David Newman is a sacred chant master, recording artist, singer/songwriter, best-selling author, and inspirational teacher. David, also known as Durga Das, travels extensively sharing his music, and teachings on the path of love as a vehicle for spiritual awakening.

Biography

Newman's love of music began early when a relative bought him a guitar at age 13.Interview with David Newman from Into the Bliss DVD
/ref> He pursued a BA in music, graduating in 1986 from Bowdoin College in Maine. He performed as a singer-songwriter until 1988 and then worked as a music publisher in Los Angeles from 1988 to 1990. Becoming disenchanted with the business side of music,Yoga Magazine UK, May 2006 issue Newman moved to New York City to study law. During his time at Cardozo Law School, Newman began to study yoga and found himself devoting several hours a day to it, a practice which he found improved his focus and ability to respond to the stresses of his classes. In 1992, less than a month after passing the bar exam and obtaining a J.D., Newman opened a yoga studio, Yoga on Main, in Philadelphia. He studied in the

Viniyoga Tirumalai Krishnamacharya Venkata Desikachar (21 June 1938 – 8 August 2016), better known as T. K. V. Desikachar, was a yoga teacher, son of the pioneer of modern yoga as exercise, Tirumalai Krishnamacharya. The style that he taught was initia ...

tradition, and also explored the teachings of other yoga lineages. He eventually integrated his studies and teaching experience to offer a style of yoga he named ''Inner Fire Yoga''. Over time Newman made the shift to practicing Bhakti Yoga and broadened Yoga on Main's focus from yoga center to a place of spiritual community, with a wide range of course offerings including meditation instruction and kirtan events. Newman found in kirtan a spiritual practice that re-energized his interest in making music, leading to the creation of his first album, Soul Freedom, produced by Kit Thomas and Ben Dowling and released by Inner Fire Music in 2003. In 2004 Newman met New York City producer and mix engineer Frank Wolf. Together they recorded ''Lotus Feet: A Kirtan Revolution''. ''Lotus Feet'' was reviewed on the National Public Radio show ''All Things Considered'' on June 20, 2006. ''Leap of Grace'', Newman's third album, was a recording of an ancient Indian healing prayer called the ''Hanuman Chalisa''. Also produced by Newman and Frank Wolf, ''Leap of Grace'' was released in 2005 on the Pranamaya Music label. Newman and Wolf followed up in 2006 with the CD/DVD set, ''Into the Bliss'', which includes a live recording of a kirtan event and an interview with Newman produced by Jennifer Young. In the fall of 2007, Newman was approached by

Nettwerk Nettwerk Music Group is the umbrella company for Nettwerk Records, Nettwerk Management, and Nettwerk One Publishing. Established in 1984, the Vancouver-based company was created by Nettwerk principals Terry McBride and Mark Jowett as a record ...

Records CEO and founder, Terry McBride, who had worked with Sarah Mclachlan, Avril Lavigne and Barenaked Ladies. A yoga enthusiast, McBride signed Newman to a record deal with a desire to bring kirtan music to a widening audience. McBride also brought on board other chant artists including Krishna Das, Wah,

Jai Uttal Jai Uttal (born June 12, 1951) is an American musician. He is a Grammy-nominated singer and “a pioneer in the world music community with his eclectic East-meets-West sound.” Biography Uttal grew up in New York City and lived in a home filled ...

, Bhagavan Das,

Donna De Lory Donna De Lory is an American singer, dancer and songwriter. Part of a musical family, De Lory has been performing since a young age. Her voice can be heard on albums by Carly Simon, Ray Parker Jr., Kim Carnes, Santana, Martika, Laura Branigan, Be ...

Wade Morissette Wade Imre Morissette (born June 1, 1974) is a Canadian kirtan and indie pop-rock musician. Early life Wade Morissette was born on 1 June 1974 at Riverside Hospital of Ottawa in Ottawa, Ontario, the son of Georgia Mary Ann Feuerstein, a Hunga ...

, Reema Datta and Sean Johnson. With the purpose of releasing inspiring chant music, McBride revived a subsidiary label of Nettwerk called Nutone Music. Newman's fifth album, ''Love Peace Chant'', was released on Nutone in September 2009, and his sixth, ''To Be Home'', was released on Nutone in April 2010. ''To Be Home'' was produced by Newman and three-time Grammy Award-winning producer

Trina Shoemaker Kathryn "Trina" Shoemaker is an American mixer, record producer and sound engineer responsible for producing/engineering and/or mixing records for bands such as Queens of the Stone Age, Sheryl Crow, Emmylou Harris, Something for Kate, Nanci Gri ...

. In 2011 David founded the ''Stay Strong Project'', which released a recording and video featuring prominent chant and yoga luminaries in partnership with

Global Green USA Global Green is the American affiliate of Green Cross International, an international non-governmental organization founded by former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev in 1993 to "foster a global value shift toward a sustainable and secure future."� ...

in support of the Gulf Coast recovery and other environmental and humanitarian concerns. On March 20, 2012, David released his seventh CD entitled ''Stars'' produced by David and Bill Moriarty on White Swan Records. In November 2012, David launched the second ''Stay Strong Project'' release entitled ''You Can Count on Me/Shyam Bolo'' including a video and single featuring David,

, C.C. White & others. All proceeds go to

's Green School's Initiative. In January 2013 White Swan Records released ''ReBliss'', a remix of David's ''Stars'' CD in collaboration with composer, producer, Krishna Venkatesh. On January 14, 2014, David released his ninth CD entitled ''Travel Well'' on Inner Fire Music/White Swan Records. It reached #16 on the iTunes Singer-Songwriter charts. In April 2014, David's book "The Timebound Traveler" was released on Non-Duality Press. It reached #1 on Amazon's New Age/Mysticism best seller list. On April 21, 2015, David released his tenth album entitled ''Love is Awake'' on Inner Fire Music. The project was a collaboration between David and two members of Paul Simon's band: Bassist Bakithi Kumalo and percussionist Jamey Haddad. ''Love is Awake'' reached #1 on the iTunes World Music Charts. On May 4, 2015, David released ''Song for Nepal'' to support the ''

Seva Foundation Seva Foundation is an international non-profit health organization based in Berkeley, California, known for preventing and treating blindness and other visual impairments. It was co-founded in 1978 by Dr. Larry Brilliant, Ram Dass, Wavy Gravy, Ni ...

’s'' Nepal Earthquake relief and rehabilitation fund. On July 31st, 2015 David released his eleventh album entitled ''Acoustic Chant: Ukulele Kirtan Serenades'' on Inner Fire Music. The project was a collaboration between David and songwriter/musician

Eric Bazilian Eric M. Bazilian (born July 21, 1953) is an American singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, arranger and producer. Bazilian is a founding member of the rock band The Hooters. He wrote " One of Us", a song first recorded by Joan Osborne in 19 ...

, and features traditional sanskrit chanting alongside elements of Hawaiian, Appalachian, and American folk music. David partnered with Chapin Coffee to release his artist signature ‘Love is Awake’ fair trade/organic coffee blend on October 8th, 2015. Each bag sold feeds three malnourished Guatemalan children. On October 23rd, 2015 David and White Swan Records released ''Acoustic Chant: Ukulele Kirtan Serenades Songbook and CD'', an educational resource including chord charts, sheet music and mantra translations. On November 1, 2016, David released a single and animated video entitled: "Peace and Love". The project's theme presented a positive and healing message connected to the 2016 US presidential election. In November 2016, David embarked on “The Mantra and Love Outreach Tour” in partnership with Call and Response Foundation, bringing mantras and healing music to addiction recovery facilities, psychiatric centers, nursing homes, institutions for autistic children, cerebral palsy, and homeless women and their children. In 2017, David collaborated with ambient composer Michael Reiley McDermott on ''Lakshmi's Gifts'', a groundbreaking recording combining Sanskrit mantras with binaural beats and sound healing technology. The EP was released under the band name "Binaural Mantras." In September 2017, David, along with producer/director Nick Demos ("Memphis" and "Come from Away"), and playwright Darrah Cloud, premiered the first reading of the musical "American Siddhartha" in NYC. David composed the music for this musical adaptation of the

Herman Hesse Hermann Karl Hesse (; 2 July 1877 – 9 August 1962) was a German-Swiss poet, novelist, and painter. His best-known works include ''Demian'', '' Steppenwolf'', '' Siddhartha'', and ''The Glass Bead Game'', each of which explores an individual's ...

book "Siddhartha." In April, 2018, David released 'The Beloveds' album, a band project along with multi instrumentalist Philippo Franchini. On October 11, 2019, David released the single "Love Wins" donating 50% of profits for 2019 to KIND (

Kids in Need of Defense Angelina Jolie (; born Angelina Jolie Voight; June 4, 1975) is an American actress, filmmaker, humanitarian and former Special Envoy to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees. The recipient of numerous accolades, including an Academy Award ...

). On April 10, 2020, David released the single "Love Heals All Wounds" in collaboration with Katie Wise & Bhakti Explosion. On September 18, 2020, David released the single "Love Wins (2020 Freedom Dance)" in collaboration with Srikala and Brenda McMorrow, with proceeds for 2020 offered to ''

Equal Justice Initiative The Equal Justice Initiative (EJI) is a non-profit organization, based in Montgomery, Alabama, that provides legal representation to prisoners who may have been wrongly convicted of crimes, poor prisoners without effective representation, and othe ...

Musical style

David Newman's music embodies a devotional mysticism, distinctive musicality, and poetic intimacy, blending his craft as a singer-songwriter with his deep study and immersion into the ancient healing mantra tradition of the East. He incorporates a wide range of musical and lyrical elements and explores a vast palette of progressive influences from around the world. “David Newman is reminiscent of George Harrison, Dylan and Paul Simon when they are in Soul mode.” - LA Yoga Magazine. “At David Newman’s concert, the event’s volume knob seemed to go from low-level joy to full-on bliss, the kind you feel after climbing a gorgeous mountain or ending a tough run on a strong sprint. Strangers hugged and danced wildly.” - The Washington Post David Newman Musi
official website
/ref>

Discography

* ''Soul Freedom'' (2003) Inner Fire Music, Produced by Kit Thomas and Ben Dowling * ''Leap of Grace: The Hanuman Chalisa'' (2005) Pranamaya Music, Produced by David Newman and Frank Wolf * ''Lotus Feet: A Kirtan Revolution'' (2005) Inner Fire Music, Produced by Frank Wolf * ''Into the Bliss: A Kirtan Experience'' (CD/DVD) (2006) Inner Fire Music / Divine Light Pictures, CD Produced by Frank Wolf and David Newman, DVD Produced and Directed by Jennifer Young * ''Love Peace Chant'' (2008) Nutone Music / Nettwerk Records, Produced by Frank Wolf and David Newman * ''To Be Home'' (2010) Nutone Music / Nettwerk Records, Produced by

and David Newman * Stay Strong (single and video) (2011), ''The Stay Strong Project'', Nutone Music / Nettwerk Records, David Newman and Various Artists * ''Stars'' (2012) White Swan Records, Produced by David Newman and Bill Moriarty * ''You Can Count on Me/Shyam Bolo'' (single and video) (2012), ''The Stay Strong Project'', David Newman Music, David Newman and Various Artists * ''ReBliss'' (2013) White Swan Records, David Newman and Krishna Venkatesh. Produced by David Newman, Krishna Venkatesh and Bill Moriarty * ''Travel Well'' (2014) Inner Fire Music/White Swan Records. Produced by David Newman, Philippo Franchini, Frank Wolf, Mira, and Bill Moriarty * ''Love is Awake'' (2015) Inner Fire Music. Produced by David Newman, Tom Spiker and Philippo Franchini * ''Song for Nepal'' (single) (2015), Featuring

and Mira, Inner Fire Music * ''Acoustic Chant: Ukulele Kirtan Serenades'' (2015) Inner Fire Music. Produced by

and David Newman * ''Acoustic Chant: Ukulele Kirtan Serenades Songbook & CD'' (2015) White Swan Records * ''Peace and Love'' (single and video) (2016) Inner Fire Music * ''Lakshmi's Gifts'' (EP) (2017). Binaural Mantras. White Swan Records * ''The Beloveds: David Newman and Philippo Franchini'' (2018) Inner Fire Music * ''Love Wins'' (single) (2019) Inner Fire Music * ''Love Heals All Wounds'' (single) (2020) White Swan Records * ''Love Wins (2020 Freedom Dance)'' (single) (2020) Inner Fire Music David Newman has also authored compositions appearing on the following releases: * “He Ma Durga”, ''The Lover and the Beloved'' (2004) Anja Music, Recorded by

, Written by David Newman,

and Jeremy Toback * "Bathe in these Waters", ''Sanctuary'' (2009) Nettwerk Records/Nutone Music, Recorded by

, Written by David Newman * "Guru Om", ''Sanctuary'' (2009) Nettwerk Records/Nutone Music, Recorded by

, Written by David Newman and

* "My Friend", ''A Living Prayer'' (2006) Inner Fire Music, Recorded by Mira, Written by David Newman * "From Sita with Love", ''A Living Prayer'' (2006) Inner Fire Music, Recorded by Mira, Music by David Newman * "Ma Amriteshwari", ''A Living Prayer'' (2006) Inner Fire Music, Recorded by Mira, Music by David Newman * "By Your Side/Jaya Gurudev", ''Ben Leinbach Presents Sangha'' (2011) White Swan Records, Recorded by Ben Leinbach and David Newman * "The Unchanging", ''The Unchanging'' (2013) De Lory Music, Recorded by

, Written by David Newman and

Bibliography

* ''Merging with Grace: A Journey from the Intimate to the Infinite, The Practice of Inner Fire Meditation'' (2006) Inner Fire Publications * ''The Timebound Traveler: How My Journey as a Seeker Came to an End'' (April 30, 2014) Non-Duality Press

References

Media