“Tayraa Naam” is the second single release from Snatam Kaur’s upcoming album, Heartflow. This exquisite kirtan track draws in listeners from its first yearning violin note before opening to Snatam’s luminous vocals, then expanding again to include acclaimed guest chant artist and violinist Jahnavi Harrison, resulting in an uplifting, layered, soul-touching sound.
The easy-to-chant lyrics of “Tayraa Naam” are excerpted from a poem by Guru Arjan the fifth Guru of the Sikhs, which Snatam wrote a tune for in her twenties. Translating to, “All the troubles, all the sorrows are dissolved in chanting the name of the one,” the song speaks to laying down our troubles at the altar of the divine. “It’s about chanting as medicine, until we sense the healing within,” says Snatam. The recording of this track was inspired by Jahnavi, one of Snatam’s favorite artists, and after completing “Tayraa Naam’s” foundations with her band, Snatam invited Jahnavi to add vocals and violin and, later, to join her live in concert.
“Tayraa Naam” features Ram Dass on guitar, keyboard, and vocals, Grecco Buratto on guitar and vocals, and Sukhmani Rayat on tabla, percussion, and vocals and is available on Be Why Music.