Ashana Sophia Music

Ashana Sophia has been called a haunting singer and multi-instrulmentalist. She began singing her heart’s joy at age three, as her first words mixed with song. Ashana was born in a Rudolf Steiner Community called Camphill, in Kimberton, Pennsylvania. Camphill was a biodynamic and organic farm community, where families lived with, caring for, and worked side-by-side with disabled people. At age twelve, Ashana was accepted to study with Luís García Renart, a renowned student of Pablo Casal’s. Luís was a passionate cello teacher who helped sculpt Ashana’s musical technique. Under his guidance, Ashana gave more and more recitals, eventually playing in the Tanglewood Institute’s Orchestral Program with a group of student musicians from around the world. Ashana’s harmonic journey continued through performances with Krishna Das, Jai Uttal, Ram Das, Simrit Kaur, Danny Birch, Jaya Lakshmi, Tatianna Shapiro-Leiste, Lukas Nelson, Udaya Bryce and many others. Ashana is currently working on an album with Chad Viator, "Grace Notes,” has been awarded and made possible by the Acadiana Center for the Art’s & the Art Spark Grant. Imagine the lyrical spirit of Cajun fiddles, slide and folk guitars joined by beautiful vocals, with richly layered harmonies, cello, esraj (Indian cello) and harmonium (Indian accordion). "Grace Notes," leads the listener on an emotional journey where songs and ancient mantras in Sanskrit, Gurmukh, French and English are sung with soulful and lively instrumentation. Ashana Sophia & Chad Viator's music is haunting, compelling and joined with Louisiana’s soulful music tradition. This new crossroads collaboration and up-coming album, will delight your heart. . She teaches weekly classes on the Yoga of Singing, The Art of Harmony, private singing and harmonium instruction. Ashana Lives with her husband and two children in an urban garden, in the Saint Streets of Lafayette. Kirtan (from the Sanskrit word meaning to sing) is a form of folk mantra chanting that arose from the Bhakti movement, ecstatic love poems to the divine.