Wah!
Encyclopedia
Wah! is a U.S. band performing and creating music for the New Age
and yoga
market. The female lead singer Wah! (whose legal name is Wah Devi) and the band’s name are synonymous.
Wah!’s mystical relaxation music CD, Savasana, has sold over 50,000 units worldwide and continues to draw attention in the yoga community and beyond. Wah!’s music is often compared to that of Sade, Zero7 and India Arie, but her latest releases (such as Maa) reflect the gritty dance grooves of her live performances.
/Conservatory. Wah! traveled to Ghana
and Nigeria
with the Philadelphia-based Arthur Hall Afro-American Dance Ensemble. She was enrolled at the University of Ghana for a year of study at their African Dance
and Music program but a government coup cut short her stay.
When she returned to the U.S., Wah! finished her performing arts degree at Oberlin and moved to New York City, where she danced and choreographed (most notably for the Angela Caponigro Dance Company), composed and performed music, and tried to cultivate the sense of community she had found in Africa. Wah! joined an ashram and lived with 10 other yoga enthusiasts in Brooklyn, NYC. She spent 15 years there and then moved to New Mexico to serve the mission of its charismatic leader, Yogi Bhajan. After three years, the leader’s involvement in corruption and scandal caused her to separate from the group and she joined Amma
(also known as Mātā Amṛtānandamayī Devī ) shortly thereafter. Wah! maintained a private and public association with Amma, attending her meditation
programs and performing concerts to benefit her charitable activities.
Wah! took the rudiments of classical Indian music she had learned at Oberlin and played for her housemates in the ashram during the 1980s, mimicking North Indian classical and folk styles. Early albums (Guruka Shabad, Japji Sahib Vol I-III, and a children’s yoga product Child’s Play: Affirmations for Children to Sing and Dramatize) reflect her eclectic musical education.
In 1997, the Wah! Music label was born. After several years of performing and experimentation, Wah! moved with her husband and young daughter to Manhattan Beach
and began making CDs professionally. Her early performances in Los Angeles
were most notably for Hole’s front woman Courtney Love
. From 1999-2002, Wah! worked for Triloka Records, and managed vocalist Krishna Das
, booking tours and performing with him on violin and bass. She subsequently returned to her own career and built a successful following with CD releases Savasana, Hidden in the Name, Jai Jai Jai. She also wrote a book, compiling her teachings in yoga and yogic philosophy called Dedicating Your Life to Spirit.
Wah! was featured on the cover of Yoga+ magazine in September 2008. Her music was licensed by Nutone Records (Yoga Revolution, Love Holding Love), Putumayo (Yoga), Sounds True (Best of Wah'! , Kirtan Nation), Intentcity (Buddha Café Vol 2), White Swan Music (Jai Ma White Swan Yoga Masters), Gaiam (Women’s Yoga Chants), as well as various international companies (Music Mosaic, Music Brokers Argentina, Spirit Yoga Berlin, U.K. Tara Lee).
New Age
The New Age movement is a Western spiritual movement that developed in the second half of the 20th century. Its central precepts have been described as "drawing on both Eastern and Western spiritual and metaphysical traditions and then infusing them with influences from self-help and motivational...
and yoga
Yoga
Yoga is a physical, mental, and spiritual discipline, originating in ancient India. The goal of yoga, or of the person practicing yoga, is the attainment of a state of perfect spiritual insight and tranquility while meditating on Supersoul...
market. The female lead singer Wah! (whose legal name is Wah Devi) and the band’s name are synonymous.
Wah!’s mystical relaxation music CD, Savasana, has sold over 50,000 units worldwide and continues to draw attention in the yoga community and beyond. Wah!’s music is often compared to that of Sade, Zero7 and India Arie, but her latest releases (such as Maa) reflect the gritty dance grooves of her live performances.
Biography
Born to a professor father and a professional violinist mother, Wah! grew up in a musical and intellectually stimulating environment. She was a musician, singer, dancer, and conservatory student when she attended Oberlin CollegeOberlin College
Oberlin College is a private liberal arts college in Oberlin, Ohio, noteworthy for having been the first American institution of higher learning to regularly admit female and black students. Connected to the college is the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, the oldest continuously operating...
/Conservatory. Wah! traveled to Ghana
Ghana
Ghana , officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south...
and Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
with the Philadelphia-based Arthur Hall Afro-American Dance Ensemble. She was enrolled at the University of Ghana for a year of study at their African Dance
African dance
African dance refers mainly to the dance of Sub-Saharan Africa, and more appropriately African dances because of the many cultural differences in musical and movement styles...
and Music program but a government coup cut short her stay.
When she returned to the U.S., Wah! finished her performing arts degree at Oberlin and moved to New York City, where she danced and choreographed (most notably for the Angela Caponigro Dance Company), composed and performed music, and tried to cultivate the sense of community she had found in Africa. Wah! joined an ashram and lived with 10 other yoga enthusiasts in Brooklyn, NYC. She spent 15 years there and then moved to New Mexico to serve the mission of its charismatic leader, Yogi Bhajan. After three years, the leader’s involvement in corruption and scandal caused her to separate from the group and she joined Amma
Amma
Amma or AMMA may refer to:As acronym*Association of Malayalam Movie Artists*All Malaysia Malayalee Association*American Medical Marijuana AssociationPeople...
(also known as Mātā Amṛtānandamayī Devī ) shortly thereafter. Wah! maintained a private and public association with Amma, attending her meditation
Meditation
Meditation is any form of a family of practices in which practitioners train their minds or self-induce a mode of consciousness to realize some benefit....
programs and performing concerts to benefit her charitable activities.
Wah! took the rudiments of classical Indian music she had learned at Oberlin and played for her housemates in the ashram during the 1980s, mimicking North Indian classical and folk styles. Early albums (Guruka Shabad, Japji Sahib Vol I-III, and a children’s yoga product Child’s Play: Affirmations for Children to Sing and Dramatize) reflect her eclectic musical education.
In 1997, the Wah! Music label was born. After several years of performing and experimentation, Wah! moved with her husband and young daughter to Manhattan Beach
Manhattan Beach
Manhattan Beach may refer to:PlacesIn the United States:* Manhattan Beach, California* Manhattan Beach, Minnesota* Manhattan Beach, Brooklyn, New York...
and began making CDs professionally. Her early performances in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
were most notably for Hole’s front woman Courtney Love
Courtney Love
Courtney Michelle Love is an American rock musician. Love is the lead vocalist, lyricist, and rhythm guitarist for alternative rock band Hole, which she formed in 1989, and is an actress who has moved from bit parts in Alex Cox films to significant and acclaimed roles in The People vs...
. From 1999-2002, Wah! worked for Triloka Records, and managed vocalist Krishna Das
Krishna Das
Krishna Das is a U.S. vocalist known for his performances of Indian devotional music called kirtan . With eight albums released since 1996, Das is perhaps the best known U.S...
, booking tours and performing with him on violin and bass. She subsequently returned to her own career and built a successful following with CD releases Savasana, Hidden in the Name, Jai Jai Jai. She also wrote a book, compiling her teachings in yoga and yogic philosophy called Dedicating Your Life to Spirit.
Wah! was featured on the cover of Yoga+ magazine in September 2008. Her music was licensed by Nutone Records (Yoga Revolution, Love Holding Love), Putumayo (Yoga), Sounds True (Best of Wah'! , Kirtan Nation), Intentcity (Buddha Café Vol 2), White Swan Music (Jai Ma White Swan Yoga Masters), Gaiam (Women’s Yoga Chants), as well as various international companies (Music Mosaic, Music Brokers Argentina, Spirit Yoga Berlin, U.K. Tara Lee).
Discography
Studio Albums- 1984 Japji Sahib (Self-published)
- 1996 Child’s Play (Cherdi Kala Music)
- 1997 Chanting with Wah! (Wah! Music)
- 1998 Transformation (Wah! Music)
- 1999 CD Krishna (Wah! Music)
- 2001 Hidden in the Name (Wah! Music)
- 2001 Savasana (Wah! Music)
- 2002 Opium (Wah! Music)
- 2003 Jai Jai Jai (Wah! Music)
- 2004 Lokaha (Wah! Music)
- 2005 Unplugged (Wah! Music)
- 2006 Savasana*2 (Wah! Music)
- 2006 Embrace (Wah! Music)
- 2006 Best of Wah! (Sounds True)
- 2008 Love Holding Love (Nutone Music)
- 2010 Maa (Wah! Music)
- 2012 Loops N Grooves (Wah! Music)