Jyoshna to launch exciting new album in Mountshannon

A MESMERISING new album, meditating on live and love, will be launched by New Zealander Jyoshna La Trobe in Mountshannon later this month. 

The acclaimed music researcher, singer and songwriter will launch Unity Hours IV, with a very special concert, on Saturday, August 27 at St Caimin’s Church of Ireland, which will feature her Clare Band. 

As well as being a prolific composer and performer, Jyoshna is an accomplished ethnomusicologist, specialising in the Music of Rarh, India, and holding a PhD in Music, from SOAS, London on Marai Kirtan and the Performance of Ecstasy in West Bengal, India.

She has authored over 30 albums of original and ethnographic material including Dharmacakra, ancient and modern songs in Sanskrit (2015). Unity Hours I (2006) was recorded in London, as was Unity Hours II (2010). Unity Hours III (2019) was recorded in New Zealand and the latest album was recorded in here in Clare. 

“All the experiences here are written with the ink of the heart in the Unity Hours CD collection and represent for me a musical diary of my personal, emotional, spiritual and geographical journey over the past 15 years,” Jyoshna said. 

Unity Hours IV was recorded at Malbay Studios in July of 2021, with mainly Clare-based musicians. It was mixed by Martin O’Malley at the studio in July of this year.

For the album, Jyoshna gathered together many local musicians for her album recording including Erik Azzopardi (Piano), Morgan Davies (Sarangi),  Maja Elliott (Piano), Adam Fox (Electric

Guitar), Sharon Howley (Cello), Tara Howley (Pipes and Low Whistle), Paul Mahony (Drums), Kavita Neumannova (Khol drum, Percussion), Pádhraic MacCionnaith (Banjo), Adam Rowatt (Bass), Philomela Amali Wybla (Harp) and Jantien Vandenberg (Sax, Flute, Harmonium).

“It was a real treat to play and weave together sounds from this acoustic tapestry embodying

so many poignant and joyful moments,” she said. “I’d also like to give special thanks to Martin O’Malley at Malbay Studios for his kindness, expertise and professionalism in the recording process.” 

As a performer, Jyoshna has worked in collaboration with a host of musicians in Brasil, India, New Zealand, London, and Ireland. Several of her recording projects and concerts have benefitted disadvantaged children in India, Haiti and Africa.

As an ethnomusicologist Jyoshna works to build bridges between people of different cultural backgrounds to bring greater understanding and appreciation between them. Her speciality is the investigation, lyric translation, musical analysis and promotion of the Kirtan tradition of devotional singing in North East India; as well as Maori and other indigenous culture’s music.  She has also been commissioned to write scores for feature films (Stars in Her Eyes), short films (Prout documentary), TV documentaries (NRK TV), festivals and other events.

Jyoshna’s ethnographic recordings are lodged in her own collection at the British Library World Music Archives under the name Jyoshna La Trobe’s Rarhi Bangla Kirtan Collection (C1211). She has deposited, collated and catalogued over 100 hours of audio-visual recordings that highlight the beauty and diversity of Rarhi music – culture from India for present and future generations.

As an educationalist, Jyoshna works as a lecturer, course author and leader, using innovative educational technology to provide greater opportunity for students of different cultural backgrounds. She has also initiated guitar schools and teaches music and guitar to students privately and in groups.

Jyoshna is also the host of a podcast entitled ‘From Nothingness to Empowerment’ which contains reflections, music, discussions on world music and interviews with local and international contributors. 

The launch concert for Unity IV is being organised in association with Mountshannon Arts. Tickets for are available to purchase online at Mountshannonarts.ie. Concert-goers will be offered a voucher allowing a digital download of the new album.

The event is supported by The Arts Council and Clare County Council.