Turiiya reviewed

Kim Wesney, Daryn Linwood and I had a performance group called Turiiya some years ago. We produced a few albums together, namely 'Salutations', 'Waiting' the EP and 'Waiting the album' as well as 'Daughters of the Flame' and we were distributed by Jayrem Records. One of the tracks 'Thread of Gold' did really well, and was shown on TV. Recently Kim wrote to me and said to check this out:

http://bubblingdusk.blogspot.com/2010/09/turiiya-waiting.html

"Here's a very special LP that quickly crept into being one of my favorite new spins of 2010... My friend Callum mentioned this Kiwi folk-psych long-player in an e-mail exchange a few months ago as being a true delight, and so I immediately tracked down a copy to check it out. I was quickly sucked into their lush cosmos of nocturnal vocalizations, looming cello runs, and odd drawn out song structures. The record in a sense seems born out of some loose stage of new age phenomenon, hailing from the late date of 1986, and the band being annointed with a Hindu word meaning, "pure conciousness," in turn much of the lyrical flavor comes through on this level: gorgeous female vocals intoning the depths of the forest, the Aboriginal "Dreaming," vantages onto island travel and living a small life in the bounds of Anglo Oceania - calling to mind at times Campion's wonderful film, Sweetie, as well a host of other celestial and earthly energy fields. Musically the group is indeed first and foremost a kind of loose aggregate of spirituality born to sound. Sonically I can't help but flash on things like Comus or the Christ Tree... yet Turiiya are of their own place and time, and it would be reductive to just tag them with the much overused folk-psych tag and be done with it. They seem formed within some kind of a far flung indie rock scene, but simultaneously orbiting well beyond the identity politics and catch-phrase jingo-ism that usually inform those kinds of records. I know New Zealand had its share of shambolic forthright female outfits in this time period, yet Turiiya still seems to be beckoning from a mistier clime... In any case, being hard to pin is one of my favorite aspects in sound, so I'll let my hypotheses rest here. The record is a mash of organic, strange, illuminated ideas and it really should just be enjoyed" Jack Fleisher, USA

Reading this review by a music lover gave me goose bumps, remembering how these songs were recorded in Harlequin Studio and written in the Mamata Bakery loft and hill tops of Bethells Beach, songs that were powerfully charged, about the environment, womens issues, Maori land rights, ships in the harbour, and songs of love and longing. We played at local festivals dressed like something from outer space at a time when the Topp twins, Karen Hunter, the Freudian Slips and others were in full swing. There was a theatrical/sonic/visual slant to our performance, using unique instruments, such as whale caller, cake tins and cutlery, a bowed bass, ships bells, and other experimental sounds as well as acoustic guitars, bass, drums and piano.

This album is now available, at www.jyoshna.com and innersong.com

A new chapter begins

A new chapter in my life has begun. I'm back in NZ, though its not really 'back' as so much has changed from the ten years ago when I was living here. its actually really 'present' and 'future' scenarios that I imagine while processing wounds and the ecstatic highs of the past. On a political level, Helen Clarke has made a very significant mark on this country, especially regarding indigenous people's issues, but now has gone and we have a new government.

Having been on tour, really since February when I went to Brazil for the first time, I have lived out of a suitcase for ten months, but a very magical suitcase that has given me a wider perspective, successfully rid myself of a few unnecessary dogmas from my mind's closet and added a little more courage to help adjust to this new adventure. No matter what, I'm envisioning a bright future, not just for me, but for everyone.

There has always been talk about great changes in 2012, and those changes are already taking place on every level. I feel the responsibility to keep a positive attitude to these changes that inevitably happen at an end and beginning of something new, both personally and globally.

Just how? I have to imagine, first what it could really be like if further environmental, political and economic disasters happen, how can I cope as well as be of assistance? How can I be ready for this? Are songs and meditations for self realisation enough? No, not at all, but its a good start. Meditation for the heart and mind first thing in the morning and at the end of the day is an invaluable asset for preparing oneself to deal with the experiences of life (using Baba nam kevalam, is great as a mantra if one doesn't have one's own, which simply means 'everything is an expression of the Supreme').

Secondly, making space for good to come 'into', and 'out' from my life. Remembering to surrender before every significant action, big or small and being open to different perspectives as we don't know what will be the outcome. We make our reality, together and alone!. There's something that I experienced at Wall Street a few months ago will never leave me. Many different groups of concerned people were listening to each other, cooperating and supporting each other. Groups who normally have nothing to do with one another were brought into contact and were working together towards a united cause. It can be hard at first, but what are the alternatives? A greater recession, further social and economic exploitation, more suicides?

I believe that
if we sing, we go high,
if we touch, we can cry;
if we cooperate, we survive;
and if we love, we thrive.