooms in India, the US and Europe.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: large;">I’m incredibly blessed to be able to play this music for you. <a href="https://joelveena.bandcamp.com/patronage-hub">As my patron, for $40 per year, you can have access to all my recordings, past and future, exclusive content and the satisfaction of supporting my music in a meaningful way.</a> With your patronage, you become an instrumental force in my growth as an artist and I can go deeper into my riyaz, play more concerts, produce more music and continue to spread the love of Indian classical music.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: large;">Thank you for your support, give thanks for life!</span></p>
Joel Veenatag:joelveena.com,2005:Post/66826092020-03-07T12:31:39-05:002021-07-08T16:06:06-04:00New Single ‘Find It’ – something different!
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://smarturl.it/find-it" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://i0.wp.com/joelveena.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/img_8983.jpg?resize=640%2C640&ssl=1" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="640" width="640" /></a></figure>
<p><a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://smarturl.it/find-it" target="_blank">STREAM ‘Find It’ Now on the platform of your choice.</a></p>
<p><a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=THr3CjqIieU" target="_blank">(I also tried my hand at making a simple music video for the song)</a></p>
<p>Bringing together my diverse musical background and inspiration with my journey with the Indian slide guitar, I’ve released a new single on streaming platforms: ‘Find It’. This is a song I’ve kept in the archive for a long time, wondering if I should release it as it is quite different than my usual music. ‘Find It’ is a further exploration of combining the Indian slide guitar with electronic beats and my own lyrics. The words were written from my experience traveling among the spiritual seekers of this world, especially as a foreigner in India; souls hopping from yoga class to ashram to night club in search of something deeper, something true. Sometimes I witnessed that the search itself can become intoxicating, so much so that even when faced with what one thought they were searching for, one cannot even recognize it.<br><br>The song has been getting some good response so far, it has been included in <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://linktr.ee/gigitalindia" target="_blank">Gigital India’s latest Indie Music playlist on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Music.</a></p>
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Joel Veenatag:joelveena.com,2005:Post/66826102019-11-18T17:39:19-05:002021-07-08T16:06:06-04:00Evening Raga Rageshree: Live at Jalopy Theatre with Mir Naqibul Islam (BRM Weekly Concert Series)<div class="jetpack-video-wrapper"><iframe class="youtube-player" width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hOqwxwcpyCU?version=3&rel=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&fs=1&hl=en-US&autohide=2&wmode=transparent" allowfullscreen="true" style="border:0;" sandbox="allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation"></iframe></div>
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<p>Raga Rageshree is an evening raga with a romantic and sentimental mood. Above is the <a href="https://youtu.be/hOqwxwcpyCU">video of my performance of Rageshree at Jalopy Theatre in Brooklyn, New York</a>. I was fortunate to be accompanied by Mir Naqibul Islam again, a great player and all around good guy I had the pleasure of meeting just a couple months ago when <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B3U5nqrhqK5/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet">Mir came up to accompany my concerts at Wendy Redlinger’s House Concert Series</a> and at Stone Church Arts. This particular concert in Brooklyn was part of a weekly series hosted by <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/27/arts/music/a-raga-renaissance-flowers-in-brooklyn.html?_r=1">Brooklyn Raga Massive; a collective promoting Indian classical music and exploring fusion that has been getting a lot of great press of late.</a></p>
<p>This concert was another milestone for me because of Brooklyn Raga Massive’s excellent reputation worldwide: anytime the topic of me being from southern Vermont comes up, fellow musicians and concert organizers always say, “Well, BRM is just near there. Absolutely you must play there!” The competition to get noticed can be a little stiff and their calendar booked up months in advance, up until this year my requests for a concert were mostly unnoticed. This year was different, however, and I take it as a sign that my constant riyaz (practice), promotions and touring are gaining momentum. My concert was very well received and I look forward to becoming more a part of the Brooklyn Raga Massive scene in the years to come.</p>
<p>An added treat of performing at BRM’s Weekly series was staying with Mir and meeting several of the other musicians in the scene. I was quite amazed to find out that every single musician I met, I was already connected to through Indian classical music. For instance, I met a young American sitarist who studied in Delhi with <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aRFziWNluB4">Dr. Gopal Krishan Shah</a> at Delhi University. Well, Gopalji was the one to take me to two of my first major stages in India with Suraj Nirwan back in 2016. <a href="https://youtu.be/0NKSIMv12V0">He was gracious enough to allow me to play a short piece before him at the Moradabad Swar Deep Yagya;</a> this was a pivotal concert for me on a prestigious platform that continues to be one of my main “credentials” when talking with concert organizers in India. (<a href="https://youtu.be/2skp2bIwcAY">The other concert was in Deeg, Rajasthan at a Gaushala!</a>) It’s truly a small world of Indian classical music. With such close connections spanning thousands of miles, my belief that we can work together and popularize this music is strengthened.</p>
<p>These days I’m back in our studio apartment in Brattleboro, Vermont, counting the days until I travel to India at the end of the year. Already I am booking concerts for 2020 over there. It seems that to start out, Kees van Boxtel and I will perform together as Sacred Groves at Himanshu Nanda’s Mystic Bamboo Baithak in Pune on January 12. Of course I will keep you updated here.</p>
<p>Thanks very much for your support of my music, wishing you and yours all the very best,</p>
<p>Joel ‘Veena’ Eisenkramer</p>
Joel Veenatag:joelveena.com,2005:Post/66023792019-10-23T14:10:52-04:002021-04-12T22:26:32-04:00Studio Performance Video: Jai Love at NRAI Studios, Delhi<div class="jetpack-video-wrapper"><iframe class="youtube-player" width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/uhxvyWmLTn8?version=3&rel=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&fs=1&hl=en-US&autohide=2&wmode=transparent" allowfullscreen="true" style="border:0;" sandbox="allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation"></iframe></div>
<p>Now you can watch the video of our studio performance of ‘Jai Love’ from the most recent album! Check it out: all one take, no cuts, no edits, just pure inspiration and music. Hope you enjoy it! <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCy4DOYmvMMdSl1E9JnJda9A">Please like, share, and subscribe to the Joel Veena YouTube channel here.</a></p>
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<p>Thank you!</p>
Joel Veena