Shantala Music/ Heather Wertheimer
Hometown: Portland, Oregon
Heather Wertheimer is a singer, songwriter, and guitarist who draws on her special love of both music and yoga to lead devotional chanting for yoga workshops and spiritual gatherings. Heather has toured in the U.S. and abroad with her husband Benjy, Steve Gorn, Manose, and Deva Premal and Miten. Heather's debut CD with Shantala, "Church of Sky," was named one of the top ten albums of 2004 by New Age Retailer and has aired on radio stations nationwide. In April 2003, she and Benjy released "The Love Window," a well-loved collection of sacred chants that has become a classic among yoga practitioners.
As the duo Shantala, Benjy and Heather Wertheimer lead kirtan (sacred chanting) worldwide, bringing audiences sacred lyrics, soul-stirring vocals, and exotic instrumentation. Kirtan is celebration of spirit through the chanting of sacred names carrying participants into a state of heightened awareness, bliss, and devotion. The audience is invited to participate fully through call-and-response, dance, and meditation. The weaving of Benjy's Indian classical singing and instrumentation with Heather's soaring vocals is fresh, original, and profoundly moving. Together they create a beautiful music full of passion and reverence. Shantala has performed and recorded internationally with such sacred music luminaries as Krishna Das, Deva Premal and Miten, and Jai Uttal.
