"Stop your searching and Find It
What makes you calm inside, the quiet
How to sing a song and stay silent
You want to do something, just try it" 
- Joel Veena, Find It

Hailing from a small village in southeastern Vermont, Joel 'Veena' Eisenkramer is one of the foremost exponents of the 20-stringed Indian slide guitar. His music defies categorization as he presents meditative classical ragas that blossom into blistering duets with tabla virtuosos in the same set as beat-driven original songs with live-looping and poetic lyrics. A study abroad trip to Delhi, India during his college days set him on a path of deep study in the oral tradition of Hindustani (North Indian) classical music, learning from and eventually performing alongside celebrated artists of the style. Recognized by the government of India in 2023 for his contribution to Indian music on the global stage, Joel's music seeks to heal and empower his audiences to "do the needful" in terms of facing the every day challenges of the modern world and the nourishment of our interior worlds.

Joel Veena is the only North American performer of the Indian slide guitar to tour regularly in India and his concert tours have brought him all across the country, headlining shows in most of the major cities including Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Kolkata, as well as tours in the USA and Europe. In 2019, he was a featured performer at the Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj India, the world's largest religious gathering, where he played for an audience of 12,000 people under the auspices of Shri Ashutoush Maharaj (SAM) Workshops. His album CARDINAL, released in 2025, was his 12th self-produced release, widely praised for its innovative and authentic blend of styles. His music has been featured on Radio New Zealand, Shemaroo Entertainment, and MyGov India. In 2023, Joel was featured in the government of India's publication 'Bhartasya Sangeet Vishwanubandh Yatra: Introduction of India’s Cultural Pride in Interrelationship with World Music Culture' where they wrote "[Joel's] unwavering dedication and enthusiasm have paved the way for a deeper appreciation of this art form. [His] commitment to preserving and promoting Indian classical music inspires us all." The same year, he was also awarded the Meenakshi Hariharasubramani Award for Excellence in Music by the TaalMagic Trust of Bengaluru.

 Joel's performances have been noted for their welcoming and explanatory quality; pieces are presented with their cultural and historical context so as to open the door for new audiences unfamiliar with Indian classical music. His original compositions, often inspired by the ragas he's studied, have been praised for their use of classical theory and aesthetic while creating toe-tapping, memorable melodies approachable by all. He has presented lecture-demonstrations at a number of schools and universities around the globe (including the California College of the Arts and Delhi Public School Sonepat).

(full bio here)

(What's with the name 'Joel Veena'?)

Fee support for Joel Veena may be available to nonprofit organizations through the New England States Touring (NEST) program of the New England Foundation for the Arts. Visit www.nefa.org for more information.