Vraja

Bhakti is the voice of Mahria Potter and the tabla rhythms of Gordon Assadi. Forming in 2000, they have taken their respective knowledge of Indian music and transformed it into a musical style all their own. Vraja, their first CD release captures the wonderful musical chemistry that is the core of their sound. The sounds of Bhakti originate with the folk traditions of Northern India, Pakistan and the Middle East. The melodies are inspired by Sanskrit mantras and Bengali poetry. The tabla drums of India give the rhythmic drive to the music, providing a moving bass and dancing melodic rhythm all it's own. The music ranges from deep trance-like grooves (Krishna pranama and Jaya Radha-Madhava) to upbeat driving folk songs (Gaura-arati and Yashmati) and then to exciting improvisations (Om Namo Shivaya and Shikshastaka). Mahria draws on her experience as a vocalist and the years she lived in India to breathe new life into the sometimes thousands of years old Sanskrit bhajans, mantras and other devotional poetry. Gordon, studying tabla with Vishal Nagar both in Seattle and India, has focused specifically on the folk rhythms of India including bhajan, ghazal and Qawaali styles.