{{Short description|German singer (born 1970)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}} {{Infobox musical artist | image = Deva Premal 07-9.jpg | caption = Premal in 2006 | birth_name = Jolantha Fries | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=y|1970|4|2}} | birth_place = [[Nürnberg]], Germany | spouse = [[Andy Desmond]] }}
'''Jolantha Fries<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-10-23 |title=Die heilsame Kraft der Klänge |url=https://www.nordbayern.de/kultur/die-heilsame-kraft-der-klange-1.6783200 |access-date=2019-10-15 |publisher=nordbayern.de |language=de}}</ref>''' (born 2 April 1970), known professionally as '''Deva Premal''', is a German singer known for her performances of [[Sanskrit]] [[mantra]]s. Her music is composed and produced with Prabhu Music. Her album ''[[Deva (album)|Deva]]'' (2018) was nominated for a [[Grammy Award]] for [[Grammy Award for Best New Age Album|Best New Age Album]] at the [[62nd Annual Grammy Awards]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-11-24 |title=‘Deva’ nominated for the 2020 Grammy Awards {{!}} Osho News |url=https://www.oshonews.com/2019/11/25/deva-nominated-for-the-2020-grammy-awards/ |access-date=2024-08-08 |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Times |first=Nepali |date=2019-11-23 |title=First Nepali to be nominated for a Grammy Award |url=https://nepalitimes.com/news/first-nepali-to-be-nominated-for-a-grammy-award |access-date=2024-08-08 |website=nepalitimes.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Deva Premal {{!}} Artist {{!}} GRAMMY.com |url=https://grammy.com/artists/deva-premal/251968 |access-date=2024-08-08 |website=grammy.com}}</ref>
== Biography ==
Premal met her partner, [[Andy Desmond|Miten]], at the [[Rajneesh movement|Osho International Meditation Resort]] in [[Pune]], [[India]], in 1990, where she was studying [[reflexology]], [[shiatsu]], [[craniosacral therapy]] and [[massage]].<ref name="Brachfeld">{{cite news|last=Brachfeld|first=Aaron|title=An Interview with Deva Primel|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130618105333/http://meadowlarkherald.blogspot.de/2013/05/an-interview-with-deva-primel.html|archive-date=18 June 2013|url=http://meadowlarkherald.blogspot.com/2013/05/an-interview-with-deva-primel.html|accessdate=8 June 2013|url-status=dead|newspaper=the Meadowlark Herald|date=2 June 2013}}</ref> They have toured together since 1992, offering concerts and chant workshops.<ref>Dubrovsky, Anna. [http://www.himalayaninstitute.org/yi/Article.aspx?id=3095 ''Yoga Rock Stars''] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101021043517/http://www.himalayaninstitute.org/YI/Article.aspx?id=3095 |date=21 October 2010 }}, ''Yoga International'', September 2008.</ref>
In July 2005, Premal chanted the [[Gayatri Mantra]] for her father as he was dying. She recounted the experience: "We kept singing for what must have been over half an hour when suddenly the monitor showed that he was about to leave. I continued to sing, and the last sound he heard as he passed on was his beloved 'Gayatri Mantra'. Finally, we ended with the mantra [[Om]], and the circle was complete. He had welcomed me onto this planet with the 'Gayatri,' and I accompanied him out of this physical existence with it."
In an interview with LA Yoga Magazine,<ref>Slovik, Sam. [http://layogamagazine.com/content/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=544&Itemid=1 ''Soul Balancing: Path of the Sacred Road Dog''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101229010651/http://layogamagazine.com/content/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=544&Itemid=1 |date=29 December 2010 }}, ''LA Yoga Magazine'', March 2010.</ref> Premal discussed the effect of chanting mantras:<ref>Shapiro, Ed & Deb. [http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ed-and-deb-shapiro/do-mantras-really-work_b_324820.html ''Do Mantras Really Work''], ''Huffington Post'', 20 October 2009.</ref> "The meaning is secondary...with Sanskrit, the word ananda is the sound vibration of bliss... It's working on a cellular level."
Premal's chants have been used in various contexts. [[Cher]] featured Premal's version of the "Gayatri Mantra" on her Farewell Tour,<ref>Tsering, Lisa. [http://www.hvk.org/articles/0903/116.html "Cher Chants Gayatri Mantra At Her Concerts"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120214154045/http://www.hvk.org/articles/0903/116.html |date=14 February 2012 }}, ''Times of London'', 5 September 2003.</ref> and Russian prima ballerina [[Diana Vishneva]] danced to Premal's "Gayatri" in Moses Pendleton's F.L.O.W. series.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2h2fdZ6XpR8 "Beauty In Motion-F.L.O.W. Part III"], ''YouTube''.</ref> [[Edward James Olmos]] reportedly gave copies of Premal's "Gayatri Mantra" to the cast and crew of [[Battlestar Galactica (2004 TV series)|Battlestar Galactica]],<ref>Stailey, M. [http://www.dvdverdict.com/newsblog/mstailey/post/1500 ''Battlestar Galactica: All Access''] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110701161700/http://www.dvdverdict.com/newsblog/mstailey/post/1500 |date=1 July 2011 }}, ''DVD Verdict Legal Briefs'', 8 June 2007.</ref> and cited her music as inspiration for his role as Commander Adama.<ref>Ruby, Jamie. [http://www.battlestararies-bsr26.net/apps/blog/show/prev?from_id=1569151 "Edward James Olmos: Exclusive Interview With MediaBlvd"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110104224625/http://www.battlestararies-bsr26.net/apps/blog/show/prev?from_id=1569151 |date=4 January 2011 }}, ''Battlestar Aries'', 5 August 2009.</ref> He also used "Om Hraum Mitraya" from Premal's album ''Dakshina'' (2005) in his HBO movie ''Walkout.''
Premal and Miten performed for [[The Dalai Lama]] at a 2002 conference in [[Munich]], [[Germany]], on "Unity in Duality".<ref>Tarab Institute. [http://www.tarab-institute.org/gb/congress4.htm ''Unity In Duality-Tendrel Congress''] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120319185611/http://www.tarab-institute.org/gb/congress4.htm |date=19 March 2012 }}, ''Tarab Institute'', 10–13 Oct 2002.</ref> They sang the Tara Mantra, reportedly his favorite.<ref>Attwood, Janet Bray [http://www.healthywealthynwise.com/article.aspx?author=Janet%20Bray%20Attwood&title=Songs%20of%20the%20Divine:%0D%0AAn%20interview%20from%20the%20Dialogues%20with%20the%20Masters%20Series&Article=5394 ''Songs of the Divine: An interview from the Dialogues with the Masters Series''], ''Healthy Wealthy nWise'', Feb 2008.</ref>
Premal's ''Tibetan Mantras for Precarious Times'' (2010) was recorded with the [[Gyuto Order|Gyuto Monks]] of [[Tibet]]. It features eight mantras each chanted 108 times.{{Citation needed|date=October 2024}}
== Music and information ==
Premal and [[Andy Desmond|Miten]] say they use a "natural selection" process to choose mantras for their albums. Premal prefers [[Sanskrit]] mantras.{{citation needed|date=October 2024}} She has stated that removing her ego from her understanding of the mantra allows its true meaning to be expressed.<ref name="Brachfeld"></ref> She describes their work as being "messengers of a 5,000-year-old tradition."<ref name="Brachfeld"></ref> Her vocal range is [[contralto]].{{citation needed|date=March 2017}}
== Discography == {{ordered list | ''1997 – Trusting the Silence'' (with Miten) | ''1998 – The Essence'' | ''1998 – Strength of a Rose'' (with Miten) | ''2000 – Love Is Space'' | ''2002 – Embrace'' | ''2002 – Satsang'' (with Miten) | ''2003 – Songs for the Inner Lover'' (with Miten) | ''2004 – More Than Music'' (with Miten) | ''2005 – Dakshina'' | ''2005 – Live in Byron Bay'' (with Miten) | ''2007 – Sings the Moola Mantra'' | ''2007 – Soul in Wonder'' (with Miten and [[Manose Singh|Manose]]) | ''2008 – Into Silence'' | ''2009 – In Concert – The Yoga of Sacred Song and Chant'' (with Miten and Manose) | ''2009 – Mantras for Precarious Times'' | ''2009 – DevaSonic Vol 1'' | ''2009 – DevaSonic Vol 2'' | ''2009 – Download Singles'' (with Miten) | ''2010 – Into Light'' | ''2010 – Tibetan Mantras for Turbulent Times'' | ''2011 – Password'' | ''2013 – 21-Day Mantra Meditation Journey'' (with Miten) | ''2013 – A Deeper Light'' (with Miten and Manose) | ''2013 – MantraLove'' (with Miten) | ''2014 – Mantras for Life'' (with Miten and Manose) | ''2014 – The Spirit of Mantra (21-Day Mantra Meditation Journey, Vol. II)'' (with Miten) | ''2015 – Songs for the Sangha'' (with Miten and Manose) | ''2016 – Cosmic Connections Live'' (with Miten and Manose) | ''2018 – [[Deva (album)|Deva]]'' | ''2022 – Timeless'' (with Miten) | ''2024 – All the Birds Fly Home (Live, with Miten)'' }}
== Notes == <references />
== External links == * {{Official website|http://www.devapremalmiten.com/}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Premal, Deva}} [[Category:New-age musicians]] [[Category:Performers of Hindu music]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:1970 births]] [[Category:Musicians from Nuremberg]] [[Category:Performers of Buddhist music]] [[Category:21st-century German women singers]] [[Category:German Buddhists]]