About the Band
Susan Shehata (Sitara), Colleen Buckman (Kalyani) and Keith Helke (Pavan Kumar), combine decades of musical expertise and theatrical performance experience, as well as a passion for yogic traditions, to create an accessible and uplifting kirtan.
Sitara & Kalyani with Pavan Kumar have led Kirtan at many events including: Bhakti Fest Midwest, The Twin Cities Kirtan Festival, The Twin Cites Yoga Festival, the Varsity Theatre, Project Earth, Harvest Fest, Bella Madre and Shangri La music festivals, as well as yoga studios and wellness centers across the country.
They have also had the pleasure of playing with kirtan greats Dave Stringer, Brenda McMorrow and Suzanne Sterling, as well as opening for Trevor Hall and Grammy Award winning artist, Chris Berry.
As recording artists, the band released their first collective Kirtan album, self titled Sitara & Kalyani with Pavan Kumar, and Kalyani has recently released her second solo album, Fertile Ground.
Sitara & Kalyani with Pavan Kumar have led Kirtan at many events including: Bhakti Fest Midwest, The Twin Cities Kirtan Festival, The Twin Cites Yoga Festival, the Varsity Theatre, Project Earth, Harvest Fest, Bella Madre and Shangri La music festivals, as well as yoga studios and wellness centers across the country.
They have also had the pleasure of playing with kirtan greats Dave Stringer, Brenda McMorrow and Suzanne Sterling, as well as opening for Trevor Hall and Grammy Award winning artist, Chris Berry.
As recording artists, the band released their first collective Kirtan album, self titled Sitara & Kalyani with Pavan Kumar, and Kalyani has recently released her second solo album, Fertile Ground.
Sitara (Susan Shehata)
Lead Vocals, Harmonium
Susan Shehata, also known as The Space Guru™, is an Educator, Guide and Performing Artist, who specializes in helping people identify and release hidden obstacles that hold them back from the life they envision. She does that through Space Consultations, Holistic Wellness Services and through writing, speaking and performing. Susan’s writing has appeared in The Huffington Post and Elephant Journal, and her column, The Space Guru™, has appeared in the Edge Magazine and Southwest Journal. She is also the creator of The Fabulous Paper Purge, a free online program that was featured on Fox News and KARE11, and has supported over 1000 participants. As a musician, Susan focuses on musical theatre and kirtan (yogic chant music) and she has just released her first kirtan album with her band, Sitara & Kalyani with Pavan-Kumar. Her life’s mission is to use her voice as a vocalist, writer, speaker and healer to assist in global transformation. www.SusanShehata.com
Kalyani (Colleen Buckman)
Lead Vocals, Guitar
Colleen Buckman, (Kalyani), is an internationally touring American Singer/Songwriter and World Folk Musician based out of Minneapolis, MN. As a songwriter, producer and composer, Colleen shines with her powerful voice, potent lyrics and authentic sense of musicality. Her debut album, Sometimes in the Sun, put her on the map as a real songstress in 2007. In 2008, she founded Fair Trade Om and Awaken The Earth Records. In 2012, Sitara and Kalyani with Pavan Kumar released their debut self-titled album. (www.sitaraandkalyani.com). She just released Fertile Ground, a nineteen track album featuring artists Dave Stringer and Mark Murphy of Wookiefoot. This album is a union of world folk music and ancient chants woven into a funky and melodic landscape. Kalyani has played Shangri-la, Bhaktifest Midwest, Project Earth, Milwaukee Kirtan Festival, Minneapolis Yoga Conference, Common Grounds Yoga and Music Festival and Bali Spirit Fest. Colleen has opened for/or shared the stage with Trevor Hall, Nahko and Medicine for the People, Wookiefoot, Chris Berry, Dave Stringer and Brenda McMorrow. Kalyani currently performs, tours and teaches workshops and retreats internationally. Kalyani has toured all over the United States and various parts of the world.
Pavan Kumar (Keith Helke)
Bass
Keith is a licensed contractor, as well as a producer and musician, with an eclectic background and a wealth of knowledge that he brings to his work. Keith picked up his first guitar at the age of 16, and has recently re-focused his attention on music, playing with several small bands in the Twin Cities. Keith (Pavan-Kumar) just released his first kirtan album with his band, Sitara & Kalyani with Pavan-Kumar. Keith is currently the co-owner of Shift Home & Lifestyle; a residential remodeling business. Keith is also an associate producer with Raising the Consciousness, which has produced a radio show by the same name, produced the Twin Cities Kirtan Festival, and has also produced the music for the Twin Cities Yoga Festival, and concerts with performers like Deva Premal and Miten, Dave Stringer and Medicine for the People.