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March/April 2004 Living Now
An Interview with Snatam Kaur

Interview by Connie Hill

Snatam Kaur has two CD's Prem and Shanti. Her chanting is soothing and tender, and lifts you to a higher level helping you feel you are one with the great source of pure love!

CH: Snatam, would you start by telling me how you got into chanting?
SK: I was born into a Sikh family. My parents became Sikhs very shortly after I was born, so chanting and yoga were part of my life from the beginning. My father played tablas and my mother sang in the Sikh style of music called Kirtan. We traveled to India when I was about seven and subsequently I have taken three trips to India. The trips have been an incredible experience for me because I learned the roots of our practice and was exposed to incredible musicians.
There were two things that were pivotal for me. First, my father organized some social change workshops for young people so they could gain a sense of self-confidence and experience things like recycling or rain forest awareness or social action and changes within their local communities. It was one of those loving things that a father does when he wants to expose you to something. We had fourteen teenagers over for about ten workshops a year. I was really inspired by the other teenagers and I started to write songs. We also had gatherings in the evening and sang together. It was really empowering to connect that way. People would ask me to sing and chant and I'd do mostly English songs but once in awhile some of the chants from the Sikh religion, and they liked what I did. That really influenced me.
Second, my spiritual teacher, Yogi Bhajan, organized International Peace Prayer Day in New Mexico. So as I was growing up I attended these gatherings as a part of our regular summer solstice celebrations. Yogi Bhajan invited leaders of many different religions, Jewish, Islamic, Christian and Navaho, especially, because of the area in New Mexico.

CH: What a powerful gathering!
SK: Yes it was and by some great miracle I was asked to sing. So I sang a song that I had written for one of my father's workshops and I organized about 80 young people to sing with me. I was about 18 at the time. Yogi Bhajan was so touched, he cried. It was a beautiful moment for me. And year after year I been asked to come back and sing. So needless to say I realized that chanting and music are my path.
Another pivotal thing for me was September 11th. Eugene is a wonderful community but Sikhs were definitely targeted. People just misunderstood who we were. So some of us from my community organized a regular interfaith service that still takes place the 11th of each month. I like to share sacred music in a way that brings peace and a sense of inner joy and it opens people of different faiths to sharing with each other. I can talk about spirituality and share with people this gift of music and then what ever happens from there is God's will.

CH: Why do you chant?
SK: It's really to tune into the power and energy of the mantra, to tap into that energy to raise our own awareness and allow our entire mind and body to be cleansed. Chanting actually reverberates in your body and mind throughout the day. To me chanting is very physically therapeutic. It feels like this energy is alive.

CH. Have you done other types of music?
SK: I appreciate many different types of music and I recognize that many great musicians tune into the same space. The reason I'm so much into chanting is that it's an easy way to share my absolute ecstasy for God with others. I find that when we have our chanting concerts we get to that place, by the blessing of the mantra, which is ancient in itself. People just tune in and hear so much more. It's not about me the musician or the performer; it's about me the conductor and how well I can conduct that energy which is just meant to serve people who are there. I love that relationship and I enjoy it not from a place of ego or personality.

CH: Is your headdress Sikh?
SK: Yes. It helps me remember who I am. My spiritual practice is in the morning, but I carry the consciousness throughout the day. My hair is combed and coiled on top of my head and it allows the kundalini energy to remain intact and uplifted all day.
I want to say that I love Portland; it has a great Sikh community, a great yoga center and it's such a great town.

Hear Snatam Kaur in concert on Saturday, March 27th. See the Shanti Om Experience ad in this issue for details.
She will also be offering a workshop on Transformational Healing Through Sacred Sound Current at New Renaissance Bookshop on Sunday, March 28, 1:30-5 pm. Call 503-224-4929 or visit www.newrenbooks.com to register.

Connie Hill works with event at New Renaissance Bookshop and is a local astrologer. She can be reached at 971-244-0567 ext. 2 or gmnite@yahoo.com.