1) Wah! is a world renowned… Read Full Bio ↴More than one artist has used this name.
1) Wah! is a world renowned musician bringing healing through sound and the teachings of yoga. LESS STRESS MORE WAH! is a bumper sticker her fans made. It sums up what people are feeling about Wah! and her music, books, and lectures. After 20 years touring and performing throughout the world, she continues helping people relax and destress.
First, the music. If you’ve been in a yoga class in the last five years, you have no doubt heard her music. The first female to bring kirtan music [call-and-response chanting from India] to the West in the 1990’s, Wah! has been playing bass guitar with her wildly joyful rock band at yoga festivals and centers around the U.S. since 1997. She has also consistently offered music and albums to the therapeutic market; her Savasana CDs have sold over 100,000 copies worldwide.
Wah! started the Healing Concert in 2012, a multi-media concert using projections, slow moving laser lights and live music by Wah! to inspire world peace and peace within.
“Our lives are filled with distractions and disruptions that take us away from ourselves; we end up feeling stressed and disconnected.” Wah! feels a new kind of experience is necessary. “I want to improve how we live our lives on this planet and create events which inspire peace and cooperation.”
Her latest book and card deck Self Care: Building a Smarter, Stronger, More Peaceful Self give people tools to improve health and mood. Tapping, meridian stimulation, breathing and humming are just a few of the techniques included in this beautifully illustrated project. The book aims to inspire people recovering from illness, injury and trauma, as well as those on the front lines managing stress, burnout and depression.
Wah!’s previous book, Healing: A Vibrational Exchange (2013) introduced audiences to the concepts behind her music, focusing on ways to create more space and healing. Her lectures were welcomed at Princeton University, Loyola Marymount University and at EXPOs and conferences around the country. She helped people develop tools for self-healing and communication using meditation, sound and imagery.
Fiske Planetarium, Franklin Institute, South Florida Museum’s Bishop Planetarium, Omega Institute, Globe Sound Healing Conference, NJ State Museum in Trenton, Hoyt Sherman Place, and Reuben H. Fleet Science Center are some of the prestigious venues she has used for performing. In concerts, festivals, lectures and workshops, Wah! uses her deep understanding of music and healing to create profound and transformative events.
2) The second incarnation of Pete Wylie's Liverpool bands from the 80's to the present. After the release of the second single of Wah! Heat and the departure of guitarist Redmond, Pete Wylie decided to reshape the group as a four-piece – featuring Wylie (Guitar, Vocals), Washington (Bass), King Bluff (Keyboards) and Joe Musker (Drums, ex Dead or Alive) – shortened the name to Wah! And started working on a long player vinyl release. With the album on the way, Wah! recorded their first Radio One BBC Session in March 1981. In June of the same year their debut album Nah Poo! The Art Of Bluff came out (with two singles released to promote the album). Apparently the title has to do with the fact that the keyboardist King Bluff – not originally intended as a stable member of the band – managed to bluff his way into the group. In April 1982, under the altered name of Shambeko! Say Wah!, Wylie’s group released the single ‘Remember’ and in May 1982, under the same pseudonym, Pete Wylie (Guitar, Vocals), ‘Oddball’ Washington (Bass, Backing Vocals), King Bluff (Keyboards) and ‘Jungle Beat’ Joe Musker recorded their third Peel session. The tracklist for that session included original material (among which a sung version of ‘A Crack Is A Crack’, appeared in its instrumental version on the b-side of the band’s latest single) and the reworking of traditional songs.
In November of the same year another single was released: ‘The Story of the Blues’ and finally after some drastic lineup changes, in March 1983, Wah!’s line-up became definitive: King Bluff was definitely out of the picture, Chris Joyce (ex Durutti Column, later Simply Red) was recruited on drums, Naughton and Charlie ‘Gruff’ Griffiths (ex Pink Military) on keyboards. With Ruby and Sylvia on backing vocals, the group released their last single under this name, before transforming into The Mighy Wah!
See also Wah! Heat, The Mighty Wah!, and others.
Saraswati
Wah! Lyrics
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Saraswati Saraswati x2
Prano Devi Saraswathi,
Vajhebhir Vajinavathi,
Dhinam Avithri Avathu.
Vakk Devyai Svaha
Vakk Devyai Svaha x3
Vakk Devyai
OM AIM
The lyrics of Wah!’s “Saraswati” evoke a deeply spiritual and reverent tribute to the Hindu goddess Saraswati, who embodies wisdom, knowledge, and the arts. The repetition of her name, “Prano Devi Saraswati,” serves not just as a form of invocation but also as an affirmation of her significance. The term “Prano” implies life or breath, indicating her vital role in energizing and nurturing intellectual pursuits. By addressing her as "Devi," or goddess, the lyrics emphasize her divine qualities, which inspire devotees to seek enlightenment. The dual repetition of both "Saraswati" and "Prano Devi Saraswati" reinforces her importance in the fabric of cultural and spiritual life, marking her as a protector and nurturer of knowledge.
The following lines, “Vajhebhir Vajinavathi,” further contribute to this theme of reverence. “Vajhebhir” can be associated with power, strength, or might, and when coupled with “Vajinavathi,” enhances the portrayal of Saraswati as a formidable force who bestows wisdom and clarity upon her followers. The invocation of her strength signifies an appeal for guidance and support in the pursuit of learning and enlightenment. The plea "Dhinam Avithri Avathu" underscores this by asking for her protection and nurturing presence daily, highlighting how essential her influence is for sustained growth and the daily quest for knowledge. The repetition in these lines may suggest an ongoing devotion and the continuous need for that divine guidance in all aspects of life.
As the lyrics transition into “Vakk Devyai Svaha,” we witness a call to the goddess that implies an offering or dedication to the divine power associated with language and communication. “Vakk” refers to speech or voice, and “Devyai” denotes a deity, linking Saraswati to the very essence of expression and knowledge that words embody. This line sets the tone for an act of worship—recognizing the sacred nature of articulate thought and the vital role it plays in human connection and understanding. The exhortation “Svaha” is often used in Vedic rituals, symbolizing the act of offering oneself to the divine, emphasizing a deep surrender and recognition of Saraswati's divine presence in facilitating communication and creativity.
The concluding invocation of “OM AIM” further deepens the spiritual connection portrayed throughout the song. “OM” is considered the primordial sound and the essence of the universe, while “AIM” is the bija (seed) mantra associated with Saraswati, directly linking her energy to the power of knowledge and creativity. This mantra acts as a meditative focus, inviting practitioners into a state of contemplation where they can connect with Saraswati’s divine energy. The repetition of “Vakk Devyai Svaha” (three times at the end) additionally reinforces the sentiment of offering, allowing listeners to engage in a ritualistic homage to the goddess. In this way, the song not only reveres Saraswati but also creates an atmosphere for personal reflection, inviting the listener to embrace and invoke the goddess's blessings in their own lives, firmly rooting the lyrics in both cultural significance and personal spiritual experience.
Line by Line Meaning
Prano Devi Saraswati x2
O divine essence of life, Saraswati, we invoke your presence.
Saraswati Saraswati x2
We call upon you, Saraswati, goddess of wisdom and knowledge.
Prano Devi Saraswathi,
O divine goddess who embodies life and vitality, Saraswati.
Vajhebhir Vajinavathi,
You are the one who bestows strength and power, revered as the valiant and formidable.
Dhinam Avithri Avathu.
May you protect us daily, guiding and nurturing us throughout our lives.
Vakk Devyai Svaha
To the goddess of speech, we offer our salutations and dedication.
Vakk Devyai Svaha x3
To the goddess of speech, we repeatedly affirm our reverence and devotion.
Vakk Devyai
We acknowledge and honor the divine force of communication and expression.
OM AIM
We chant the sacred sound to invoke the spiritual essence of learning and creativity.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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