Krishna Das- The American kirtan singer

Grammy award-nominated Jeffrey Kagel, popularly known as Krishna Das, has captivated a generation of listeners with his soulful rendition of kirtans.
The former flower child, who calls himself a Hanuman bhakt, has introduced kirtans to younger ears the world over. In fact, most young people approach his music through unusual channels such as psychedelic trance music, but he makes no distinctions.“I have to say that we are all drawn to love, and love is what all beings need,” he says, refusing to distinguish between his listeners. When asked to define his sound, he describes it as ‘garage band rock ’n roll.’
He calls himself a regular kirtan wallah. With a physical home in the US and a spiritual one in his guru’s ashram in Nainital, this prolific singer has released 12 albums starting with his first in 1989 titled One Track Heart, to his latest Kirtan Wallah last year. KD, as he is called by friends, believes that it is the benevolence of his guru, Neem Karoli Baba, that he is able to create such soul-stirring music. “When I sing, I am trying to be in the presence of Love. It is my spiritual practice. This is the source of the ras in the chants. All the grace of guru.”
Refusing to categorise his music in the ambient genre, KD says he remains true to the spirit of kirtan, which is a basic chanting of the names of gods. “The type of music doesn't matter, only the intention behind the music does. With kirtans, music is merely the sweet syrup that hides the medicine, which is the names of gods. It is that name that chases away our unhappiness, not the syrup.”