Zingaia is a musical group in the genres of contemporary world music,

new-age music New-age is a genre of music intended to create artistic inspiration, relaxation technique, relaxation, and optimism. It is used by listeners for yoga, massage, meditation, and reading as a method of stress management to bring about a state of ecs ...

and

Ethnic electronica Ethnic electronica (also known as ethnotronica, ethno electronica or ethno techno) is a broad category of electronic music, where artists combine elements of electronic and world music. The music is primarily rooted in local music traditions and ...

. They have released three albums and have appeared on six compilations, including the Billboard charting album ''Buddha-Lounge 3''. Their music includes multi-cultural instrumentation, vocals, hand-drums and other percussion. Popular themes are

mythology Myth is a folklore genre consisting of narratives that play a fundamental role in a society, such as foundational tales or origin myths. Since "myth" is widely used to imply that a story is not objectively true, the identification of a narrat ...

Neopaganism Modern paganism, also known as contemporary paganism and neopaganism, is a term for a religion or family of religions influenced by the various Paganism, historical pre-Christian beliefs of pre-modern peoples in Europe and adjacent areas of No ...

Goddess A goddess is a female deity. In many known cultures, goddesses are often linked with literal or metaphorical pregnancy or imagined feminine roles associated with how women and girls are perceived or expected to behave. This includes themes of s ...

es,

Shamanism Shamanism is a religious practice that involves a practitioner (shaman) interacting with what they believe to be a Spirit world (Spiritualism), spirit world through Altered state of consciousness, altered states of consciousness, such as tranc ...

, and trance-dance. They are based in

Las Vegas, Nevada Las Vegas (; Spanish for "The Meadows"), often known simply as Vegas, is the 25th-most populous city in the United States, the most populous city in the state of Nevada, and the county seat of Clark County. The city anchors the Las Vegas ...

. Author

Oberon Zell-Ravenheart Oberon Zell-Ravenheart (born Timothy Zell, November 30, 1942, St. Louis, Missouri; formerly known as Otter G'Zell) is a Neopagan writer, speaker and religious leader. He is the co-founder of the Church of All Worlds. Education Zell earned a Bac ...

describes Zingaia's music as "techno-tantra-trance music dedicated to sacred lovers and to the Goddess in all Her many aspects."

Background

Zingaia is the project of husband and wife team, Michael and Katlyn Breene, that they started in the early 1990s. Michael creates the music in his studio, often in collaboration with other musicians and singers. Katlyn creates the album covers and writes most of the lyrics. Pianist and keyboard player by trade, Michael’s career includes a wide variety of musical styles and influences. His roots are as a jazz pianist (he toured with the legendary

Sarah Vaughan Sarah Lois Vaughan (March 27, 1924 – April 3, 1990) was an American jazz singer. Nicknamed "Sassy" and "Jazz royalty, The Divine One", she won two Grammy Awards, including the Lifetime Achievement Award, and was nominated for a total of nine ...

and jazz greats

Freddie Hubbard Frederick Dewayne Hubbard (April 7, 1938 – December 29, 2008) was an American jazz trumpeter. He played bebop, hard bop, and post-bop styles from the early 1960s onwards. His unmistakable and influential tone contributed to new perspectives fo ...

and

Jon Hendricks John Carl Hendricks (September 16, 1921 – November 22, 2017), known professionally as Jon Hendricks, was an American jazz lyricist and singer. He is one of the originators of vocalese, which adds lyrics to existing instrumental songs and rep ...

), and later played in rock, funk and country groups, as well as large orchestras. Katlyn created the art for album covers for several other recording artists as well, including Sophia, EverStar, and

Gary Stadler Gary Stadler is an American new-age pianist, composer, songwriter and producer, specializing in contemporary Celtic-influenced themes and atmospheres. Stadler's six albums generally focus on imaginative concepts loosely based in Celtic mythology, e ...

, whose wife Tamara Stadler wrote lyrics for several Zingaia songs. According to the liner notes on Zingaia's 2000 release, ''Dancers of Twilight,'' lead vocals are performed by Abbi Spinner, who co-wrote the lyrics with Katlyn Breene. Abbi Spinner's husband and partner, stage magician

Jeff McBride Jeff McBride (born September 11, 1959), also known as "Magnus", is an American magician and magic instructor. He is known for his sleight of hand skills and specializes in the manipulation of playing cards, coins, and other small objects. His s ...

, founder of the McBride Magic & Mystery School, is credited for "special guest vocal" on one of the songs. Zingaia’s 2004 release, ''Soles on Earth'', was co-produced by Michael Breene with David and Steve Gordon, founders of Sequoia Records. The album received the Coalition of Visionary Retailers’ ''Best World Album of the Year'' award in 2005.''Soles on Earth'' COVR Best World Album of 2005
/ref> Zingaia’s music was featured in the 2004 Australian film ''Dances of Ecstasy'', produced by Luna Pictures,Dances of Ecstasy official website
/ref> and in the January 2006 television documentary ''A Magickal Life: Jeff McBride'', produced and broadcast by Canada's VisionTV as part of their series ''Enigma True-Life Stories''.

Discography

Full length recordings by Zingaia

*''Sundari'' (2016, Sequoia Records) *''Earth Church'' (2012, Sequoia Records) *''Soles on Earth'' (2004, Sequoia Records) *''Dancers of Twilight'' (2000, Sequoia Records) *''Beneath the Veil'' (1996, Sequoia Records)

Compilations including recordings by Zingaia

*''Hotel Tara - The Intimate Side of Buddha-Lounge'' (2005, Sequoia Records) *''Diani Beach Lounge'' (2004, Prudence Recordings) *''Buddha-Lounge 3'' (2004, Sequoia Records) *''Cafe de Luna 2'' (2004, Sequoia Records) *''Ayurveda Lounge'' (2002, BSC Music GmbH) *''Buddha-Lounge'' (2002, Sequoia Records) *''Musical Healing'' (2001, Sequoia Records)

References

{{Authority control New-age music groups