Veetkam

Two hearts are beating in my chest and always have been!

Early in life I had a deep attraction to this magical place called India with its ancient tradition and understanding that music is a form of meditation. Where as the world of drumming and rhythm as practiced in Cuba has been a natural doorway for me to wildness, expressiveness and ecstasy.

This has been the road I’ve been following ever since, being a part of a very international commune in India, where musical expression, be it meditative, singing or roaring wildly played an important role in our lives. So many great musicians, so many styles fused together as a form of prayer and worship – it was just awesome! During my extensive travels to the Caribbean Islands I was initiated to its archaic musical culture still alive as ever.

Now back in Switzerland I’ve been building up my diverse musical life with teaching, giving ‘impulses’ in companies with drum circles and being a percussionist and singer in various groups from Mantra singing to Cuban Salsa.

om Check out Veetkam’s projects.

Having had great teachings from the Masters of Cuban music, at the Jazz school here in Zurich and my Indian percussion wizards, I have created my own setup and way of playing combining the various instruments and styles.

Since I love words and poetry but am not the born composer, I send a little letter to my buddy Anugraha and in no time I receive the first musical ideas around the verses.

What a lucky guy I am! From there on our intense collaboration starts.

‘One world ticket’ is just the beginning.

I’m sure many more common journeys will follow.

So stay tuned!

Anugraha

What I love most is the creative process of composing music. Through music I dive in a vastness with open ears and open heart. Then... a melody comes along. There is no I in it. It is a gift!

Then a form arises and in an exchange of ideas with friends a new song is born. This is a great learning process.

I am tremendously happy to work with Veetkam. Besides his musical skills he is a good communicator and has a natural way of connecting people. He is fun to work with, has a strong commitment – well, he’s a good fellow traveler and friend.

I also love to teach very much and I’m amazed again and again how much beautiful music has come together with my students over the years.

Playing with technical things fascinates me. In my ‘Govinda Studio’ I can nourish all my talents and be creative.

om Check out Anugraha’s projects.

As a kid, with the help of my parents, I was introduced to all kinds of musical styles: Classical, Folk from all over the world, Pop, Rock... I started playing guitar with eight and even though I learned a lot from my teachers, I profited most from my musical friends with whom I have been playing over these years.

My musical vision is expressed in our first CD ‘One World Ticket.’ Rather than being a question of style, great music to me is a question of heart and authenticity. It has the power to bring people together and melt boundaries.

Band Members

Anugraha Fredi Früh
Guitar, Bass, Keyboard, Drum-programming, Horns- & Strings-arrangements, Backing Vocals

Veetkam Walter Strickler
Congas, Bongos, Udu, Framedrum, all small percussions, Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals

Sonja Morgenegg
Vocals

Balamurali Visagaperumal
Vocals, Mridangam, Sitar

Andreas Knott
Keyboards, Sythesizer

Ramananda Bittencourt
Bass, Tabla

Roli Elmer
Drums, Additional Percussion

Veetkam and Anugraha

Veetkam and Anugraha

Sonja Morgenegg

Sonja Morgenegg

Ramananda Bittencourt

Ramananda Bittencourt

Andreas Knott

Andreas Knott

Balamurali Visagaperumal

Balamurali Visagaperumal

Roli Elmer

Roli Elmer

‘One World Ticket’ CD out now

We are very happy now to reach you with our music!

We are busy planning a few concerts in Germany and of course a CD release party in Zurich. We will keep you posted when things are finalised! Looking forward to play, sing and dance with you!

Listen to the samples.

Forthcoming Concerts

Govinda Express will be in Zurich and Southern Germany at the end of November 2008, offering the following concerts:

21.11.08 Zurich 8:15pm, Volkshaus ‘Weisser Saal’, Stauffacherstr. 60
Official CD Release Party / Concert
Reservations: 0041 (0)76 392 31 62 or nospam.veetkammusic@bluewin.ch

22.11.08 München, 8pm, Jivamukti Yogaloft, Müllerstr. 3
www.jivamuktiyoga.de/muc/de/

28.11.08 Freiburg i.B., 8pm, Yoga Lounge, Hebelstrasse 23a
www.yogalounge-freiburg.de

New Govinda Studio

Our Govinda Studio is taking a new step! After the ‘One World Ticket’ was produced we now have the chance to get more space and more sophisticated tools to keep on producing even more exclusively.

In July we will inaugurate the new studio with the new ‘Singing Buddhas’ production.

We are very excited about this forthcoming project and plan to release the new CD before Christmas. Hallelujah!!!