Seán Johnson And The Wild Lotus Band: News

Sean, Alvin, and Gwendolyn finished a 6 month stint recording their new album "Devaloka". Devaloka means "world of radiant beings". The album will be released in September on NETTWERK/NUTONE Music. Over the last nine months, NUTONE has released great albums by Krishna Das, Jai Uttal, Bhagavan Das, Wah!, David Newman, Donna DeLory, Wade Morrisette, and Reema Datta. We encourage you to support these fellow chant artists by purchasing their latest albums. We'll be announcing cd release dates for DEVALOKA soon!

HERE'S AN UPDATE ON SEAN AND THE WILD LOTUS BAND'S 2009 TOUR SCHEDULE:

MARCH: Northeast

MAY: Northern California and Pacific Northwest

JUNE/JULY: Southeast, Northeast, and New England

SEPTEMBER: Bhakti Fest at Joshua Tree

OCTOBER: CD Release Tour: Ojai Yoga Crib, Southern and Northern California

Sean and the band will be in the recording studio in January and February recording their new album on NUTONE Records. They'll be back on the road again for a northeast tour in March. See the calender for more details.

We are excited and proud to share the news that we have been signed to Nettwerk/Nutone Records. Music industry innovator Terry McBride, CEO of Nettwerk Music group (home of Sarah McLaughlin, and management for Avril Lavigne, Barenaked Ladies, and many more) and dedicated Yoga practitioner, is set to combine his two principle passions to create the "re-birth" of NUTONE MUSIC. Encompassing music from the realm of devotional chant, world beat and beyond, NUTONE is dedicated to the development of a new genre within today's musical landscape.Terry, creator of the Lilith Fair, is the visionary behind the label and is seeking to bring the inspiration of kirtan to a wider audience.

McBride explains, "Nutone's mission is to seek out what we feel is the best music that fits into the modern day Yoga studio, various wellness practices and everday enjoyment of music. With many descriptions from World music to Chant to New Age to Mantra music, Nutone will demystify and clarify for listeners a brand that will be consistent in delivering quality albums."

"To fulfill this goal, Nutone has built the most impressive roster of spiritual musicians in the music industry today. The newest members of the Nutone family include Krishna Das, Wah!, David Newman, Wade Imre Morisette, and Reema Datta, Upcoming releases include Jai Uttal, Bhagavan Das, Donna DeLory and Sean Johnson and the Wild Lotus Band. Albums are available at all major outlets."

For more on the label's artist, music samples and more, visit www.nutonemusic.com.

Read a wonderful article in Yoga Plus Magazine about Terry and his vision for kirtan titled "Could Chant Top The Charts?"

Visit the Nutone Music Store on Amazon.

Check out an interview with Sean about the joy of kirtan with Kasey, founder of YogaMates.com at:
http://www.yogamates.com/tv/?v=48BF0DD9A5F1C

National yoga magazine Yoga Plus Joyful Living featured a cover story called "Yoga Rock Stars" featuring Krishna Das, Jai Uttal, Deva Prema and Mitten, and Wah!. Sean was featured at the top of a list of up and coming chant artists. Read the text version of the article at http://www.himalayaninstitute.org/yogaplus/Article.aspx?id=3095

A wonderful book on kirtan by Steven Rosen has just been published. "The Yoga Of Kirtan" explores the history, musical dimensions, and emotional content of sacred chant. Through a series of intimate conversations, this volume brings its readers into the company of present-day kirtan masters, such as Krishna Das, Jai Uttal, Vaiyasaki, Ragani, David Newman, and many others. Their insights reveal the profundity and joy experienced in this ecstatic form of yoga. Includes 21 interviews, 504 pages. Also includes a full length audio CD with kirtan performances by various interviewees. Over 70 minutes of music.

Ordering information: US $29.95
Online orders at:
www.yogaofkirtan.com or e-mail info@yogaofkirtan.com

Or send check or money order payable to: FOLK Books, PO Box 108, Nyack, NY 10960, U.S.A.

Sean is the featured yoga teacher in this month's yoga playlist in Yoga Journal sharing world music tunes great for a vinyasa class as well as some local New Orleans favorites like The Meters and The Dirty Dozen Brass Band. To see the article, visit
www.yogajournal.com/multimedia/playlists/

Sean and the band are the featured artist on Yogamates.com this month. Visit yogamates.com and click on the music link.

Sean and The Band's latest cd "Calling The Spirits has received rave reviews in Yoga Journal, Yoga Chicago, Aura Magazine, Music Design In Review, LA Yoga Magazine, and more. To see the reviews visit www.seanjohnsonkirtan.com/press.html

Sean was named one of 40 top acheivers under 40 making a significant contribution to New Orleans in Gambit Weekly's annual 40 Under 40 feature. To read the profile on Sean visit www.bestofneworleans.com/dispatch/2007-11-06/cover_story.php

Sean was recently interviewed by the author of "Yoga and The Path of the Urban Mystic" and San Francisco-based yoga teacher Darren Main for an I-Pod audio-cast. The interview titled "Healing New Orleans With Yoga" consists of questions about the post-Katrina yoga scene in New Orleans, Sean's kirtan music projects, touring and more. To listen to the interview click on http://darrenmain.libsyn.com/