Biography Wikipedia
from Wikipedia:
Freedom and Leela are singers and song writers who tour the world singing Indian Spiritual music, Sikh Kirtan, Music of India, Sikh music and ancient mantras at atmospheric, contemporary settings. They live in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada but travel all over the world to promote this type of spiritual music.
They have a unique style which is a mixture of classical Indian ragas and western classical singing. They have toured extensively throughout Canada, USA, Central America, India, Pakistan, United Kingdom, Kenya, Tanzania, Malaysia, and Mexico sharing music from their collection of 10 CD recordings.
Singing for the past 20 years, they have enthralled million listeners all over the world. The group has shared kirtan, yoga chants, meditation workshops and special wellness presentations at hundreds of shrines, homes, yoga centers, programs, and concerts world-wide.
Background
All three members of the kirtan chanting group are Canadians. Freedom was born in 1958 in Mombasa, Kenya to a Sikh Khalsa family from India. His parents were from India. His birth name is Sarbjit Singh Neel and he was brought up as a practising Sikh. He began formal training in Gurbani kirtan and in playing harmonium and tablas when he was nine. He began singing Gurbani kirtan, chanting and practising yoga during his elementary school years and continues to share this passion to date.
He moved to Vancouver in 1969 from Kenya. Encouraged by Yogi Bhajan, he graduated from Western States Chiropractic College and became a Chiropractor in 1982. In 1991, he moved to the Sikh Temple Makindu in Kenya and began to practice mysticism as prescribed by Guru Nanak and Sikhism. Since then he has been singing Kirtan, Naad, devotional Indian music and Punjabi folk music.
Meeting Leela
In 1995, Freedom met Leela who was born, Barbara Fraser in 1962. Leela born to parents from a Scottish heritage grew up in Nova Scotia. She is a classically trained professional soprano and received her classical degree and a diploma in jazz vocal performance from St Francis Xavier University, Antigonish, Nova Scotia.
She is a professional soprano and blends her melodious voice weaving western sensitivities into eastern chants. After meeting Freedom, she began studying Gurmukhi, Indian scales and melodies, Temple music, bhajan, mantra meditation music and Hatha Yoga.
Other members
Sunny on TablasA unique blend of Kirtan
After meeting Freedom, Leela began studying Gurmukhi, Indian raga scales and melodies, Golden Temple music, bhajan, mantra meditation music and Hatha Kundalini Yoga. The two combine the best of eastern ragas and western singing to bring a unique style of music and singing to the audience. This special blend of kirtan and chanting music is a great experience which highlights the strengths of both opposing musical styles.
Memorable performances
In 2001 they both travelled throughout India for one year and recorded the CD titled RU, with renditions of the Gayatri Mantra and Mool Mantra.Similar artists include Krishna Das, Bhagavan Das, Jai Uttal, Wah, Deva Premal, Girish and Snatam Kaur.
