Johannes Linstead
Encyclopedia
Johannes Linstead is an award-winning Canadian
guitarist
and instrumentalist that fuses virtuoso Spanish-style guitar with Afro-Cuban, Middle Eastern, and Latin American percussion and instrumentation. In 2010, Linstead was named "World Artist of the Year" in the T.O.M.A Awards (The Ontario Music Awards), was the recipient of "Best World Album" and "Best Instrumental Album - Acoustic" in the ZMR Awards, and signed an Influential Artist endorsement deal with the Yamaha Corporation of America. Further accolades include being named "Guitarist of the Year" in the prestigious Canadian Smooth Jazz Awards (2007), two NAR Lifestyle Music Awards, a JUNO nomination, and others.
Johannes Linstead began studying guitar at the age of eight, when he was given a guitar for his birthday. As he progressed, he naturally gravitated to the classical guitar, as that was the only music he was exposed to as a child. However, in his teens he also developed a love for other styles, such as rock, flamenco, and jazz. In high school he joined the school's jazz band and won the "Musician of the Year" award - the first in a long list of awards and recognitions he has since earned.
Further influences in his music come from his journeys across the globe, including India, Bahrain, Spain, Cuba, Mexico, and at least two dozen others.
Having studied Kundalini yoga for many years, Johannes was bestowed the name Seva Singh or "Lion of Devotional Service" by Kundalini yoga master Yogi Bhajan. The name Sevara is derived from "Seva" meaning devotional service, and "Ra", the sun aspect which corresponds to his astrological sign. Having become a certified Kundalini Yoga instructor, he teaches whenever his tour schedule permits.
In the winter of 2006, Johannes founded the Divine Earth Organization, an online humanitarian community where members post information about spirituality, health, and world politics. The philosophy of Divine Earth is that in order to attain a happier and healthy world we must first understand what substandard conditions exist that undermine the individual's ability to find inner-peace.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
and instrumentalist that fuses virtuoso Spanish-style guitar with Afro-Cuban, Middle Eastern, and Latin American percussion and instrumentation. In 2010, Linstead was named "World Artist of the Year" in the T.O.M.A Awards (The Ontario Music Awards), was the recipient of "Best World Album" and "Best Instrumental Album - Acoustic" in the ZMR Awards, and signed an Influential Artist endorsement deal with the Yamaha Corporation of America. Further accolades include being named "Guitarist of the Year" in the prestigious Canadian Smooth Jazz Awards (2007), two NAR Lifestyle Music Awards, a JUNO nomination, and others.
Johannes Linstead began studying guitar at the age of eight, when he was given a guitar for his birthday. As he progressed, he naturally gravitated to the classical guitar, as that was the only music he was exposed to as a child. However, in his teens he also developed a love for other styles, such as rock, flamenco, and jazz. In high school he joined the school's jazz band and won the "Musician of the Year" award - the first in a long list of awards and recognitions he has since earned.
Further influences in his music come from his journeys across the globe, including India, Bahrain, Spain, Cuba, Mexico, and at least two dozen others.
Having studied Kundalini yoga for many years, Johannes was bestowed the name Seva Singh or "Lion of Devotional Service" by Kundalini yoga master Yogi Bhajan. The name Sevara is derived from "Seva" meaning devotional service, and "Ra", the sun aspect which corresponds to his astrological sign. Having become a certified Kundalini Yoga instructor, he teaches whenever his tour schedule permits.
In the winter of 2006, Johannes founded the Divine Earth Organization, an online humanitarian community where members post information about spirituality, health, and world politics. The philosophy of Divine Earth is that in order to attain a happier and healthy world we must first understand what substandard conditions exist that undermine the individual's ability to find inner-peace.
Selected recordings
- Mistico (2009) #1 on eMusic.com World Music and Jazz/Blues charts; winner of "Best World Album" and "Best Instrumental Album - Acoustic" in the ZMR Awards,
- Encanto (2007) ranked #6 on Billboard's New Age Chart, 3 nominations in the NAR Lifestyle Music awards, nominated "Best Latin Album" in the IAP Awards.
- Cafe Tropical (2006) ranked #4 on Billboard's New Age chart, #1 on eMusic.com World Music chart, winner "Best Music" from Best Magazine, JUNO nominated for "Best Instrumental Album".
- Mediterranea (2004), ranked in the Top Ten on Billboard's New Age chart, reaching the #6 position and won "Best World Album" in the NAR Lifestyle Music Awards.
- Zabuca (2003), ranked Top Ten, and charted for 34 weeks. The song "Eleni" from this album was heard as part of Switzerland'sSwitzerlandSwitzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
Stéphane Lambiel'sStéphane LambielStéphane Lambiel is a Swiss figure skater and a choreographer. He is a two-time World Champion, the 2006 Olympic silver medalist, a two-time Grand Prix Champion and a nine-time Swiss national champion...
performance in the 2004 World Figure Skating ChampionshipsWorld Figure Skating ChampionshipsThe World Figure Skating Championships is an annual figure skating competition sanctioned by the International Skating Union in which elite figure skaters compete for the title of World Champion...
. - Guitarra del Fuego (2002) was named "Best Contemporary World Album" by NAV Magazine, charting on Billboard for 36 weeks.
- Kiss the Earth (2000)
- Sol Luna Tierra (1999)