Booking
Keith Helke (Pavan Kumar): keith@raisingtheconsciousness.com
612-741-4982
612-741-4982
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.
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.
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Video
Listen: Musical Compilation
Kind Words
"The initial “Om” on their premier release is astonishingly strong and moving. Followed by the drone of the tampura into a lovely aarti (devotional song), Sitara and Kalyani are powerful chanters."
~Yoga Chicago
“Sitara and Kalyani with Pavan Kumar share their fresh, earthy brand of Kirtan in a stirring debut album. Tight drum grooves and soulful guitar work provide an earthy texture over which compelling melodies and rich, dignified harmonies shimmy and soar. You won’t want to miss the playful romping and deep longing this group shares in person and on CD.”
~Michael H. Cohen, Dattatreya Kirtan Institute founder
"This debut album by Sitara & Kalyani with Pavan Kumar offers a heartfelt compilation of beautiful kirtan songs. This group captures these sacred chants with a purity and heartfelt energy that permeates their entire recording, and their production is authentic and unpretentious. The sweetness of their instrumental textures and the sincerity of their vocals will surely capture your heart and soul.” ~Ragani
"From a compositional standpoint, your group employs clean, uplifting harmonies (I particularly love your approach to Aarti -- in fact, I did a puja too it and had a lot of fun). Your music can be enjoyed both casually and employed in sadhana; generally opposite ends of the spectrum which are difficult to combine. The performance is extremely tight as well. The two singers blend well yet create an effect similar to parallel harmony adding a little flavor to the sound. Congratulations on what I hope will be only the first in a line of successful albums." ~Ted; listener from Dallas
~Yoga Chicago
“Sitara and Kalyani with Pavan Kumar share their fresh, earthy brand of Kirtan in a stirring debut album. Tight drum grooves and soulful guitar work provide an earthy texture over which compelling melodies and rich, dignified harmonies shimmy and soar. You won’t want to miss the playful romping and deep longing this group shares in person and on CD.”
~Michael H. Cohen, Dattatreya Kirtan Institute founder
"This debut album by Sitara & Kalyani with Pavan Kumar offers a heartfelt compilation of beautiful kirtan songs. This group captures these sacred chants with a purity and heartfelt energy that permeates their entire recording, and their production is authentic and unpretentious. The sweetness of their instrumental textures and the sincerity of their vocals will surely capture your heart and soul.” ~Ragani
"From a compositional standpoint, your group employs clean, uplifting harmonies (I particularly love your approach to Aarti -- in fact, I did a puja too it and had a lot of fun). Your music can be enjoyed both casually and employed in sadhana; generally opposite ends of the spectrum which are difficult to combine. The performance is extremely tight as well. The two singers blend well yet create an effect similar to parallel harmony adding a little flavor to the sound. Congratulations on what I hope will be only the first in a line of successful albums." ~Ted; listener from Dallas
Download One Sheet
Download Workshop Offerings
Articles, etc.
The Beatles, Bhakti Fest Midwest and The “Western Ear,” Part 2; Yoga Chicago 2013
Music Review; YogaChicago 2013
New Music for 2013; Edge Magazine 2013
Fourth Annual Twin Cities Kirtan Festival; Edge Magazine 2013
End of the World? Chant Louder; Where's the Bhav; Bhakti Beat 2012
Bhakti Yoga, the Yoga of Devotion, and Kirtan; Edge Magazine 2012
Where's the Bhav; Bhakti Beat 2012
Soul Sisters: Raising the Consciousness; Edge Magazine 2010
Soul Sisters: Raising the Consciousness Part II; Edge Magazine 2010
First Twin Cities Kirtan Festival Announced; Edge Magazine 2010
Kirtan Concert with Dave Stringer; Edge Magazine 2010
Music Review; YogaChicago 2013
New Music for 2013; Edge Magazine 2013
Fourth Annual Twin Cities Kirtan Festival; Edge Magazine 2013
End of the World? Chant Louder; Where's the Bhav; Bhakti Beat 2012
Bhakti Yoga, the Yoga of Devotion, and Kirtan; Edge Magazine 2012
Where's the Bhav; Bhakti Beat 2012
Soul Sisters: Raising the Consciousness; Edge Magazine 2010
Soul Sisters: Raising the Consciousness Part II; Edge Magazine 2010
First Twin Cities Kirtan Festival Announced; Edge Magazine 2010
Kirtan Concert with Dave Stringer; Edge Magazine 2010
